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HomeMy Public PortalAbout4. Chapter 4 - Survey Summary & RecommendationsWiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 84 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey CHAPTER 4 SURVEY SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Period of Significance: 1830 to 1970 The majority of the survey region began to be se ttled by farmers in the late 1820s and early 1830s. Plainfield was platted in 1834–1835 and construction of the Illinois a nd Michigan Canal began in 1836. Land to the north of the Indian Treaty Boundary Line was officially available for settlement once the land was obtained by the Treaty of Chicago in 1833, a lthough settlement did not take place on any wide scale in most of Wheatland or eastern Oswego and Na -Au-Say Townships until the 1840s. Based upon these development trends, a general date of 1830 seems appr opriate in assessing the region for its agricultural heritage. Farming continued to be the dominant use of the land in the survey region until the recent past. The development of suburban developmen t did not begin on a large scale until the post-World War II era, as subdivisions were established outside of Joliet, fo llowed by new suburbs such as Bolingbrook. By the 1960s and 1970s, Plainfield annexed more land as development progr essed. Therefore, a closing date for a period of agricultural significance would fall approxim ately around 1970, when agriculture in the region began to wane as a major social and economic for ce in the region. Although the National Register nomination process is usually reserve d for properties over 50 years old, structures located on historic farmstead sites that date after 1955 generally have b een documented as part of the survey due to their importance as part of the overall rural landscape and as evidence of the continued evolution of agricultural practices. Significance National Register and Local Landmark Criteria The National Register of Historic Places defines historic significance in terms of four Criteria for Evaluation: The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structur es, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and: A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a ma ster, or that possess high artis tic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or D. That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information in prehistory or history.213 The three criteria that are most applicable to propert ies in the rural survey area are A, B, and C. Under Criterion A, properties in the survey region may be significant as examples of historic agricultural practices over the past 150 years. Properties may be significant under Criterion B, but primarily for individuals who are significant at the local level. U nder Criterion C, buildings in the survey region have architecturally distinctive features and styles related to various identified historic styles and vernacular types. 213 Quoted from National Register Bulletin 15, How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cultural Resources Division, 1997), 2; originally published in Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Part 60 . Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 85 Using the criteria for listing on the National Register, several properties in the survey area have been identified that are potentially eligible for individual lis ting. This includes four properties with distinctive limestone construction in Wheatland and Plainfield Townships (the Fry farm, the Grill–Weinhold farm, the John Spangler farm, and the Zacharias Spangler farm) and two examples of “high style” architecture in a rural setting, the Gilbert Gaylord house in Oswego Township and the Jerome Smith house in Na-Au-Say Township. In addition to eligibility for National Register listing, individual properties within the survey region are also eligible for local Village of Plainfield listing. Properties that have been identified as potentially eligible for local landmark designation are listed on Table 1. All of the National Register-eligible properties would also be eligible for local landmark designation. An individual property is eligible for listing as a Village of Plainfield landmark if it meets any of the following criteria: Has character, interest or value that is part of the development, heritage or cultural character of the community, county, state or nation Is the site of a significant local, county, state or national event Is identified with a person who significantly contributed to the development of the community, county, state or nation Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style valuable for the study of a period, type, method of construction or use of indigenous materials Is identified with or is the work of a master builder, designer, architect or landscape architect whose work has influenced the development of the area, county, state or the nation Embodies elements of design, detailing, material s or craftsmanship that are of architectural significance Embodies design elements that make it structurally or architecturally innovative Has a unique location or physical characteristics that make it a fa miliar visual feature of the community Is a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian structure with a high level of integrity or architectural significance Is suitable for preservation or restoration Is included on the National Register of Historic Places Is included on the Illinois Re gister of Historic Places Has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important to prehistory, history or other areas of archaeological significance 214 The primary distinction between national and local listi ng is that local significance is easier to document and explain than national significance. Also, some