Standard Oil Gasoline Station (Plainfield, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Standard Oil Gasoline Station
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Standard Oil Gasoline Station building in 2011
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 600 West Lockport Street Plainfield, Will County, Illinois, United States |
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| Built | 1932 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000340 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1984 |
The Standard Oil Gasoline Station is a cool old building in Plainfield, Illinois. It used to be a place where cars could stop to get gasoline. This historic building is now a special landmark.
Contents
A Look Back: The Station's Story
Busy Roads and Perfect Spots
Imagine a time when cars were new and roads were just being built! The Lincoln Highway was the very first paved road in Plainfield. It was also the first road to go all the way across America. Because of this, many cars used it.
Later, in the 1920s, this road became known as U.S. Route 30. From 1940 to 1957, another famous road, U.S. Route 66, also used the same part of the Lincoln Highway. This meant a lot of traffic passed through Plainfield. With so many cars, Plainfield was a great spot for gas stations!
Unique Design: Homey and Spanish Styles
The Standard Oil Gasoline Station has a special look. It mixes two styles that the company, Standard Oil, used in the early 1900s. One style was called "Domestic." This made the station look like a cozy cottage. It was meant to feel like a friendly, local business.
The other style was "Spanish." This added cool features inspired by buildings in the southwestern United States. Most Standard Oil stations, including this one, were painted red, white, and blue.
Built During Tough Times
This gas station was built in 1932, during a difficult time called the Great Depression. Money was tight, so the station has less fancy decoration than older stations. Instead, it used large glass windows along its sides.
This station was recognized as a historic place on November 13, 1984. It is also part of the Downtown Plainfield Historic District, which means it helps make the downtown area special.
Building Details: What It Looks Like
Outside the Station
The building is made of brick, but it has a smooth outer layer called stucco. The original metal roof is still there. Later, a small addition was built from cement blocks with a flat roof. This part was used as a car wash.
Special Touches
You can see four tall posts, called piers, sticking up from the roof. These piers have electric lights with round glass covers. The two piers on the north side have an extra simple decoration called a belt course. The station has two wooden doors with panels below the windows.
At one point, the station was painted orange and yellow. But now, it has been painted back to its original red, white, and blue colors!
