Garfield, James A., House
Why it's listed
This Greek Revival farmhouse in Hiram, Ohio, was built around 1852 in the Western Reserve style, with the gable end facing the road, a three-bay facade and clapboard siding. It faces the square where the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute opened in 1851. James A. Garfield studied there, later taught there, and became head of the school. After he married Lucretia Rudolph in 1858, the couple rented this house in 1862 and bought it in 1863. Lucretia planned an enlargement with advice from her father, a carpenter. The new west wing added front and back parlors, floor-length windows, a bay window and a front porch. Garfield's letters home describe the work, including his suggestion to use transoms between rooms as both window and ventilator. The Garfields sold the house in 1874, and it has stayed in one family since 1882. Garfield was later elected President and was assassinated a few months into office. A rear shed was enlarged in 1960.
Significance in brief: It was the home of James A. Garfield and his wife Lucretia for about ten years, after his time as head of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College). Lucretia Garfield planned the 1863 enlargement, and Garfield's letters to her document its progress. Garfield later served in Congress and became President.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000098, listed January 30, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6825 Hinsdale St., Hiram |
|---|---|
| County | Portage County |
| Listed | January 30, 1975 |
| Reference number | 09000098 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Original house built around 1852 by Orrin or Horace Brown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence; the property has been in the same family since 1882. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.31295, -81.14545 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000098.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138648825
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.