proper ties with lessened integrity due to the addition of synthetic siding materials or other inappropriate a dditions are designated as potential local landmarks rather than potentially National Register eligibile . The suggested properties have been researched sufficiently in performing this survey to merit cons ideration as Plainfield landm arks. It should be noted that some of the properties with local landmark potenti al could be determined, with additional research, to have sufficient significance for National Register listing. The survey area contains one Will County landmark, the Spring Banks bridge on Renwick Road at the DuPage River. Integrity One important issue in the consideration of signifi cance of a property or site is its historical and architectural integrity. This can be defined as the de gree that a structure or group of structures retains its original configuration and materials, and that these materials are in good enough condition that measures can be taken to extend their service life. Replacement of selected elem ents, such as rotted wood members, 214 Village of Plainfield Historic Preserva tion Commission Historic Landmark Application. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 86 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey may be necessary, but total replacement is not necessary. The issue applies primarily to the exterior of the structure, although in some cases the integrity of the interior may be a factor as well. In the survey area, individual buildings on farmsteads may be in poor condition or significantly altered. In these instances, determination of significance can only be made on the historical importance of the original owner or builder. Some farmstead sites have lessened integrity because of the loss of one or more significant structures, making it difficult to rec ognize the agricultural connections of the site. Determination of integrity has to be made on a case by case basis. In many instances, the presence of a former farmhouse or barn alone communicat es the agricultural origins of the site. Another issue that defines the integrity of a structure is the presence of historically appropriate materials. Since a 150-year-old farmhouse is unlikely to have all of its original wood siding in place, an appropriate replacement would be wood siding material of similar dimension to the original. The presence of artificial or synthetic siding material, such as metal, aluminum, or vinyl siding, seriously detracts from the integrity of the building or element. It should be noted that this applies not only to farmhouses but barns and other agricultural support buildings. To address the additi on of contemporary finish materials to historic buildings while still identifying structures of historic interest, this survey report uses the terminology “potentially” significant. This terminology is used to describe structures for which the overall form and architectural character remains intact, but for which c ontemporary finish materials have been added to the building exterior. The removal of these finish materi als and the repair of the original wood siding (which typically is left in place in such installations) is a straightforward ac tivity that, if implemented, would restore the integrity of these historic structures. Although the presence of contemporary finish materials generally disqualifies a structure from individual listing as a historic landmark in some registries, this survey report is intended to serve as a planning tool, a nd the identification of sites with a potential to be listed as historic landmarks increases the usefulness of this tool. This issue is addressed in Preservation Brief No. 8: Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings, which states the following: Preservation of a building or district and its historic character is based on the assumption that the retention of historic materials and features and their craftsmanship are of primary importance. Therefore, the underlying issue in any discussion of replacement materials is whether or not the integrity of historic materials and craftsmanship has been lost. Structures are historic because the materials and craftsmanship reflected in their co nstruction are tangible and irreplaceable evidence of our cultural heritage. To the degree that substitu te materials destroy and/or conceal the historic fabric, they will always subtract from the basic integrity of historically and architecturally significant buildings.215 Contributing and Non-contributing Properties The rural survey area contains many more farmsteads and supporting rural sites that can be considered contributing than are non-contributing. For the purposes of this survey, a contributing site is defined as one that retains a coherent appearance as a farmstead and that represents the agricultural history of the survey area. Most of the structures on the property were observed to be in good or fair condition. Properties that have been designated contributing could be reconsidered for individual landmark status in the future, or could be included as part of a historic district. Non-contributing sites are listed as such because they lack integrity, the structures on the site we re observed to be in poor condition, or the primary buildings on the site post-date the period of significance. 215 John H. Myers, with revisions by Gary L. Hume, Preservation Brief No. 8, Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings: The Appropriateness of Substitute Materials for Resurfacing Historic Wood Frame Buildings (October 1984). Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 87 Potential Historic Districts, The matic Designations, and Landmarks The following thematic designation and historic distri cts are proposed for consideration by the Historic Preservation Commission and Village staff. More deta iled research may be necessary before listing can occur, and the boundaries of each group should be re fined based on consultation with local property owners. Refer to the maps provided at the end of this report for properties proposed for inclusion in each group and preliminary district boundaries. The proposed historic districts or individual landmarks identified in this report do not necessarily fall within the present day boundaries of the Village of Pl ainfield. As an interim step, the Village of Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission may request that Will County or Kendall County designate properties as county landmarks. If in the future the pr operty is annexed to the Village, the property could be re-designated as a Village landmark. Limestone Multiple Property Thematic Designation Previous survey efforts in the region by Mr. Michael A. Lambert has led to the recognition of several properties that all interrelate because of their common use of local limestone as a building material. This use of limestone occurred early in the development of the region because of the lack of sufficient milled lumber and the ready supply of limestone for buildi ng. Therefore, these structures are considered under National Register Criterion C, due to their unique co nstruction. Due to later development, these properties do not form a contiguous district. However, they represent a concentration of examples of a structural type that is unique within the broader survey region and within Will County as a whole. A thematic designation for the limestone structures of the DuPa ge River valley would be a way to recognize and protect these distinctive buildings. Like a historic di strict, thematic designation is conceived as a way to recognize multiple properties that share a common historical association and/or architectural typology. The group of properties may be historically signifi cant even though particular properties within the group may not be individually distinctive. A thematic d esignation recognizes these historic linkages but does not require the properties to be physically contiguous as in a district. The limestone structures of the DuPage River Valley are a distinct ive part of Plainfield’s hi story and are among the most historically significant mid-nineteenth century buildings in Will County. Wheatland Presbyterian Church Crossroads In the 1999–2000 survey report, one su ggested potential historic district encompassed the western half of Wheatland Township, to the Will County line (the lim it of that survey). As noted then, although annexations by Plainfield, Naperv ille, Bolingbrook, Joliet, and othe r communities had encroached upon the area, development had not yet occurred. In the fi ve years since that report, rapid development has greatly altered the formerly agricultural landscape. Suburbanization has spread rapidly westward from Illinois Route 59, and much of the area included in the proposed rural heritage district is now developed. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 88 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Given the extent of the new suburban pattern, the prev iously proposed rural heritage district no longer forms a coherent or definable entity. However, indi vidually significant structures and crossroads do still exist in the area and can be cons idered for landmark status. Also, the Wheatland Presbyterian Church crossroads, which was contained within the rural heritage district, is s till eligible as an intact crossroads community. A much smaller historic district, en compassing the church, cemetery, parsonage, baseball field, and a half dozen adjacent residences, still presents a unified historic character. A historic district centered on the intersection of 119th Street and Heggs Road would likely qualify for the National Register under Criterion C for the historic buildings present at the crossroads. Refer to the photographs on page 29. Plainfield Road Corridor District Another potential historic district could be define d along the Plainfield Road corridor in Oswego and Na-Au-Say Townships. This route, linking the villa ges of Oswego and Plainfield, has existed since the earliest days of settlement of the survey area. Many of the best preserved and most architecturally distinctive buildings in the Kendall County portion of the survey area ar e located along this corridor. The definition of boundaries for this district would need to consider the affects of contemporary suburban development, especially in Section 2 of Na-Au-Sa y Township and Section 36 of Oswego Township, and trends for future development. The proposed Plainfield Road corridor dist rict would include the Gilbert Gaylord house (top left), the F oulston–Wheeler house (top right), the round roof barn on the Campbell farm (bottom left), and the plank frame barn in Section 35 (bottom right). Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 89 Survey Summary The present survey included 145 farmsteads and related sites in the survey area. The survey documented more than 600 buildings and structures, including 13 2 houses, 64 major barns, and 47 crib barns. Refer also to the maps and tables at the end of the re port for a listing of sites included in the survey. Of the 145 sites, 79 sites were in Will County and 66 sites were in Kendall County. Within the Will County portion of the survey area, 33 historic farmstea ds that existed at the time of the 1999–2000 survey have subsequently been demolished. This represents the loss of almost 30 percent of sites within only five years. This does not include the loss of individual historic structures on the existing farmsteads. House Types I House 3 Side Hallway 2 Upright and Wing 26 Gabled Ell 39 Four-over-Four 20 Gable Front 4 American Foursquare 22 Bungalow 2 Cape Cod 1 Ranch 5 Contemporary or Other 