The Hiram Historical Society, in partnership with Hiram College, will present a special event titled “The Garfield Flag,” featuring the James A. Garfield 1880 presidential campaign flag. The event will be held at the Kennedy Center on the Hiram College campus from 12 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, and Friday, Feb. 21, as well as from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22.
The Garfield Flag holds a significant place in Ohio’s history. After Garfield was nominated for the presidency in 1880, residents of Hiram rallied to support his campaign. Local men erected a flagpole at the town’s main intersection, and women in the community crafted a massive 15-by-26-foot flag made of lightweight wool to fly atop it. The flag was first raised on July 4, 1880, and became a daily fixture, thanks to Jason Streator, the manager of the town’s general store. Following Garfield’s assassination on July 2, 1881, the flag was lowered to half-staff and remained there during the mourning period.
Carefully preserved in the Hiram College archives, the Garfield Flag will now be the centerpiece of this special event. Attendees can view the historic artifact and hear from speakers, with additional presentations to be announced.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Hiram Historical Society’s Facebook page.
