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This photo was taken circa 1893 from the southwest corner of Lockport and Illinois Streets looking towards Division Street (Rt 59). The white school in the distance was replaced by Central Elementary School (now Plainfield Academy). The original library was the small white building (behind the pine tree) in the lower right-hand corner of the photo.
Contact the Library
15025 S. Illinois St.
Plainfield, IL 60544
Phone: 815-436-6639
Fax: 815-439-2878
E-mail: Click Here
Text 'askppl' to 66746 for questions *
LIBRARY HOURS
Mon - Thurs: 9AM-9PM
Fri - Sat: 9AM-5PM
Sunday (Sept - May): 1PM-5PM
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The Plainfield Local History Collection Contains:
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Plainfield History
In 1828 Plainfield was founded by preacher Jessie Walker and known as Walker’s Grove. The area was not laid out as a village until 1834. At that time, the village officially became known as Plainfield. Squire Arnold plotted the northern part of the village while Chester Ingersoll plotted the southern part of what is now known as the Village of Plainfield. On February 28, 1861, the northern part of Plainfield (as plotted by Squire Arnold) was incorporated under a special act of the State Legislature. In April 1869, both the northern and southern parts of the village were again incorporated. Then on June 30, 1877, it was incorporated under the general law of the State. The village suffered a series of fires which nearly destroyed all of downtown Plainfield in the late 1880’s and early 1890’s. The village was rebuilt and an electric inter-urban line was erected which ran from Aurora to the north to Joliet in the south. The interurban line ran from October 1904 until 1924. Plainfield was a summer destination for much of northern Illinois. Electric Park opened in October 1904 with the unveiling of the Aurora, Plainfield and Joiet Railway as a way to stimulate business along the railway line. Including 20 acres of parkland which hosted such activities as dining, dancing, swimming, boating and bowling to name but a few. After Electric Park’s demise the auditorium became a dance hall and lastly an ice skating/roller skating rink. The structure was finally destroyed by the tornado that struck Plainfield on August 28, 1990. Click here to read more about Plainfield's tornado history.
The Village of Plainfield is located in Plainfield Township in Will County, 40 miles southwest of Chicago. The Village is bisected east to west by Illinois Route 30, and north to south by Illinois Route 59. Interstate 80 and 88 are seven miles south and eleven miles north respectively. O’Hare International Airport is 38 miles to the north and east. Midway Airport is 34 miles to the east. Today, the Village finds itself one of the nations fastest growing cities with residents living in both Will and Kendall counties.
Tornado History
Tornadoes and Plainfield seem to go together. On March 29, 1920 a tornado touched down and destroyed many cribs, sheds, roofs, windmills, chimneys, barns and houses in Plainfield Township. According to reports, several pigs were blown from their pens into the kitchen of a house. When the farmer returned home he found one porker sound asleep atop the kitchen table. One farmer lost his entire orchard.
Library of Congress’s Veteran’s Oral History Project | Click here for more information
The Library has partnered with the Illinois State Library, and the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. to collect veteran’s oral histories. Any veteran who has fought during wartime is eligible to participate in this ongoing program giving You, the veteran, a chance to choose the dates and times that best work for you! Participants can bring photos, letters and other memorabilia they would like to share. Each veteran will receive a copy of his interview to keep. Our library, like many others, is committed to collecting your stories and sharing them within our community and beyond.
Release forms are required for all participants. For more information contact Tina Beaird at 815-327-2515 or email reference@plainfieldpubliclibrary.org
Will County: Preserving History’s Heritage | Click here for more information
The Plainfield Public Library in conjunction with the Plainfield Historical Society, Shorewood-Troy Public Library and Will County Recorder of Deeds have digitized historical records via a grant obtained through the Illinois State Library’s Library Services and Technology Act. Items digitized include Grantor/Grantee indexes from the Will County Recorder’s office representing all property transactions for Will County from 1836-1889, The Combination Atlas Map of Will County 1873, Combination Atlas Map of Will County 1909, Shorewood Beach Association newsletters 1961-1963 and historic photos from the Miles V. Hartong Collection at the Plainfield Historical Society. The information is being added to a fully-searchable online database along with the original digital images and is now available by clicking the link above.
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©2009 Plainfield Public Library
15025 S. Illinois St. Plainfield, IL 60544 • P: 815-436-6639 • F: 815-439-2878
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