8 Barn Types Three-Bay Threshing 15 Raised/Bank/Basement 5 German 4 Plank Frame 15 Feeder 8 Round Roof 1 Dairy 6 Other 10 Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 90 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Notable Farmsteads in Plainfield Township Coe-Cheeny 03-09-300-004 David Cheeny is listed on the Agricultural Schedules of the 1870 federal census as having a 35 acre farm with modest yields. By 1873, he owned a property in Section 9 of Plainfield Township, formerly owned by A.W. Coe. Mary and Emma Cheeny inherited th e property, as shown on the 1893 plat map. The 1909 plat map shows the property owned by Will A. DeMeritt. Although in need of repair work, the Coe-Cheeny hou se is an excellent local example of Greek Revival details applied to a relatively large wood frame house. The house retains its original six-over-six windows, wood corner pilaster and frieze trim, and fr ont entrance portico. The relatively small bank barn on the property is also distinctive. A trailer house is currently located on the site, and the historic house may not be occupied. The Greek Revival Style Coe-Chee ny farmhouse, located on Wood Farm Road in Pl ainfield Township, is shown above. Also on the property is a relative ly small bank barn with a limestone foundation. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 91 Norton–Eaton 03-03-100-002 The Benjamin Norton farmstead was established in 1839 and located in Section 3 of Plainfield Township. The Norton lands included sand and gravel quarries that were later reported to be “held in high repute among builders since 1846.”216 The Agricultural Schedules of the 1850 federal census indicates that Benjamin Norton’s 125 acres consis ted of 80 tilled acres with the rest pasturage. Norton had 2 work horses, 4 dairy cows, and 2 other head of cattle. Farm yields were 300 bushels of wheat, 300 bushels of corn, and 200 bushels of oats. Da iry production was relatively small, at 200 pounds of butter. The 1860 federal census indicated that the family consisted of Benjamin, his wife Harriet, and five children: Eliza, Henry, Martin, Luther, and Mary. The agricultural cen sus for that year states that Benjamin Norton was using 120 acres for crops, with yields of 100 bushels of wheat, 500 bushels of co rn, and 300 bushels of oats. Dairy production had increased significantly, with 700 pounds of butter from 6 dairy cows. Norton also had 14 head of cattle. Statistics for 1870 were approximately the same as in 1860. Henry S. Norton inherited the farm on his father’s death in 1874. H.S. Norton is listed on plat maps as owner of the farmstead as late as the 1920s. From the 1920s to the 1990s, the farm was owned by the Eaton family. Today the farm is the Eaton Preserve of the Plainfield Township Park District. The main barn and a few outbuildings have been preserved for educational and storage uses, and a picnic shelter, parking lot, and other park facilities have been built just west of the historic farmstead site. The main barn, silo, and one storage building of the former Nort on–Eaton farm have been preserve d as part of the facilities of the Eaton Preserve park. The concrete foundat ion of the original crib barn, demolish ed since 2000, is visible in the foregroun d. At right, a small limestone root cellar is also preserved on the site. 216 Souvenir of Settlement and Progress of Will County, Illinois: A Review (Chicago: Historical Directory Publishing, 1884), 379. These quarries predate the large-scale gravel quarries of Plainfield Township by some 50 years. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 92 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Spangler The Spanglers of Lockport and Plai nfield Townships were one of th e earliest farming families in the region. They established and, later, sold several farmst eads; they also constructed several of the limestone structures surviving to the present day. The Spanglers descended from Peter Spangler, born of German immigrant parents and originally of Lancaster Count y, Pennsylvania. Peter later married and moved to Center County in Pennsylvania, wh ere he farmed the rest of his life. Peter’s children included John Spangler (born 1800), who em igrated west with his wife Catherine to Plainfield Township of Will County in 1848. In the 1850 federal census, John Spangler a nd Catherine (Stem) Spangler are listed as having nine children between the ages of 2 and 20. The Agricu ltural Schedules in that year list the John Spangler farm, located in Sections 1 and 2 of Plainfield Township, as being 300 acres, with 275 tilled acres and 25 pasturage acres. The predominant crop was wheat (900 bushels) with smaller am ounts of corn and oats (300 bushels each) and potatoes (20 bushels). Dair y production included 300 p ounds of butter and 100 pounds of cheese.217 The 1850 census also lists George Spangler, his wife Catherine, and son George; and Jacob Spangler and his wife Lucretia. George Spangler, who was born in 1826 in Center County, Pennsylvania. After a brief period in Ohio, George returned to marry Cather ine Kopp; the couple eventually had ten children.218 In the Agricultural Schedules for that year, the George Spangler farm, located in Sections 7 and 8 of Lockport Township, is listed as being 120 acres in size with yields of 175 bushels of wheat, 800 bushels of corn, and 1,000 bushels of oats. Statistics are al so supplied for Jacob Spangl er’s 150 acre farm in Section 15 of Plainfield Township, with wheat (500 bushels) as the primary crop. In the 1860 census, the John Spangler farm that had passed to George Spangler had similar yields as ten years before. Zacharias Spangler, his wife Amanda, and son William occupied a 90 acre farm in Section 11 that may have formerly been owned by Jacob Spa ngler. Crop yields and dairy production was typical for other farms in the