Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
“The Downtown Plainfield Historic District is the historic downtown area of Plainfield, Illinois, United States. The four block district reflects popular architectural styles of the mid-19th to mid-20th century.”
Wikipedia article Downtown Plainfield Historic District, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 38 National Register listings published here for Will County · listed in 2013 · category: District.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the National Register database, National Park Service
The chapter on Plainfield Township in The History of Will County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County ... a Directory of Its Real Estate Owners; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics ... History of Illinois ... History of the Northwest .., published 1878 names Plainfield. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.
Plainfield is beautifully located on the east bank of the Du Page River, about one mile north of the center of the township of Plainfield, and is nine miles northwest of Joliet. Chester Ingersoll is accredited with laying out the village proper, which is sometimes termed South Plainfield, while the north division was laid out by 'Squire Arnold. He was a New Yorker, and came here in 1834; laid out the village that year, and was one of the first to keep a tavern in the place. Being a little at " loggerheads " with Ingersoll, as our informant expressed it, his addition was laid ofi" a little " catering." The meaning of the latter word was gathered while taking a stroll through the village, when we found the streets of the two sections coming together at an angle of about forty-five degrees. But even with this defect, it is a very pretty little village and claims from one thousand to twelve hundred inhabitants. James Walker put up the first dwelling within the present limits long before it was laid out as a village. It was a small log house, and was occupied by Walker some time as a residence. Ingersoll built the next house, which was soon after .the one above-mentioned. Arnold put up the first house occupied purposely as a tavern, though Walker had kept a house of entertainment previously. " Uncle Fen " Aldrich also kept a tavern here. This was one of the stopping-places on the stage-route between Chicago and Ottawa, and the half-way point between the two places, hence, it was a good place for hotels. Jonathan Hagar and Samuel Sargent opened the first store in the upper story of John Bill's wagon-shop. The next year, they put up a storehouse, which has since been converted into the Congregational parsonage. Mr. Hagar continued in business here until 1861, when he retired, and is one of the wealthy men of the place. He tells the following anecdote as an example of the pernicious effects of sowing " tares :" An old lady, one of the early settlers of the village, brought with her from the East a quantity of burdockseed, declaring it to be " such an excellent yarb," that she was bound to have a crop growing. She accordingly sowed it in every available spot. That the crop did grow, the citizens of the village can bear witness, notwithstanding their utmost efibrts to the contrary.
Passage source: The History of Will County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County ... a Directory of Its Real Estate Owners; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics ... History of Illinois ... History of the Northwest .., published 1878.
The village was incorporated under special act of the Legislature February 23, 1861. This embraced North Plainfield only, we believe. In April, 1869, it was again incorporated by special act, including both the north and south divisions of the place, and June 30, 1877, it was incorporated under the general law of the State. The first Board of Village Trustees were as follows : J. McAllister, George N. Chittenden, Robert Webb, Jonathan Hagar and John D. Shreffler. The Board organized for business by making J. McAllister President, and George N. Chittenden, Clerk. The present " City Fathers " are: Alexander McClaskey, President; A. J. Perkins, C. E. Eraser, Joseph McCreery, George W. Flagg, P. Y. Dundore, and H. A. Tounshendeau, Clerk ; Ira Vanolinda, Police Magistrate. The business of Plainfield presents the following outlook : Two general dry goods and grocery stores, two grocery and hardware stores, two drug stores, one book and stationery store, one furniture store, one hotel, one restaurant, two livery stables, five blacksmith-shops, three wagon-shops, four practicing physicians, two cider-mills ; with barber-shops, meat-markets, harness-shops, tailor-shops, paint-shops, millinery-shops, etc.; but neither saloons nor lawyers. It has, however, a Red Ribbon Club of 382 members - John D. Shrefiler, President, and H. A. Tounshendeau,- Secretary.
