LOCAL LANDMARKS
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The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) may designate properties within the Village of Plainfield that have historical or architectural significance as local landmarks. The HPC also looks at the integrity of design, workmanship, materials, location, setting and feeling, and the extent to which it meets one or more of twelve criteria
outlined in the HPC ordinance.
15126 S. Fox River Street (510 N. Fox River Street) The Hartong-Smith House The first landmark designated in the Village of Plainfield is 15126 S. (510 N.) Fox River Street. It faces the Village Green and is one of the later properties built adjacent to the Green. It is known as The Hartong-Smith House and its architectural style or type is an American Foursquare. Clinton Hartong, a Plainfield native who managed the local lumberyard, built it in 1924. Hartong is credited with building four American Foursquare houses in and around Plainfield. American Foursquare houses were one of the most popular types from the 1890s through the 1920s. They were two-story residences, typically square in shape with a full façade porch, a dormer on the center of the roof, and were often constructed of brick.
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24216 W. Ottawa Street (707 W. Ottawa Street) The Brownson-Martin House The Village’s second local landmark is also an American Foursquare. 24216 (707) W. Ottawa Street, known as The Brownson-Martin House. Chester Brownson and his family built the residence in c. 1915. Chester and his brother operated a family butcher shop and Chester served as the town clerk, a precinct committeeman, and postmaster. His wife, Birdie, was a telephone operator and received the first library card issued by the Plainfield Public Library. The Brownson-Martin House was the first recipient of the Village’s Rehabilitation Grant Program and used the up to $10,000 in matching funds to restore the original wood siding on the exterior of the residence while adding an addition to the rear.
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24012 W. Commercial St. (409 W. Commercial St.) The Pioneer House 24012 (409) W. Commercial Street is the Village’s third property designated as a landmark. It is a Greek Revival cottage that was constructed shortly after the Village was platted. Greek Revival elements on it include its gable front, the cornice returns on the front façade, its scale of 1½ stories, and the frieze windows on the side elevation. This residence would have been one of the first houses constructed along Commercial Street. It is associated with several prominent early families who helped settle the Village. It is probable that Chester Ingersoll, or one of his associates, constructed the house in 1834. It is known as the Pioneer House due to its association with early residents of the community.
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14907 S. Bartlett Avenue (803 N. Bartlett Avenue) The Caton-Kelly Wright House 14907 S. (803 N.) Bartlett Avenue was designated in Fall 2007 as the Village’s fourth landmark, and it was the first property in the East Side Historic District with landmark status. It is known as The Caton-Kelly-Wright House. Albert and Alice Caton built the property and the Caton family is associated with the early development of Plainfield Township. It is a Queen Anne style residence constructed in 1890. It is unique in the Village in that it has a gambrel roof on its south elevation and shingles on the second story. This house received a Rehabilitation Grant for work including tuckpointing, painting, and window repair. Prior to the rehabilitation grant, the owners completed a substantial amount of rehabilitation work, notably removing aluminum siding and beginning work on restoring the original siding and shingles.
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15022 S. Bartlett Avenue (708 N. Bartlett Avenue) The Barr-Hendricksen House 15022 S. (708 N.) Bartlett Avenue is also located in the East Side Historic District. This residence, known as The Barr-Hendricksen House, was constructed c. 1897 and is an Eclectic Queen Anne. It has elements of the Queen Anne style as well as Colonial Revival (original porch columns, attic window), Tudor Revival (stucco and half-timbering on second story), Shingle (curve and slope of second floor, shingles), Craftsman (eave brackets), and Gothic (arch shape on side gable). It was built by Charles Barr who was a businessman and entrepreneur. He was associated with a grain elevator and other religious, social, and political activities. The residence is part of the East Side Historic District.
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14931 S. Bartlett Avenue (723 N. Bartlett Avenue) The Varley-Olsen House The Varley-Olsen House at 14931 S. (723 N.) Bartlett Avenue was built c. 1905, likely for John and Louisa Varley. The Varleys were farmers from Wheatland Township. The residence is an example of the Queen Anne style in the Village. It has an asymmetrical and irregularly shaped roof, a dominant front facing gable, variations in the wall texture, a cutaway bay window, and a full façade front porch. The residence is part of the East Side Historic District.
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15326 S. Joliet Road (208 N. Joliet Road) The Chittenden-Owens-Spangler House The Chittenden-Owens-Spangler House is located at 15326 S. (208 N.) Joliet Road. It was modified over time to reflect changing architectural trends. It is now being restored to much of its original appearance. It was constructed between 1883 and 1885 in the Italianate style for George Chittenden, or his son, William. Near the turn of the century, a Queen Anne style porch was added on the front façade. The most striking change occurred c. 1914 when Dr. Owens, then the owner, applied a stucco finish to the exterior in the Moderne style. The stucco finish remained until 2006 when the current owner removed it due to deterioration. |
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15005 S. Bartlett Avenue (719 N. Bartlett Avenue) The Evarts-Eaton-Lambert House 15005 S. (719 N.) Bartlett Avenue is also known as The Evarts-Eaton-Lambert Residence. It was built c. 1888 and has elements of the Queen Anne and Shingle styles. It has a sweeping side gabled roof with a hexagonal dormer and cut-in balcony – accessible only through a window, and the first floor has a full façade recessed porch. The north elevation has a triangular bay window and there are joist tails visible on the gable end. The residence was built by the Evarts Family, the owners of the first bank in Plainfield. Its second owners, the Eatons, were farmers in Plainfield and Wheatland Townships. Its current owner is a descendant of the Eaton Family. |
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| 24103 W. Lockport Street (600 W. Lockport Street) Standard Oil Station This building is the first commercial building to become a local landmark in the Village. It was constructed as a Standard Oil Station in 1928 and later operated as Overman's Certified Texaco Station, Allen Hall's Texaco, and as a Welco Gas Port. The current owners purchased, enlarged, and remodeled the gas station in 1984-1985. It was further renovated in 2004 with the assistance of a Village of Plainfield Facade Grant. The property is typical of the "Domestic" type of service station. This type had an appearance of a picturesque cottage, which was designed to link the structure to a family institution. The station is also typical of the "house with canopy" type. Spanish and Mission style elements are also present with the tile roof. The property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. |
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23921 W. Lockport Street (300 W. Lockport Street) The Darr-Gaylord House The Darr-Gaylord House is a good example of a late Queen Anne style residence in the Village. The structure was begun in 1897 but was not completed until the following year due to the untimely death of Mr. Darr in October 1897. A member of an early pioneer family in Plainfield, David Darr was a veteran of the Civil War and a local hardware merchant. The Darr-Gaylord Home is in pristine condition with its original design and materials largely intact. The house has been lovingly maintained by its current owner, Ms. Betty Gaylord. The Gaylord Family descends from the original owners, David and Eliza Darr.
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14930 S. Bartlett Avenue (726 N. Bartlett Avenue) The Irwin-Rogman House The Irwin-Rogman House at 14930 S. Bartlett Avenue is the Village's newest landmark. The house was constructed circa 1903 and this two story residence exhibits many of the distinctive features of an American Queen Anne style, including an asymmetrical facade with a dominant front-facing gable and an eclectic variety of windows. However, the restraint of the emerging Classical Revival style is expressed by the simplified architectural details, modest window patterns, and a large porch with roof balustrade that dominated the facade when the house was originally built. |
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