township at this time. Another son of John and Catherine Sp angler was Henry Spangler, born in 1834. As recorded in the 1870 census, he had acquired the farm fo rmerly owned by Jacob Spangler. A bi ographical sketch of Henry tells of the journey that he and his parents made in getting to the Midwest: [Henry] was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his parents to their new home in the Prairie State, and he well remembers incidents of the journey and of the pioneer life that they led there. He assisted his father on the farm, gainin g a good practical knowledge of the calling that he was to adopt for his life-work. He was engaged with his father until he was twenty-one, and he then rented the farm from him and carried it on succes sfully, continuing to re nt land until 1873. He had accumulated considerable money and invested it in his present homestead, which comprises one hundred and seventeen acres of a fertile land as is to be found in this exceptionally fine farming region. He has erected suitable buildings, has all needful appliances for carrying on agriculture to good advantage, and has his land under admirable tillage.219 Henry Spangler was listed in the Plat Book, Will County, Illinois (1893) as being County Treasurer and living in Joliet. He was married to Mary Heinselman of Pennsylvania, and the couple had five children (four survived to adulthood). The 1870 census also records farms in Plainfield To wnship belonging to Samuel Spangler (formerly owned by his father George Spangle r) and Adam Spangler (the eldest son of George). “Zach” Spangler’s farm is also recorded in the census that year. In subsequent decades, the various Spangler properties 217 Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, 630 218 These included George, Allie, Wilson, Oliver, Elmo re, Howard, Agnes, Mary, Emma, and Allie. (Woodruff, History of Will County Illinois, 747.) 219 Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, 630. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 93 remained in the family until around the 1940s. As of 2005, nearly all of the Spangler family farmstead sites retained original structures, including three Du Page Valley limestone fa rmhouses, a stone barn, and a Gabled-Ell wood frame house. The Spangler family occupied several farm stead sites in Plainfield and Lockport Townships. The farmhouse and barn for the second John Spangler farmstead (PIN 03-02-400-016) are shown above. Since the 1999 survey, the original Greek Revival style eave trim on the house has been removed. The sheet metal building adjacent to the barn is newly constructed since 1999. John Spangler’s first farmhouse in Section 1 of Plainfield Township is outside the limits of the pr esent survey; refer to the 1999–2 000 survey report. Below is the Henry Spangler farmhouse (PIN 03-15-306-018) on Renwick Road: at left, 2005 photo; at right, 1999 photo. Above is the Zacharias Spangler farmhouse on the south side of 143r d Street, which is a limestone structure covered with stucco (PIN 03-11-200-006). Several other historic farm structures survive on the site. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 94 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Steigle 03-05-300-004 The Steigle farmstead was established in the late 1860s on land in Section 5 of Plainfield Township previously owned by James Ballard. Ballard, origin ally from Massachusetts, is listed in the 1860 federal census as having a wife, son, and infant daughter. Th e farm is listed on the Agricultural Schedules as having 160 acres with 11 work horses (a large number fo r the time), 7 dairy cows , and 6 other head of cattle. Crops included 300 bushels of wheat, 1,500 bushel s of corn (a large amount, considering the size of the farm), and 500 bushels of oats. Dairy prod uction was 400 pounds of butt er. The barn shown above dates from either the ownership of Ballard or the sub sequent owner, Charles Steigle (spelled Steigel on some plat maps). The 1870 census records the Charles Steigle farmst ead having 120 acres, with 6 horses, 5 dairy cows, and a large number of swine (the fi gure is not readable on the census documents). Crop yields were similar to other farms of the period. Ac cording to available plat maps, the Steigle farmstead remained in the family until approximately 50 years ago. The bank barn at the Steigle farmstead. (1999 photograph) Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 95 Steiner 03-06-400-002 and 03-07-100-001 Fred Steiner, born in Switzerland in 1825, immigrat ed to the United States in 1854 with his wife Anna. After more than a decade in Kendall County, in 1 867 he purchased land in Section 6 of Plainfield Township formerly belonging to P.C. Smith. The 160 acre farm was operated by Fred Steiner until later passing operation of it to his son Robert.220 The Agricultural Schedules from the 1870 census list the farm to have crop yields of 1,400 bushels of corn and 1,100 bushels of oats. Few of the historic agricultural structures remain on the site, but the Italianate detailed Gabled Ell farmhouse has been preserved. Fred’s son, Fred W. Steiner, was born in 1858 in Kendall County. He obtained his education in the district schools and also attended Naperville Colle ge. For several years, the younger Steiner sold Champion harvesters and binders. In 1887, he purc hased his own 247 acre farm in Section 7, across Whiskey Road from his father’s farmstead. The orig inal Fred Steiner farm passed to other farming families in the mid-1900s. The Steiner family retained ow nership of the Fred W. Steiner farm in Section 7 until the 1970s. The Italianate-detailed farmhouse above (1999 p hotograph) is on the site of the Fred Stei ner farmstead. Pictured at right are M r. and Mrs. Fred W. Steiner and their son Grundy (from August Maue, History of Will County , 1927). Below is the Fred W. Steiner farmstead, which retains a number of distin ctive historic outbuildings, including th e water tank behind the house, which has a concrete block base, wood tank wa lls, and sheet metal conical roof. 220 Maue, History of Will County, Illinois, 1000. