Press Release
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH)
July 26, 2011
U.S. Mint to unveil Garfield Coin at Lawnfield in Mentor
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) today announced that the U.S. Mint has produced a $1 coin bearing the image of the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield, and will unveil it at a special ceremony on November 17 at Lawnfield, Garfield's home in Mentor.
Officials from the U.S. Mint will come to Mentor and unveil the coin at Lawnfield, Garfield's home," LaTourette said. "It's an honor for the late President, Mentor, its residents and the caretakers of Lawnfield, a national historic site."
The ceremony will be at 10 a.m. on November 17, 2011.
The U.S. Mint issues four Presidential $1 coins each year in the order the presidents served in office. This year, coins will be issued for two Ohio natives, Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield. The other coins will honor Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant. The Garfield coin features the likeness of Garfield on the face, and the Statue of Liberty on the other side.
James Garfield was born in 1831 in a cabin in Orange Township, which is now Moreland Hills. A replica of the James A. Garfield Log Cabin can be found at the Village of Moreland Hills. Garfield graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts and returned to the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later Hiram College) as a classics professor and later its president. He was elected to the Ohio state senate in 1859, and in 1862, he was elected to Congress and served 18 years.
Garfield purchased his Mentor home in 1876 while he was serving in Congress and added 11 rooms and a large from porch, where he conducted his 1880 presidential campaign. The home became Lawnfield because press members camped out in the lawn during Garfield's "front porch campaign."
On July 2, 1881, just four months into his term, Garfield was shot at a Washington railroad station. He died on September 19, 1881, having served just 200 days in office. He never returned to Lawnfield after he became president, but his widow, Lucretia Garfield, remained at Lawnfield. She added a library and carefully preserved documents and artifacts and is often credited with creating one of the first presidential libraries. President Garfield is buried in Cleveland's Lakeview Cemetery.
LaTourette said he's always felt a kinship to President Garfield, and has a portrait of his family displayed in his Washington office.
"We're both Republicans with beards and represent Mentor," LaTourette joked, "The beards alone make us a fairly small club."
The Garfield heirs sold the home to the Western Reserve Historical Society in the 1930s and the National Park Service (NPS) took over in 1980, designating Lawnfield a historic site. LaTourette and several other members of Congress secured funding for a multi-million restoration in the 1990s. The NPS took over full operations at Lawnfield in January 2008.
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The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label Lawnfield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lawnfield. Show all posts
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 9, 2010
US20 in Ohio: The Garfield Monument (Cleveland)
On the eastern edge of the city of Cleveland on US Route 20 (Euclid Avenue) in Lakeview Cemetery sits the impressive monument to James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. The monument sits high on a hill - the highest location in the cemetery - allowing for a wonderful wide view of the downtown Cleveland skyline.
The Garfield Monument is just under 25 miles west of Garfield’s home, Lawnfield, also located on US Route 20 in Mentor Ohio and which is a National Historic site.
Hearing about the wonderful view of the city skyline seen from the upper level of the monument, I just had to check it out for myself. Not only is the view one of the best of the city, but the monument itself was impressive. Stained glass lights the rotunda, with a high dome that reflects warm, golden tones. A statue of Garfield stands in the center, with the rotunda dome rising high above.
Circular stairways lead to the second level, where you can peer down onto the statue, or better yet, step outside to a large observation area where the city view will amaze. The Peter B. Lewis building, designed by Frank Gehry, is also very visible, looking like a mass of twirling silvery ribbon.
Here are several photos that I took while visiting the monument a few weeks ago. If you are ever travelling through Cleveland – whether on US 20 or not – a visit to the Garfield Monument will be worth your while. (Don’t forget to head east and stop at Lawnfield.)
All photos and text © usroutetwenty.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
The Garfield Monument is just under 25 miles west of Garfield’s home, Lawnfield, also located on US Route 20 in Mentor Ohio and which is a National Historic site.
Hearing about the wonderful view of the city skyline seen from the upper level of the monument, I just had to check it out for myself. Not only is the view one of the best of the city, but the monument itself was impressive. Stained glass lights the rotunda, with a high dome that reflects warm, golden tones. A statue of Garfield stands in the center, with the rotunda dome rising high above.
Circular stairways lead to the second level, where you can peer down onto the statue, or better yet, step outside to a large observation area where the city view will amaze. The Peter B. Lewis building, designed by Frank Gehry, is also very visible, looking like a mass of twirling silvery ribbon.
