On the Lincoln Highway and Route 66 in Plainfield, IL, Sept. 2016.
Leaving Joliet on the Plainfield Road in the direction of my next stop, Plainfield, I passed a monument commemorating the construction of the Lincoln (first photo).
Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway meet there as they also do in Joliet. In Plainfield they unite for three blocks and then separate again.
I have commented in past posts on how some places on the road here in the heartland seem to have that “secret sauce”. Plainfield is one of them. It’s a lovely place with very historic downtown. The barber shop dates back to 1901 at its present location and as a business goes all the way back to 1881. The former Opera House building now houses a steak and seafood place. Asking for directions right by the building I met the daughter (pictured) of the family who restored the old Opera House and operates the restaurant. The day I was there was the grand opening celebration.
The thriving downtown business district has a very fine ensemble of surviving older buildings – an impressive historic preservation result. There is even a restored old filling station now converted to other uses but with an original gas pump still out front.
The final picture is the main street and also the Lincoln Highway (Route 66 has already branched off) – that was the sight as I drove off (headed to Plano IL) after a very satisfying visit.
Bravo, Plainfield.
