WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Off With His Head!

At Hiram College in Ohio, a recently acquired statue of U.S. President James A. Garfield lost its head. One day after the sandstone, 95-year-old statue was dedicated on the campus, the college discovered it had been beheaded. (Ohio native Garfield was a student and later the principal at the school that later became Hiram College. He was elected 20th president of the U.S. in 1880.)

Garfield lost his head, and campus officials hope to get it back.
Garfield lost his head, and campus officials hope to get it back.

The vandalism was discovered the morning of May 15, at which time Campus security and Village of Hiram police personnel were notified and began an investigation. The college is now offering a $1,000 reward for the head’s return.

“Our first priority is to restore the statue to its original condition,” said Hiram President Thomas V. Chema. “We’re not focused on why this occurred. We simply want to make the Garfield statue whole again as it is a magnificent new addition to our campus and a nice complement to our new facility, home to the Garfield Institute.”

A video of the statue’s installation can be viewed on the Hiram College Web site.