Here are several photos that I took while visiting the monument a few weeks ago. If you are ever travelling through Cleveland – whether on US 20 or not – a visit to the Garfield Monument will be worth your while. (Don’t forget to head east and stop at Lawnfield.)
All photos and text © usroutetwenty.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
US20 In Ohio: Lawnfield, Revisited
My first full blog post here was covering Lawnfield, the home of the 20th President of the United State, James A. Garfield, which is located on US Route 20 in Mentor, Ohio.
Not only am I fortunate enough to live less than a half mile from US 20, I live less than two miles from Lawnfield, a National Historic Site. Since it was a beautiful summer day, I thought I’d take a quick drive to Lawnfield and get some updated pictures of the house and the grounds (I got there too early today and the house interior wasn’t open.) I saw something on the grounds that I did not see the last time I was there – it was an artist’s depiction of Garfield’s property and the area around it during the time of Garfield’s 1880 presidential campaign. It clearly shows US Route 20, which was - and still is - known as Mentor Avenue. (I’ve highlighted in with a large arrow on the photo below so it is easier to spot.)
To refresh everyone’s memory, here’s what I wrote in February 2008 about Garfield’s Lawnfield:
When Garfield was a Congressman, he purchased what was known as the Dickey Farm, which included a nine-room home that sat on 16o acres. Since the house was not large enough for his family, Garfield had additions built on to the original structure, bringing the size of the house to 20 rooms.
In 1880, Garfield became a candidate for the presidency. He used the front porch of his Mentor home for speeches. The name of the house – Lawnfield – was what all the visiting reporters named it because of the wide grassy lawn around the home. After Garfield’s assassination in 1881, his widow Lucretia added on the first presidential library and vault in the county, starting the trend of presidential libraries for subsequent presidents. The family stayed in the home until 1936, at which time the family gave the house and all its contents to the Western Reserve Historical Society. The house operated as a museum, and was designated as a National Historic Site in December 28, 1980. It is also part of the National Park System.
The home was given a $12.5 million restoration in the 1990s, at which time the home was restored to its original state colors of gray and scarlet. The interior of the home is filled with antique Victorian furniture, 80% of which belonged to the Garfield family. Wallpapers were also reproduced where photographs or samples were available.
One interesting structure on the grounds is a large windmill, constructed to replace an earlier windmill that was needed to pump and store water from a well. Lucretia was very involved in this project. The windmill had been taken down in 1936 due to wind damage. According to the Western Reserve Historical Society, “The structure was rebuilt after a generous and anonymous gift was donated for its reconstruction in 1998 and is standing once again in all its glory today.”
Not only am I fortunate enough to live less than a half mile from US 20, I live less than two miles from Lawnfield, a National Historic Site. Since it was a beautiful summer day, I thought I’d take a quick drive to Lawnfield and get some updated pictures of the house and the grounds (I got there too early today and the house interior wasn’t open.) I saw something on the grounds that I did not see the last time I was there – it was an artist’s depiction of Garfield’s property and the area around it during the time of Garfield’s 1880 presidential campaign. It clearly shows US Route 20, which was - and still is - known as Mentor Avenue. (I’ve highlighted in with a large arrow on the photo below so it is easier to spot.)
To refresh everyone’s memory, here’s what I wrote in February 2008 about Garfield’s Lawnfield:
When Garfield was a Congressman, he purchased what was known as the Dickey Farm, which included a nine-room home that sat on 16o acres. Since the house was not large enough for his family, Garfield had additions built on to the original structure, bringing the size of the house to 20 rooms.
In 1880, Garfield became a candidate for the presidency. He used the front porch of his Mentor home for speeches. The name of the house – Lawnfield – was what all the visiting reporters named it because of the wide grassy lawn around the home. After Garfield’s assassination in 1881, his widow Lucretia added on the first presidential library and vault in the county, starting the trend of presidential libraries for subsequent presidents. The family stayed in the home until 1936, at which time the family gave the house and all its contents to the Western Reserve Historical Society. The house operated as a museum, and was designated as a National Historic Site in December 28, 1980. It is also part of the National Park System.
The home was given a $12.5 million restoration in the 1990s, at which time the home was restored to its original state colors of gray and scarlet. The interior of the home is filled with antique Victorian furniture, 80% of which belonged to the Garfield family. Wallpapers were also reproduced where photographs or samples were available.
