The village of Plainfield, Illinois, is considering new signage — including ones marking Route 66 (seen above) — as a rebranding effort for the town, reported The Herald-News.
The new designs would encourage commemoration of the “legacy” of the historic Route 66, which runs along Route 59 through the village. The Route 66 signs could be partially or fully funded by Illinois Department of Transportation grants. […]
Bowan said the village’s goal is to find a way to reflect the village’s character.
“It’s just an old-fashioned community,” he said. “We’re trying to make the village look good.”
Plainfield’s downtown historic district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places about a year ago.
Plainfield had a 1940s and ’50s alignment of Route 66 on Main and Division streets through downtown. Plainfield also hosts a segment of the Lincoln Highway, which predates Route 66, in the downtown area.
Plainfield’s origins date to 1830 and is Will County’s oldest community. It is nicknamed “The Birthplace of Chicago” because the early version of the Windy City depended on Plainfield for mail and supplies.
Hmmmm Does anyone else see the similarity to the Pontiac, IL shield?