Locational Reconnaissance at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Mentor, Lake County, Ohio

Summary

In July 1990, the Midwest Archeological Center and the Cleveland Museum of Natural

History, under the terms of a Cooperative Agreement, conducted archeological excavations at

the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio. These investigations were

prompted by the proposed renovation of the Garfield horne and the relocation of the parking

lot. The investigations focused on five general areas: the main house, the carriage house and

gas works (or gas holder), the campaign office, the existing parking area, and the proposed

parking area.

Testing in the area of the main house revealed the presence of a builder's trench along

the foundation. These preliminary excavations did not, however, lend any additional insights

into the structural evolution of the house. Work behind the campaign office, on the other hand,

demonstrated that the substantial remains of a former structure, most likely an ice house, lie

just below the ground surface. Examination of the carriage house and gas works resulted in

the discovery of a deep foundation adjacent to the frame carriage house. This suggests the

possibility that an earlier version of the gas works was partially razed when the carriage house

was built, using its more substantial foundation.

Furthermore, significant archeological deposits were discovered beneath the stable floor.

Prehistoric occupation of the area is indicated by the discovery of a Whittlesey tradition

projectile point and several chert flakes in the area of the proposed parking lot. In light of the

significant subsurface archeological resources present at the James A. Garfield National

Historic Site, it is recommended that additional archeological excavation be undertaken, should

further restoration of the site require ground disturbance.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Midwest Archeological Center Technical Reports

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1000 to 1600 (AD)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Repository(s): Midwest Archeological Center National Park Service

Record Identifiers

ANCS Accession Number(s): JAGA1

MWAC Accession Number(s): 353

ANCS Catalog Numbers(s): 1-1751

File Information