GEORGE M. GARRETT.   To the ordinary man or one of less talent the ability that is evidenced by the truly competent civil engineer is a matter of both wonder and admiration.  He may look about him in his own neighborhood and be a witness of the changes taking place.  Probably he does not always understand them until he sees the regulated streets and boulevards, the carefully laid out parks, the erection of water and other power plants, the putting down of sewers, all according to exact rule which the civil engineer knows.  Further, while he may never have seen such feats of engineering as the tunneling of mountains, the bridging of mighty chasms, the harnessing of tempestuous waterfalls or the building of subways below busy and congested streets, yet he knows that these marvelous things have been done and that they are but a part of what his neighbor, the civil engineer, is able to accomplish.  This profession, so vital, so necessary to the life of nations, deserves to be placed high in the list of useful arts and sciences.  Cleveland has not been negligent in her encouragement of men talented in this line, and one whose achievements have reflected credit upon her as well as upon himself is George M. Garrett, who during the past eighteen years has established building and property lines and laid out the greater number of large buildings constructed in the business district within this time.
     George M. Garrett was born at Huron in Erie County, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1870.  His parents were George and Catherine (Myers) Garrett, who moved to Cleveland in 1871, George M. by but a few months escaping being a native of this city, to which he has always given the devotion of a son and in which he has achieved his enviable professional reputation.
     In the public schools of Cleveland Mr. Garrett continued a student until his graduation from high school in 1890.  In May of that year he went to work in the city engineer's department as rodman, and, showing great aptitude, became draughtsman and transit man and remained until a change in the city administration, John Farley being elected mayor, caused his discharge with others, for political reasons, in May, 1899.  He then went to work for Samuel J. Baker, then county surveyor, with whom he continued until Mr. Baker's death in October of that year.
     By this time, through much experience as surveyor, Mr. Garrett determined to put his thorough practical knowledge of civil engineering to the test in a business of his own.  Although circumstances had not favored him in the way of technical schooling he had enjoyed unusual advantages of a practical kind, and shortly after establishing himself in the Cuyahoga Building he found great business encouragement and completed some very satisfactory professional work.  In 1904 he removed to the Citizens Building and maintained his offices there until 1912.  His next location was at No. 1900 Euclid Avenue, and three years later he took possession of his present well appointed quarters in the Erie Building.  Here he carries on a general civil engineering business and it is with pardonable pride that he can point to the following list of notable buildings of which he had charge of construction as engineer: The Cuyahoga County Courthouse, the Bingham Building, the Ninth Street Terminal Warehouse, the new City Hall, the Old and New Guardian Building, the First National Bank Building, the Union National Bank, William Taylor & Sons Building, the Hippodrome, the Cleveland Trust Company Building, the Athletic Club, the Statler Hotel, the Halle Brothers Building, the Kinney & Levan Building, the Leader-News Building, the Winton Hotel, and was also engineer in charge of construction on Nela Park for the National Electric Lamp Company.  This list, comprehensive as it is, by no means covers all of Mr. Garrett's professional accomplishments, but it serves to show the high measure of confidence felt in his capacity as a civil engineer by his fellow citizens, whose choice is not limited because of lack of engineering talent here.
     In March, 1896, Mr. Garrett was married at Cleveland to Miss Clara Clymonts, of this city, and they have two children, a son and daughter: Thomas C., who is a student in the University of Michigan; and Ruth Marian, who is attending Lakewood High School.
     Mr. Garrett has always been identified with the republican party.  He is a director of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of the Civil Engineers' Club, the West Shore Country and the Cleveland Automobile clubs.
Source: History of Cleveland and its Environs - The Heart of New Connecticut - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago and New York - 1918 - Page 402 - Vol. II