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Chester Arthur Historic Site (October 2016)

Chester Arthur, our 21st president, was born on October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont. He was a Republican. He was a part of New York’s political machine at the New York customhouse. In 1880, he was chosen as James Garfield’s Vice Presidential running mate. Arthur was a “Stalwart”, a faction of the Republican Party that existed briefly in the United States during and after Reconstruction and the Gilded Age during the 1870s and 1880s. They were the "traditional" Republicans who opposed Rutherford B. Hayes's civil service reform.

Chester Arthur became president after James Garfield’s assassination in 1881. A disappointed office seeker who wanted the Stalwart Arthur to be president assassinated Garfield. When Arthur was sworn in as president on September 20, 1881, people regarded him as a spoilsman with no experience and unworthy of the office. Arthur set out to prove that people wrong. In 1882 he vetoed an $18 million rivers and harbours bill that contained funds for projects for political patronage. Arthur’s supported the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) that clearly showed how far he had come from his earlier days of pursuing patronage when he worked at the New York customhouse. The Pendleton Act created a merit-based system of civil-service reform for public offices. Stalwarts, viewed Arthur’s support for the measure as a betrayal. Arthur also appropriated funding that transformed the United States Navy into one of the world’s great fleets.

Arthur lost the nomination of the Republican Party to James G. Blaine at the Republican Convention of 1884. Democrat, Grover Cleveland, won the presidency. Chester Arthur would not live much longer since he had Bright disease, an incurable kidney ailment. He died in New York City in 1886.
Chester Arthur Historic Site, Fairfield, Vermont cover page.
Chester Arthur Historic Site, Fairfield, Vermont cover page.		 Site of Chester A. Arthur's childhood home. The structure is a museum building, not the family house.
Site of Chester A. Arthur's childhood home. The structure is a museum building, not the family house.		 Arthur's parents moved to a new parsonage at this site when Arthur was less than one-year old.
Arthur's parents moved to a new parsonage at this site when Arthur was less than one-year old.		 Sign and flag outside the historic site.
Sign and flag outside the historic site.
Stone marking where the family cottage once stood.
Stone marking where the family cottage once stood.		 Sign explaining that there is controversy as to when Chester Arthur was born.
Sign explaining that there is controversy as to when Chester Arthur was born.		 The building for this historic site was built where the Fairfield Baptist parsonage once stood. The parsonage was built in 1830.
The building for this historic site was built where the Fairfield Baptist parsonage once stood. The parsonage was built in 1830.		 Sign explaining where Fairfield, Vermont is located.
Sign explaining where Fairfield, Vermont is located.
Chester Arthur's father, William Arthur, was an itinerant preacher's son.
Chester Arthur's father, William Arthur, was an itinerant preacher's son.		 Arthur's father preached at the North Fairfield Baptist Church, which was across the valley.
Arthur's father preached at the North Fairfield Baptist Church, which was across the valley.		 In 1851, Chester Arthur was a principal of an academy in North Pownal, Vermont.
In 1851, Chester Arthur was a principal of an academy in North Pownal, Vermont.		 Sign describing Arthur's school days and Arthur's service in the Union Army as a brigadier general.
Sign describing Arthur's school days and Arthur's service in the Union Army as a brigadier general.
Chester Arthur was one of two presidents from Vermont, the other being Calvin Coolidge.
Chester Arthur was one of two presidents from Vermont, the other being Calvin Coolidge.		 He was ridiculed as Vice President as a lackey of New York party boss, Roscoe Conkling.
He was ridiculed as Vice President as a lackey of New York party boss, Roscoe Conkling.		 On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by a supporter of Chester Arthur. Garfield lingered for 79 days before he died.
On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by a supporter of Chester Arthur. Garfield lingered for 79 days before he died.		 When Arthur assumed the presidency, he felt morally bound to Garfield's policies as a reformer.
When Arthur assumed the presidency, he felt morally bound to Garfield's policies as a reformer.
Chester Arthur was transformed by the presidency. He went from a spoiler to a reformer.
Chester Arthur was transformed by the presidency. He went from a "spoiler" to a "reformer." 		His biggest achievements were as a reformer.
His biggest achievements were as a reformer.		 Arthur also rebuilt the U.S. navy, making it into one of the world’s great fleets.
Arthur also rebuilt the U.S. navy, making it into one of the world’s great fleets. 		Chester Arthur concealed his Bright Disease from the public. He had doctors issue false statements about his health.
Chester Arthur concealed his Bright Disease from the public. He had doctors issue false statements about his health.
Arthur was a one-term president. He did not try hard for a second term since he knew that he was ill.
Arthur was a "one-term president." He did not try hard for a second term since he knew that he was ill.		 Another view of the museum building at the Chester Arthur Historical Site.
Another view of the museum building at the Chester Arthur Historical Site.		 In front of the museum is the stone showing where the family cottage once stood.
In front of the museum is the stone showing where the family cottage once stood.		 Back entrance of the museum building.
Back entrance of the museum building.

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