Plainfield in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Downtown Historic District
National Register of Historic Places - 2013
— Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission —
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 7, 2016
1. Downtown Historic District Marker
Plainfield has maintained a link to its heritage by preserving its historic architecture. The Downtown Historic District encompasses 50 properties along both sides of Lockport Street between Division Street on the east and James and Main Streets on the west. This four block area, developed between 1848-1963, includes a dense block of brick commercial buildings and three blocks with a mix of churches, commercial, and residential structures.
In the beginning, commercial development was scattered throughout Plainfield, but by the late 1840s, it concentrated along either side of "Lockport Road." By 1869, the northern and southern sections of Plainfield were joined as a single community and Lockport Street was later chosen as part of the route for the Lincoln Highway - the first paved transcontinental highway.
Greek Revival was the most common style of architecture among the earliest commercial and residential wood framed structures downtown. Fires in the 1880s and 1890s resulted in new brick buildings designed in the popular styles, such as Italianate and Queen Anne. A wide range of building materials, styles, and types are
this page online
Erected by Village of Plainfield Preservation Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.
Location. 41° 36.515′ N, 88° 12.301′ W. Marker is in Plainfield, Illinois, in Will County. Marker is at the intersection of Lockport Street and Des Plaines Street, on the right when traveling west on Lockport Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24050 Lockport Street, 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. Masonic Block Building Landmark (a few steps from this marker); The Development of Downtown Plainfield (a few steps from this marker); Opera House Block Building Landmark (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Plainfield Congregational Meeting House (about 500 feet away); Plymouth Congregational Church (about 500 feet away); Overman-Brown-Buss Residence (about 800 feet away); Brownson-Martin House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Darr-Gaylord House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plainfield.
Also see . . .
1. Downtown Plainfield. Village of Plainfield website entry (Submitted on August 20, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 7, 2016
2. Downtown Historic District Marker
2. Downtown Plainfield Historic District National Register Registration. NPGallery: Digital Asset Management System website entry (Submitted on April 23, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 23, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