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 96 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Flagg 03-10-204-011 Reuben and Betsy Flagg, among the earliest residents of Plainfield, came from Vermont to Illinois in 1830 and settled in Section 10 of Plainfield Township in 1834. Samantha Flagg, their daughter, was reportedly the first child of European descent born in Will County, in Septem ber 1830. Reuben Flagg dug the mill race for Walker’s second (permanent) mill (see discussion on page 19). Reuben Flagg died in 1869, and his grave in Plainfield cemetery was marked with an unusual small-scale replica of a log cabin executed in stone. The existing house was built before 1862 by Reube n and Betsy Flagg or one of their children.221 Historic plat maps identify th is as the residence of the Flagg family. Although covered with synthetic siding and with some oth er alterations, the essential form of the Flagg house is intact. On ly a few small sheds remain on the property from its earlier agricultural use. The wing at left has six-over-six double hung wi ndows, while the side wing at right has two-over-two double hung windows at the second floor, suggesting that the portion at le ft was built first as a Side Hallway type house, and the por tion at right is a later nineteenth century addition. 221 The History of Will County, Illinois (Chicago: William LeBaron, Jr. & Co., 1878), 857; Stevens, 716. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 97 Kapps 03-28-200-003 In the mid-nineteenth century, historic atlases show that this site was heavily wooded and was divided into many small plots, presumably for timber harvesting. Later in the nineteenth century, this became part of the farm of Joseph Kapps, who resided on a farm in the southeast quarter of section 28. This area is still shown as part of the J. Kapps property as late as the 1909 atlas. The existing concrete block farmhouse and all of the historic outbuildings were apparently built in the 1910s for Henry Kapps, who is shown as the owner of the property on the 1920 plat map. In later years, the farm was owned by the Fritz family. The Kapps house is a well detailed concre te block house from the 1910s. Several hist oric outbuildings also remain on the property, including the Dairy Barn shown at right. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 98 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Notable Farmsteads in Wheatland Township Boughton 01-27-200-002 The Boughtons were one the significant early fam ilies in Wheatland Township, having arrived in the 1840s. The original family farmstead, located in Secti ons 12 and 13 of Wheatland Township (now part of Bolingbrook), was founded by Orris and Hannah Boughton, originally of New York State. Refer to the 1999–2000 survey report for more detailed information. One descendant of Orris and Hannah, Wilbur Bought on, occupied a farmstead in Section 27 of Wheatland Township in the early 1900s. The farmstead is still extant with several historic farm buildings. The property is now being used for sod farming. Two views of the Wilbur Boughton farmstead, 12264 Book Road. A lthough many historic farm buildings remain on the site, the surrounding land is now being used for sod farming. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 99 Fry 01-26-300-004 The Jacob and Catherine Fry family immigrated to Will County in 1854 after having lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Jacob Fry was born in La ncaster County, Pennsylvania, on 9 March 1816. Catherine was from the Grill family, who also immi grated to Will County and purchased the land in Section 35 immediately south of the Fry property in Section 26. Their children included Henry, Jacob, Zachariah, David, and Martin. The younger Jacob inher ited the family farm in Section 26 while David obtained a farm spreading across Sections 22, 23, and 27 originally owned by George Wightman. In 1870, the Fry farm had 200 acres of tille d land producing 300 bus hels of wheat, 1,200 bushels of corn, and 1,000 bushels of oats. After about 1920, this farm was owned by the St eigle family. The existing Tudor Revival style remodeling of the residence on the site was implemented by the Steigles. Together, the Fry and Grill farmsteads give the in tersection of 127th Street and Naperville-Plainfield Road a strong and distinctive historic character th at is unequaled within the larger survey area. In February 2006, the house, garage, and water tank were relocated acro ss Naperville-Plainfield road to a new site north of the barn. As of 2006, the fa rmland north of 127th Street and east of Naperville-Plainfield Road is under development as suburban housing and has been annexed by Bolingbrook. The Jacob Fry farmstead in Section 26 of Wheatland Township , as shown in the Combination Atlas Map of Will County , 1873. Based on the massing and form of the house seen in the 1873 illust ration, it appears that the original house was remodeled, not replaced, to create the Tudor Revi val style residence existing today. