Standard Oil Gasoline Station (Plainfield, Illinois)
The Standard Oil Gasoline Station is a historic building once used as a gas station in Plainfield, Illinois.
Standard Oil Gasoline Station | |
 Standard Oil Gasoline Station building in 2011 | |
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| Location | 600 West Lockport Street Plainfield, Will County, Illinois, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°36′29″N 88°12′20″W |
| Built | 1932 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000340 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1984 |
History
The Lincoln Highway was the first paved road in Plainfield. As the first transcontinental road in America, the road saw very heavy usage and was re-designated U.S. Route 30 in the 1920s. From 1940 to 1957, U.S. Route 66 ran concurrently with US 30 on the same section of Lincoln Highway through Plainfield,[1] creating substantial traffic. Plainfield's location on the routes made it a prime location for refuelling stations.[2]
The station is a fusion of the "Domestic" and "Spanish" style gas stations that Standard Oil designed in the early 20th century. The Domestic elements were intended to represent a cottage, promoting a mom-and-pop atmosphere, while the Spanish style incorporated southwestern architecture. Like most Standard Oil stations at the time, the color scheme was red, white, and blue.[2]
Built during the Great Depression, the Plainfield station features less ornamentation than stations during the 1920s due to economic concerns; instead, large panes of plate glass were used along the sides of the station. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1984. It is a contributing property to the Downtown Plainfield Historic District.[2]
Architecture
The brick building has a stucco finish. The original metal roofing is intact. A small addition, built from cement block with a flat roof, was later constructed as a car wash. Four piers emerge from the roof and are decorated with glass-globed electric lights; the north two piers are further ornamented with a simple belt course. The two wooden doors have recessed panels below a window. The paint scheme was at one point changed to orange and yellow, but has been changed back to its original red, white and blue.[2]