If my name ever goes into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.
— A. Lincoln, 1863Chester A. Arthur
(presidential term: 1881-1885)
Chester A. Arthur is the first and only President known to have stayed at the Home during the winter months, residing there until the winter of 1882, and returning to the White House to entertain for the New Year. But a few months after President Arthur escaped the unsanitary conditions of the White House for the Soldiers’ Home, calamity struck.
“At 4 o’clock this afternoon fire was discovered in the President’s cottage at the Soldiers’ Home, caused by an overheated furnace. The President had gone into the city, leaving his sister, Mrs. McElroy, and her young daughter in the cottage. Much excitement prevailed for a time, but help soon arrived and the fire was subdued.”
— The New York Times, November 19, 1882.
No one apparently was hurt, but the house suffered an estimated $100 in damage from the fire.
Aside from the brush with fire, President Arthur reportedly enjoyed his time spent at the Soldiers’ Home, and continued to withdraw there even after the White House was renovated. He took advantage of the abundant outlets for relaxation available at the Home, especially fishing.
“President Arthur has quitted the White House for the season, and is staying at that convenient resort for Presidents, the Soldiers’ Home. Nearly all of the many rumors as to where he will spend the heated term agree that he will do more or less fishing. An interesting line of inquiry would be whether the President’s special fondness for casting a fly has resulted in making that sport more sought after than it used to be.”
— Harper’s Weekly, June 23, 1883.
Whether or not President Arthur wrote about the Soldiers’ Home remains a mystery. Nearly all of his personal papers were destroyed prior to and shortly after his death.