Garfi eld

Garfi eld City of

GARFIELD

SHERIDAN ST.

1ST ST.

SHERMAN ST.

2ND ST.

3RD ST. PORTER ST. GRANT ST.

56

PAWNEE ST.

Abell now hangs in the Garfi eld City Park. Th at bell has an interesting, and presidential, story. But, fi rst some background.

Th e fi rst settlers of Garfi eld came from Ohio, not Sweden, as was once believed. Th e Swedes came a few years later.

In January 1873, two months aft er Pawnee County was organized by proclamation of Gov. James Harvey, members of the Ohio colony fi led on about 30 pieces of land near the present site of Garfi eld, then known as Camp Criley.

Camp Criley was established in the late summer of 1872 as a supply station for workmen building the Santa Fe Railroad. It was named for Capt. J.D. Criley, superintendent of the construction. In March 1873, the advance guard of the Ohio colony arrived.

During the summer of 1873, others joined the growing settlement on the Arkansas River. Th e fi rst religious services were held in the town that summer, the Methodists forming a Sunday school class and the Congregationalists organizing a church. Later a Union Sabbath school was established. Th e Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1879.

But, the founders changed the name of the town from Criley to Garfi eld in honor of James A. Garfi eld, the congressman from their old district in Ohio, and later president of the United States.

When Mr. Garfi eld was informed of this honor, he wrote that he would present a bell to the fi rst church erected in the town. Th e bell hung in the Congregational Church from 1875 to 1959 and is now part of a monument in the City Park. Th e park also features a bandstand-style gazebo.

4TH ST.

5TH ST.

CITY COUNCIL

Mayor – Eldon Meckfessel 620-569-2317

Council Members

Councilman – Bill Philo 620-569-2373 Councilman – Tom Naugle 620-569-2373 Councilwoman – Denise Hoch 620-569-2382 Councilman – Robert Hoch 620-569-2382 Councilman – Kevin Ford 620-569-2538

The City Council meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the City Building, 217 3rd Street home@gbta.net

City Departments

City Clerk – Linda Meckfessel 620-569-2373 City Treasurer – Evalina Craig 620-569-3442 Fire Chief – Robert Meckfessel 620-569-2373 City Maintenance Supervisor – C.J. Wilder

Utilities

Electric

Midwest Energy 800-222-3121

Gas

Kansas Gas Service 800-794-4782

OTHER SERVICES

Sewer

City of Garfield 620-569-2373

Post Office

213 Third 620-569-2210 Supervisor C.J. Wilder

Recycling

Larned Industrial Park East of town off K-156 620-285-8555 Tuesday, Thursday 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m.-Noon

Trash Service

Pawnee Sanitation 620-285-7780

Animal Control

Lonnie Able 620-569-2484

Medical Care

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital 923 Carroll 620-285-3161

Police Department, 911 Dispatches out of Larned

Zip Code

67565