President Garfield served only a few months in office, after a would-be assassin's bullet lodged in his body. Being the second president to be killed in office, and a scant 15 years after the same befell Abraham Lincoln. The nation was shocked and grieved heavily.
Garfield's body was brought back to Cleveland for burial but was temporarily entombed in the family vault of architect Levi Scofield at Lake View while plans were made for his final resting place. The plans - grand plans at that, were set in motion for a grand monument to Garfield and a tomb beneath it. A private memorial association would raise the funds, hire an architect, and oversee the construction and it care. Tourists were charged a nickle - a whole nickle! - to enjoy the marvel of its all.
The picture above was taken shortly after it was completed by a private foundation. The stone is new, clean and looking its best. The terrace balcony gave a wonderful view of Cleveland's city center, and Lake Erie
Lakeview today is still one of the better places to be buried, is expertly manicured, and in addition to being the final resting place of John D. Rockefeller, Jeptha Wade (found of Western Union) Charles Brush (who popularized arc lighting in Cleveland, and made it the first city in the U.S. to have its Public Square lit by electric arc lights), and others, also serves as an Arboretum, with beautiful tree canopy prevents the visitor of today from having this view up the road of the Monument.
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| How it looked before its exterior restoration. |
The stone of the structure, which turned mottled with soot, algae, and molds thus giving it a mottled black look over the last 130 some odd years, was carefully and pain stakenly cleaned, leaks were repaired, and tuck pointing was done. The interior is still good needs some attention. The same sign ("SILENCE!) hangs on the walls of the tomb in the basement. The martyred president, his wife and some family members are there. The terrace with its views was reopened recently.
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| After the restoration. It also gives you an idea on how thickly wooded its site has become. |
But oh, that view.
The Garfield Monument, ends its 2024 interior tours today, and will remain closed until spring 2025 when it will reopen.
