21 - Chester Alan Arthur

Chester Alan Arthur was born October 5, 1830, in the manse of the church where his father served as minister in Fairfield, Vermont.  There is a marker at the site where the tiny two-room cottage originally stood and the house has been rebuilt adjacent.  I visited the President Chester Arthur State Historic Site in the summer of 2013:


 

In 1833, the Arthurs moved to Perry, New York.  I have not yet visited the home at 7 Elm Street.


From 1839 to 1844, the Arthurs lived at 22 Woodlawn Avenue in Union Village (now Greenwich), New York.  The original building no longer exists.


In 1844, the Arthurs moved to 626 First Avenue in Lansingburgh (now part of Troy), New York.  I visited this site in 2014:

Note: This is a private residence and is not open to the public.


Arthur attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, from 1845 to 1848.  He dormed in Lamont House; the college has the window sill from his room where Arthur carved his initials.  I visited the site in 2014:

Note: This is now a college administration building and is not open to the public.


After graduating from college, Arthur took a position teaching at a school in Schaghticoke, New York.  By 1850, he had moved to Hoosick, New York, while teaching just across the Vermont border in North Pownal.  I have been unable to determine the location of his residence in Hoosick.


In 1852, Arthur moved to New York City to teach at the Academy at Cohoes and study law (he was admitted to the bar in 1854).  While in NYC, Arthur purchased a home at 123 Lexington Avenue.  It was in the first floor parlor that Arthur took the oath of office after ascending to the presidency upon the assassination of President James Garfield.  The building is now houses a grocery store, but there is a marker on the residential entrance.


Arthur served as president from 1881 to 1885, and thus, lived in the White House.  After leaving the presidency, Arthur retired to his home in New York City.


On November 18, 1886, Chester Alan Arthur died at his home on Lexington Avenue in New York City.  He was buried in Albany, New York.  I visited the Albany Rural Cemetery in 2014:



Back to Index









No comments:

Post a Comment