History of the Trail

The Garfield Trail, a non-profit support group created in 2020, helps preserve and promote the legacy of 20th U.S. President James A. Garfield and his northeast Ohio family through advocacy, service, and philanthropy. Though the concept was first discussed in 2010, it took almost a decade before the conversation about founding the Trail came to fruition. Tim Garfield resurrected the idea in November 2020 during a ceremony honoring his great-grandfather James R. Garfield, son of James and Lucretia Garfield.

A core group, comprised of Tim, his wife Carla Vondrak Garfield, Debbie Weinkamer (lead volunteer at JAGNHS and portrayer of Lucretia Garfield), and her husband Chris, went to work brainstorming and creating various concepts. The Garfield Trail is not a physical trail per se, but rather a “Cradle to Grave” connection linking the four main Garfield sites in northeast Ohio: Moreland Hills birthplace, Hiram College, James A. Garfield National Historic Site (JAGNHS), and Lake View Cemetery. The idea was shared with the sites to gauge their enthusiasm, and a thumbs-up was given for the project to proceed! 

A conceptual, promotional brochure was created and presented to the four sites and the James A. Garfield Alliance (a non-profit support group of JAGNHS). Funds from all interested parties were utilized to print an initial run of 10,000 brochures distributed throughout the area.

The Trail’s kick-off event was held May 6, 2022, at Hiram College in Koritansky Hall – a former church where Garfield had preached. Representatives from all four sites and some secondary locations related to Garfield, and staff from the college, joined in a ribbon-cutting celebration that endorsed and launched the project.

In October 2022, applying for 501(c)(3) non-profit status was initiated with the assistance of Josh Strickland of Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A. It was promptly finalized and approved just before Thanksgiving.

We contacted persons of interest to act as our Board of Directors and Support Team, selecting representatives from each site, Garfield family members, and enthusiastic community partners who have offered their time, talent, and treasure for our mission to succeed. Our initial organizational meeting of The Garfield Trail took place in January 2023 at James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio. 

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Our plans include:

• Having a presence at events at each of the four main sites throughout the year

• Hosting a Discovering Garfield Series of talks at various places connected to the Garfield story to raise awareness about James A. Garfield, who was more than a footnote in history

• Conducting a significant fundraiser each year to support projects at the main sites​

 

We hope to build a passionate community of Garfield legacy advocates and supporters.