Passage source: The History of Will County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County ... a Directory of Its Real Estate Owners; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics ... History of Illinois ... History of the Northwest .., published 1878.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Plainfield Township - 1,852 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Downtown Plainfield Historic District: 5 past producers, 3 plants, 3 producers, 1 occurrence. 6 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockport Pit/Yard 15 | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Patterson Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Plainfield Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Plainfield Plant & Mine | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Plant | ||
| Avery No. 2 Pit & Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Plant | ||
| Avery No. 3 Pit & Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Boughton Quarry & Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Plant | ||
| Dupage River Quarry E.E. Hauling | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Illinois Stone Co Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Plainfield, the town this property stands in, in 91 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 44 thunderstorm wind, 33 hail, 4 tornado, 3 lightning. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2007 | Tornado (EF0) | Plainfield | $100,000 | A small tornado touched down at Route 126 and Eastern Avenue in Plainfield and continued for 3.2 miles to near Patrick Henry Parkway and Essington Road in Bolingbrook. The tornado path width was only about 5 yards wide. The tornado was rated EF0 with winds estimated at 65 to 80 mph.|The first damage was at a nursing home just northeast of downtown Plainfield. A minivan in the parking lot was flipped on its side and a couple other vehicles were jostled. There was roof damage to the nursing home where shingles and a couple small sections of roofing were torn off.|The funnel then passed over an older neighborhood with mature trees and ranch homes. There was no visible damage in this area. The large trees may have sheltered the neighborhood. The funnel then moved over an area of lakes with very few homes.|The next signs of damage were in a subdivision just southwest of the corner of Essington Road and 127th Street. This is a new subdivision with large two story homes and only small trees. These homes were more exposed. Here there was minor damage to several homes. Most of the damage was to shingles and playground equipment. The tornado continued into another subdivision north of 127th where trampolines and lawn furniture were blown around by the tornado. The flying debris damaged siding on a few homes. The tornado damage ended in a subdivision under construction on the east side of Essington Road where a construction trailer was damaged. The funnel dissipated over Bolingbrook golf club. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | $25,000 | Near Route 59 and Fort Beggs Street, benches, bleachers and fences were damaged at Central High School. A roof was damaged on the Plainfield Tech Building and minor damage was reported to the Plainfield Tornado Memorial. Witnesses reported seeing a gustnado just ahead of the main line of thunderstorms. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | $25,000 | Numerous reports of trees and utility poles blown down across western side of Will County. |
| June 2000 | Lightning | Plainfield | $20,000 | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Tornado (F0) | Plainfield | $2,000 | A weak tornado touched down briefly in a field south of Plainfield near Caton Farm Road and Route 59. It dissipated as it moved toward a housing subdivision. Winds estimated at around 50 mph knocked over lawn chairs, bent a basketball goal, and knocked loose shutters and a brick facade from a house. |
| March 2026 | Hail | Plainfield | - | A few hail reports out of the north and northwest sides of Plainfield ranged in size from 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Part of a tree was snapped off on the northeast side of Plainfield. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | An NWS employee reported 6-inch diameter tree limbs down along US Rt. 30 east of Rt. 59 in Plainfield. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Mulitple trees and large tree limbs were blown down in Plainfield. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Power lines were blown down. |
| February 2024 | Hail | Plainfield | - | An NWS employee observed 1.5 hail in Plainfield. |
| June 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A big tree limb had broken off and was stuck in the lower branches of the tree. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Multiple large tree limbs were blown down in northwest Plainfield. Minor damage occurred to a utility pole on 143rd Street. Outdoor restaurant dining sets and barriers were knocked over in downtown Plainfield. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Shingles were blown off of a roof and patio furniture was blown up and over a house near US Rt. 30 and 135 St. Wind magnitude and time were estimated based on radar. |
| April 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A large area of straight line wind damage occurred near 135th Street, west of Route 59. Several tree limbs 6 to 10 inches in diameter were blown down near the intersection of 135th Street and Meadow Lane. A large section of siding was ripped off the south side of a house on Meadow Lane, just south of 135th Street. Two large trees were blown down on 135th Street, about a third of a mile west of Meadow Lane. A sod farm irrigation pivot was blown into fences and yards, damaging the fences along the west side of Meadow Lane. A private weather station measured a gust to 65 mph at this location. Between Meadow Lane and Van Dyke Road, along 135th Street, multiple tree limbs were blown down; an 8 inch diameter pine tree was snapped halfway up the trunk; fence panels were damaged and trampolines were flipped. The damage was consistent with wind speeds estimated to 75 mph. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Tree limbs were blown down on South River Road. |
| July 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A large tree limb was blown down. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Tree damage was reported on the northwest side of Plainfield. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Sporadic minor tree damage consistent with straight line winds occurred in the vicinity of Meadow Lane between 143rd Street and Lockport Street, east to Route 59. |
