The site of this project was the former home of U.S. President James A. Garfield (located on the Hiram College campus) on October 14 and 15, 2017. Garfield served as president of Hiram College, then called the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, before turning to a successful career in politics.
Garfield’s time in Hiram is emblematic of his status as the last “log cabin president.” Garfield was born impoverished in Moreland Hills, Ohio. As a young man, Garfield worked as a janitor for the Eclectic Institute upon beginning his studies there in 1851. His talents allowed him to advance to a professorship position within a year. By 1857, Garfield was appointed principal (president) at age 27. Despite entering politics in 1859, Garfield continued to live in Hiram, purchasing this home in 1863. The Garfield family left Hiram in 1876 only due to a change in the configuration of Garfield’s Congressional district. The property was recently acquired by Hiram College.
The work involved surveying the grounds of the house using sophisticated geophysical survey equipment. The goal of the survey is to assess how much, if anything, remains of outbuildings and minor structures from Garfield’s time. The team used two archaeological survey technologies: magnetic gradiometry and electrical resistance survey.
The project area included the back lot of the Garfield property covering approximately 400 square meters. The project area is bound to the south by the Garfield home. The western and northern boundaries of the project area are bound by the parcel property lines. The eastern boundary of the project area was the garage and driveway leading to Hinsdale Street.
