Plainfield in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Electric Park
1902-1924
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023
1. Electric Park Marker
[Timeline]
• 1902-1903: Land purchased and landscaped streetcar line completed
• 1904-1905: Electric Park opened. Within one year an amphitheater, bandstand and steam merry go-round were added.
• 1908-1924: The Chautauqua movement, developed by the Methodist church, presented cultural programs in the 3500-seat auditorium.
• 1910-1912: Fans gathered in the new grandstand to enjoy horse racing and baseball.
• 1916: A major rainstorm caused 15 acres of the park to be underwater.
• 1918-1919: WWI ended. Veterans were honored and photographed in the park.
• 1924: Electric Park closed. Affordable automobiles and improved roads made other destinations possible.
Erected by Village Preservation Association of Plainfield.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas
this page online
Location. 41° 36.502′ N, 88° 12.583′ W. Marker is in Plainfield, Illinois, in Will County. Marker is on Lockport Street (Illinois Route 126) east of Countryman Drive, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in the overlook on the eastbound side of the bridge over the DuPage River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Plainfield IL 60544, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. E J & E Depot No. 4 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Boxcars (about 500 feet away); Caboose (about 500 feet away); The Lincoln Highway - The nation's first coast-to-coast highway! (about 600 feet away); Interurban Transportation (about 600 feet away); Village of Plainfield (about 600 feet away); Great American Crossroads in Illinois (about 600 feet away); Brownson-Martin House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plainfield.
Also see . . .
1. Lambert: Electric Park — The Summer of '24. Before any official announcement was made, rumors began to circulate that the park would not open for its 21st season in 1924. Rumor became truth as spring turned into summer. First in a series. (Michael A. Lambert, Plainfield Patch,
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023
2. Electric Park Marker
2. Lambert: Electric Park — Wild Days of Jazz, Booze and A Preacher Man. Just as technology had put an end to Americans’ dependence on streetcars, technology also brought new life to Electric Park. Second in a series. (Michael A. Lambert, Plainfield Patch, July 25, 2012) (Submitted on August 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
3. Lambert: Electric Park — A Decade of Disappointment. The decade between 1928 and 1937 witnessed the continued decline of Electric Park in spite of the efforts of optimistic — and, possibly, corrupt — entrepreneurs. Third in a series. (Michael A. Lambert, Plainfield Patch, Aug. 7, 2012) (Submitted on August 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
4. Lambert: Electric Park — From Roller Rink to Rock-n-Roll. Fourth and final installment of a series on the Electric Park site after it closed in 1924. (Michael A. Lambert, Plainfield Patch, Aug. 22, 2012) (Submitted on August 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), circa 1907
3. Electric Park
Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