| June 2021 | Tornado (EF0) | Plainfield | - | A tornado with peak winds of 85 mph touched down near the intersection of Route 59 and Route 126, just north of downtown Plainfield. Numerous large tree limbs and a few trees were blown down in a neighborhood south of Route 126 and north of Lockport Street. A tree limb was impaled into a home on Hawthorn Circle. Minor tree damage occurred in the Lake Renwick Preserve. The tornado crossed Interstate 55 with a path of sporadic tree damage in the Fieldstone neighborhood of Romeoville near Helen Drive. Tree damage occurred in the Mistwood Golf Club including tree limbs removed from the top of trees. A narrow path of concentrated tree damage occurred near Rosemarie Lane. The tornado lifted in the vicinity of Thomas Drive just east of Weber Road. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Wind gusts were estimated to 65 mph. A fence panel was blown over. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A tree was blown down onto a fence. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A small tree was snapped in Plainfield. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Large trees and power lines were blown down across Plainfield. |
| November 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A private weather station measured a wind gust to 60 mph. |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A large tree was uprooted at the corner of Renwick Road and Renwick Park Drive. |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | River Road was blocked by a tree that had been uprooted. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph. |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Plainfield. |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A large tree limb was blown down. |
| February 2017 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Half dollar size hail was reported near Lily Cache Road. |
| April 2017 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Penny to quarter size hail was reported on Caton Farm Road near Route 59. |
| June 2017 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Dime to nickel size hail was reported 4 miles north of Plainfield. |
| June 2017 | Heavy Rain | Plainfield | - | Heavy rainfall of 1.65 inches was reported 3 miles north of Plainfield. |
| June 2017 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Quarter size hail was reported 2 miles north of Plainfield. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A small tree approximately four to five inches in diameter was snapped a few feet above the ground approximately three miles northwest of Joliet. At Renwick Road and Old Renwick Trail, large limbs from an oak tree were snapped. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Wind gusts were estimated to 65 mph. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Quarter size hail was reported near Route 30 and Renwick Road. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Winds were estimated to 65 mph near the intersection of Route 59 and Caton Farm Road. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A large tree was blown down near Route 59 and Lockport Street. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Wind gusts were estimated to 70 mph. |
| May 2009 | Flood | Plainfield | - | One foot of water was reported covering part of Route 126 just north of downtown Plainfield. Three inches of flowing water was reported on Route 53 between 83rd and Boughton Road in Bolingbrook. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Nickel size hail reported at Caton Farm Road and Wemere Park. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Penny size hail reported at 135th Street and Plainfield/Naperville Road. |
| July 2007 | Heavy Rain | Plainfield | - | Storm total rainfall of 4.03 inches measured in Plainfield near Route 126 and Route 30. Storm total rainfall of 3.03 inches measured at the National Weather Service office. |
| August 2007 | Flood | Plainfield | - | Fifteen to eighteen inches of water on Route 126 and County Line Road. |
| April 2006 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Penny size hail was reported at Route 59 and Renwick Road. Nickel to quarter size hail was reported just west of downtown Plainfield. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Nickel size hail was reported at IL 59 and 127th. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph. |
| August 2006 | Flood | Plainfield | - | Six inches of standing water on Renwick Road, a quarter mile east of Route 59. |
| March 2005 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Golf ball sized hail and nickel sized hail reported in Plainfield, 1650-1655 CST.Nickel sized hail reported at the Plainfield library, 1708-1713 CST.Quarter sized hail reported at the intersection of County Line and Theodore Rds., 3 miles NW of Shorewood, 1705-1710 CST. |
| May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A two foot diameter tree fell on power lines and a house, causing the house to catch on fire near Renwick and Drauden Roads. |
| May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A gust to 60 mph was reported at Route 59 and Theodore Road. Several trees were blown down across Plainfield and the west side of Joliet, including a one foot diameter tree near Route 30 and Route 59, a large tree near Drauden and Caton Farm Roads. Part of the roof at the Plainfield South High School was damaged. |
| March 2005 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Quarter sized hail was reported 4 miles west of Joliet, at the intersection of County Line Rd. and Theodore St., 1855-1900 CST.Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of Rt. 59 and Caton Farm Rd, 1900-1905 CST.Golf ball sized hail was reported in Plainfield, 1900-1905 CST.Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of Rt. 7 and Rt. 52, 1859-1904 CST. |
| May 2005 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Hail ranging from the size of nickels to golfballs fell from Plainfield to Shorewood. Golfball size hail was reported in Shorewood. Quarter size hail was reported at Interstate 55 and Interstate 80. Half dollar size hail was reported at Route 59 and Theodore Road. Numerous homes received roof and siding damage from the hail. |
| April 2004 | Hail | Plainfield | - | Reported at Plainfield Central High School. |
| March 2004 | Lightning | Plainfield | - | House struck by lightning at Plantation and Richmond Rds. |
| May 2004 | Hail | Plainfield | - | There were numerous reports of hail ranging from nickel size to golfball size. Some locations included 135th and Route 30, 248th Avenue and 119th Street, 1 mile west of Route 59, 135th and the Kendall-Will County line, and on 11th Street, west of Route 59. |
| March 2004 | Lightning | Plainfield | - | House struck by lightning and started small fire |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainfield | - | A tree fell on to a power line. |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Plainfield Halfway House | under 500 feet | 1980 |
 | Standard Oil Gasoline Station | 0.2 miles | 1984 |
 | Flanders House | 0.2 miles | 1991 |
 | Ron George Round Barn | 5.5 miles | 1982 |
 | Joliet Municipal Airport | 6.2 miles | 1980 |
 | Fitzpatrick House | 7.0 miles | 1984 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 13000719 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Will County | All 38 listed properties in this county. |
Block