Plainfield heritage work gets White House nod
PLAINFIELD -- The village of Plainfield recently received a letter signed by first lady Michelle Obama designating the village as a Preserve America Community.
The Preserve America designation is based on a community's efforts to promote heritage tourism, to protect its heritage resources and to protect and recognize its historic places. Designation as a Preserve America Community provides national recognition of Plainfield's achievements and will enhance heritage tourism efforts and other economic development strategies.
Benefits of designation include: White House recognition; eligibility to apply for Preserve America Grants; a listing in the Web-based Preserve America Community directory; inclusion in national and regional press releases; official notification of the designation to state tourism offices and visitors bureaus; and enhanced community visibility and pride.
The village was platted in 1834 as the "Town of Planefield." In the early 20th century, the Lincoln Highway was routed through the heart of the community and further stimulated commercial and residential development. After 1939, Plainfield enjoyed the distinction of being at the crossroads of the two longest, paved highways in the world when Route 66 was realigned through the village.
Three properties in the community are listed in the National Register of Historic Places: the Plainfield Halfway House at the "halfway" point on the Chicago-Ottawa Trail, the 1841 Flanders House, and a 1928 Standard Oil Gasoline Station.
The community established a Historic Preservation Commission in 2004. The commission has since designated eight local landmarks and one historic district. Plainfield is also designated as a Certified Local Government and is an Illinois Main Street community.
Preserve America is a federal program that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the program include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities.