One interesting structure on the grounds is a large windmill, constructed to replace an earlier windmill that was needed to pump and store water from a well. Lucretia was very involved in this project. The windmill had been taken down in 1936 due to wind damage. According to the Western Reserve Historical Society, “The structure was rebuilt after a generous and anonymous gift was donated for its reconstruction in 1998 and is standing once again in all its glory today.”
Artist's Depiction, Lawnfield and Mentor Avenue (US20) in 1880
Front of Lawnfield, with famous front porch
Windmill at site entrance drive
Side view of house from site entrance
The Carriage House
The rear of the house
The campaign office
Back door 
Historical Marker
All Content © usroutetwenty.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
Friday, February 8, 2008
US 20 Mentor, Ohio: Home of a President
Lawnfield - The Front PorchI thought I’d start my journey on US Route 20 at a place very near to my own home. It is fitting that the longest road in the United States (numbered 20) also be the location of the home of 20th President of The United States, James A. Garfield.
When Garfield was a Congressman, he purchased what was known as the Dickey Farm, which included a nine-room home that sat on 16o acres. Since the house was not large enough for his family, Garfield had additions built on to the original structure, bringing the size of the house to 20 rooms.
In 1880, Garfield became a candidate for the presidency. He used the front porch of his Mentor home for speeches. The name of the house – Lawnfield – was what all the visiting reporters named it because of the wide grassy lawn around the home. After Garfield’s assassination in 1881, his widow Lucretia added on the first presidential library and vault in the county, starting the trend of presidential libraries for subsequent presidents. The family stayed in the home until 1936, at which time the family gave the house and all its contents to the Western Reserve Historical Society. The house operated as a museum, and was designated as a National Historic Site in December 28, 1980. It is also part of the National Park System.
The home was given a $12.5 million restoration in the 1990s, at which time the home was restored to its original state colors of gray and scarlet. The interior of the home is filled with antique Victorian furniture, 80% of which belonged to the Garfield family. Wallpapers were also reproduced where photographs or samples were available.
One interesting structure on the grounds is a large windmill, constructed to replace an earlier windmill that was needed to pump and store water from a well. Lucretia was very involved in this project. The windmill had been taken down in 1936 due to wind damage. According to the Western Reserve Historical Society, “The structure was rebuilt after a generous and anonymous gift was donated for its reconstruction in 1998 and is standing once again in all its glory today.”
Lawnfield is located at 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, Ohio. The house interior is closed from November to April with the exception of limited hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekdays, during the winter months, there appears to be access to walk the grounds if the front gate is open. The house is open May 1 to October 31, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
When Garfield was a Congressman, he purchased what was known as the Dickey Farm, which included a nine-room home that sat on 16o acres. Since the house was not large enough for his family, Garfield had additions built on to the original structure, bringing the size of the house to 20 rooms.
In 1880, Garfield became a candidate for the presidency. He used the front porch of his Mentor home for speeches. The name of the house – Lawnfield – was what all the visiting reporters named it because of the wide grassy lawn around the home. After Garfield’s assassination in 1881, his widow Lucretia added on the first presidential library and vault in the county, starting the trend of presidential libraries for subsequent presidents. The family stayed in the home until 1936, at which time the family gave the house and all its contents to the Western Reserve Historical Society. The house operated as a museum, and was designated as a National Historic Site in December 28, 1980. It is also part of the National Park System.
The home was given a $12.5 million restoration in the 1990s, at which time the home was restored to its original state colors of gray and scarlet. The interior of the home is filled with antique Victorian furniture, 80% of which belonged to the Garfield family. Wallpapers were also reproduced where photographs or samples were available.
One interesting structure on the grounds is a large windmill, constructed to replace an earlier windmill that was needed to pump and store water from a well. Lucretia was very involved in this project. The windmill had been taken down in 1936 due to wind damage. According to the Western Reserve Historical Society, “The structure was rebuilt after a generous and anonymous gift was donated for its reconstruction in 1998 and is standing once again in all its glory today.”
Lawnfield is located at 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, Ohio. The house interior is closed from November to April with the exception of limited hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekdays, during the winter months, there appears to be access to walk the grounds if the front gate is open. The house is open May 1 to October 31, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
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