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 100 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Relocation of the Fry farmhouse, February 2006. The house was moved across Naperville-Plai nfield Road to a site north of the historic barn, as seen in the photographs at left. Two grain bins on this site were demolished. At right, a view of the garage and water tank. Both of these outbuildings we re also relocated across Naperville-Plain field Road. The garage is particularly significant; this outbuilding is likely the original 1850s house fo r the farmstead. At lower right is the chicken coop original ly located north of the garage; this outbuilding was demolished in spring 2006. Below is a view of the house, garage, and water tank on the new site with the barn and silo visible beyond, Ma y 2006. Following the relocation, a large addition to the right side of the house was built, and a new detached gar age was built behind the house (not visibl e in photograph). Note that in its new location, the house has been reoriented 180 degrees: the front now faces north; on th e original site the front faced south. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 101 Fry Tenant House 01-26-100-005 and 01-26-100-007 This stone bank barn and small house across the street were secondary structures owned by Jacob Fry. The stone bank barn of this farmstead h as been adaptively reu sed as office space. The stone bank barn has been converted to office space. The house (lower left) has been somewhat altered but retains its basic original form. Both the house and barn are illustrated in the 1873 Combination Atlas Map of Will County (lower right). Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 102 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Grill–Weinhold 01-35-100-004 In the nineteenth century, this was the farmstead of Samuel G. Grill. As noted above, the Grill family is related by marriage to the Fry family. Around 1900, this farm passed to the Weinhold family. The farmland east of Naperville-Plainfield Road has been subdivided and developed since 2000. The Grill–Weinhold farmstead contains a number of very well pr eserved limestone buildings. On the east side of Naperville-Plainfield Road is the farmhouse, summer ki tchen, garage, and several smaller outbuildi ngs. On the west side of the road is th e limestone German barn, and a number of agr icultural outbuildings from the early par t of the twentieth century, including the concrete stave silo and the la rge gambrel roof crib barn. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 103 Herzog 01-34-400-006 The Herzog farmstead in Section 34 contains one of the unique farmhouses of the survey area because it is constructed of brick; few other r esidential structures using this materi al are extant in the survey region. George Herzog was born in Baden, Germany, on 9 Ju ly 1836, the son of a farmer. He immigrated to America in 1852, first settling in York County, Pennsy lvania. He came to Illi nois in 1858, eventually buying 204 acres of land on the southern end of Wheatland Township.222 The Agricultural Schedules of the 1870 federal census state that the farm had 10 work horses, 6 dairy cows, 4 head of cattle, and 5 swine. Crop yields were 200 bushels of wheat, 900 bushels of corn, 300 bushels of oats, and 150 bushels of potatoes. Dairy production was listed as 400 pounds of butter. Ten years later crop yields were 1,700 bushels of corn from 50 acres, 1,800 bushels of oa ts from 70 acres, and 200 bushels of wheat from 7 acres. Six acres were planted with an apple orchard of 400 trees, with a yield of 50 bushels. The Herzog farmstead is essentially unchanged since the 1999–2000 survey. The George Herzog farmstead as illustrated in the Combination Atla s Map of Will County, 1873. Above at right is a view of the farm in 1955 (This is Will Coun ty, Illinois, The American Aeri al County History Series, No. 26, 1955). The photographs below show the house and barn (1999 photograph) on the Herzog farmstead (bot h are visible in the 1873 view). Also surviving on the site are a summer kitche n and brick smoke house. 222 Woodruff, History of Will County Illinois, 818. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 104 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Stewart 01-30-100-005 The Stewarts of Wheatland Township (and of adjacent Kendall County) were one of the earliest and most prominent farming families in the region. Land-owning Stewarts were present in DuPage Township as early as 1842; however, although additional research is needed to determine the relationship of these Stewarts to the Stewarts of Wheatland and Oswego Townships. A tax assessment map from 15 September 1851 shows the land at the farmstead site shown above in Section 30 attributed to Stewart. The 1860 federal census contains data on the farmstead: 365 acr es; 8 horses, 5 dairy cows, 30 head of cattle, and 5 swine; 300 bushels of wheat, 1,500 bushels of corn, 600 bushels of oats, and 100 bushels of potatoes; and 300 pounds of butter. The 1870 census also contains da ta on the farm, including the addition of 40 head of sheep; crop yields were roughly the same as in 1860. After the 1999–2000 survey, the Stewart farmstead was abandoned. All of the bu ildings were demolished in late 2005. The photos above show the farmhouse at th e Stewart farmstead in 1999 (left) and 2005 (right). The main barn on the site collapsed after 1999 (lower left). The sma ller hay barn deteriorated si gnificantly after 1999 (lower right). All of these buil dings have been demolished. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 105 Dague 01-26-200-001 As indicated on the carved stone on the front facade, this house was built in 1870. Although the stone inscribed with the owner’s name has been effaced, it originally read “David Dague,” who was the owner of this farm from the 1850s into the 1880s. Dague was born in Pennsylvania in 1826 and came to Will County in 1854. Dague brought the first Jersey cows to Will County, and he primarily raised dairy cattle.223 Dague’s wife was C. Grill; see the Grill–Weinhold farmstead on page 102. From the 1890s to the 1940s, this farm was owned by Frank W. Stewart. Many of the historic outbuildings on the property were built by the Stewart family. In addition to the large and well preserved brick house, the Dague farmstead contains several distinctive outbuildings, includi ng a water tank, barn, and crib barn. 223 The History of Will County, Illinois (1878), 817. