The Homes of the Garfield Children: Eastlawn

Compiled by Debbie Weinkamer, Lead Volunteer – from Jonathan Goldsmith: Pioneer Master Builder of the W estern Reserve by Elizabeth G. Hitchcock, WRHS Publication, Cleveland, 1980

The white, New England-style home that sits just east of the James A. Garfield National Historic Site and Faith Lutheran Church became a summer home to Harry and Belle Mason Garfield around the turn of the 20th century. It was purchased by Caroline (Carrie) Robinson Mason, Belle’s widowed mother. Known as “Eastlawn”, this Garfield home has ties to Jonathan Goldsmith. Carrie spent her girlhood in a Goldsmith house in Willoughby, just a bit west of the Chagrin River, along what is now Route 2. Lake Metroparks’ Parsons Gardens are located in that spot now – and Carrie’s family home was donated to the

Western Reserve Historical society in 1972 and moved to Hale Farm and Village in Bath, Ohio. Her father, William Peck Robinson, had the house built by Jonathan Goldsmith in 1831.

“Eastlawn” was originally built by Goldsmith in 1830 for Warren Corning, Jr. and wife Rhoda – with the intention of adding flanking wings. The original cornerstone

(“WC Jr. AD 1830) can be seen at the bottom right hand side of the door facing

Mentor Ave., formerly the front of the house. However, Warren, Jr. died in 1834, his brother Nathan took over the house and farm and sold them to William

E.T.C. Aldrich in 1866.

Expanded addition to Eastlawn Image from WRHS Publication

He was James A. Garfield’s helpful neighbor during the “front porch campaign.” Carrie Mason tripled the size of the house prior to 1903, with some attributing that enlargement to Abram Garfield, Architect. The front of the house, with porch and pillars, now faces east. Belle sold the “Mason house” to Mrs. John Newell Garfield (Janet Dodge Garfield) in 1926 – shifting it to the James R. Garfield family. The estate was purchased by Faith Lutheran Church in 1953 and is currently used as their Parish Hall. Interested in learning more about Eastlawn or other Garfield family homes and buildings here in Mentor?

Sign up for our special amenity tour “Mrs. Garfield’s Neighborhood

Walking Tour”, available on the third Saturday of the month now through October! To book your spot call the site at 440-255-8722.

Where this belongs

• James A Garfield National Historic Site

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