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 106 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Notable Farmsteads in Oswego Township Hafenrichter 03-24-300-001 Johann Nicol “Nicholas” Hafenrichter was born in Germany in 1802. He cam e to Illinois around 1840, and moved to Oswego Township in 1847.224 The 1850 census lists him, his wife Anna Margaret, and three young sons (John, George, and Henry N.) as r esiding in Oswego Township. Nicholas is shown as the owner of this farm by the time of the 1870 atl as of Kendall County. The Gabled Ell farmhouse on the site was likely built by Nicholas in the 1860s or 18 70s. The farm was inherited by his youngest son Henry Hafenrichter; the 1903 atlas lis ts “H. Hafenrichter” as the owner of the farm. Many of the historic outbuildings on the site likely date to the time of Henr y’s ownership. His older brothers John and George Hafenrichter had farms in the northern part of Wheatland Township; see discussion in the 1999–2000 survey report. The farm was owned by Hafenrichter family into the 1920s, although the 1922 plat map also indicates that the house was the “residence of H. Thompson,” s uggesting that the farm was rented at this time. Herbert Thompson had moved to Oswego in 1906.225 From the 1940s to the 1970s, the farm was owned by James C. James. The Hafenrichter farmstead includes many historic agricultural outbuildings, includi ng the bank barn at left. The farmhouse is a relatively simple Gabled Ell type house. 224 1903 atlas “Patrons’ Reference Direct ory” lists J.H. Hafenrichter (Section 23, Oswego Township) as arriving in the township in 1847. This is apparently the oldest son, John, who was born in Germany according to the 1850 census. George, aged 9, and Henry, aged 3, were born in Illinois. 225 1922 atlas “Patrons’ Reference Directory” Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 107 Kiehl 03-25-100-001 According to the 1859 and 1870 atlases, this property wa s part of the extensive farmland owned by John Collins. John Collins was born in England in 1812, and settled in Oswego Township in 1843.226 He resided in Oswego Township at the time of the 1850 census with his wife Senath and their sons Henry and George.227 The 1903 atlas lists Hattie Kiehl for this farmstead. Th e 1922 atlas lists Aug. Kiehl. A.W. Kiehl came to Oswego in 1859.228 It seems likely that most of the historic buildings on this site were built in the late nineteenth century or early twentie th century by the Kiehl family. From the 1930s into the 1980s, the farm was owned by Otto Johnson and his descendants. The Kiehl farmstead includes a Queen Anne st yle house (left) and a num ber of outbuildings. 226 1850 census; Hicks, Rev. E.W., History of Kendall County, Illinois, from the Earliest Discoveries to the Present Time (Aurora, Illinois: Knickerbocker & Hodder, 1877), 234. 227 The exact relationship between this family and the James Collins family (he and his sons Gilbert, Tom, and Harry are listed in the 1922 atlas) is not known. However, due to the overlapping of the James Collins farm and part of previous John Collins holdings, it appears that they are related. James Collins came to Oswego Township in 1849 and may have resided on a second farmstead site on property owned by John Collins in Section 26. 228 1922 atlas, “Patrons’ Reference Directory” Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 108 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Stewart 03-25-400-002 Various members of the Stewart family resided in Wheatland and Oswego Townships as early as the 1850s; see discussion above. This property had been acquired by Thomas Stewart by 1903; he had previously owned the 240 acres north of this site in Section 25.229 By the 1922 atlas, this parcel had been detached from Thomas Stewart’s holdings and was ow ned by Sarah and Jane Stewart, who may be his daughters. Plat maps from the 1940s and 1950s list James H. Stewart as the owner of the farm. The existing house and historic outbuildings on the site likely were built early in the twentieth century by the Stewart family. None of the surviving buildings appears likely to pre-date 1903. The Queen Anne style farmhouse is mainly intact despite a rear garage additi on. Among the historic outbuildings on the property is the unusually tall water tank illustrated at right. 229 1870 and 1903 atlas; on the 1903 map his name is misspelled “Stuart.” Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 109 Section 35 03-35-100-002 This farmstead site is notable for the well-preserved pla nk frame barn with first story of concrete block. The barn was likely built in the 1910s or 1920s. Th e 1922 atlas lists the land owner as Mrs. John Haag, although the house is indicated to be the residence of Otto Johnson, who later move d to a farm in Section 25; see discussion for Kiehl farm above. The noteworthy plank frame barn on the propert y is in nearly original condition, with a concrete block masonry ground floor and wood shingle roof. Rolled asphalt sheeting has been applied over the original wood si ding. The nineteenth century Gable Ell farmhouse has been somewhat altered. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 110 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Gilbert Gaylord 03-35-377-001 Gilbert Gaylord was born in New York in 1821. He came to Illinois in 1843 and originally settled in Lisbon Township.230 By the 1850 census, he and his wife Mary Ann resided in Na-Au-Say Township with three young children, Charles, Cass, and Cassina. Gaylor d is shown as the owner of this site on the 1859 atlas. This large brick residence was built by Gaylord, probably in the 1860s. Clara May Gaylord married Scott Cutter and inherite d the property around 1917. The farm remained in the Cutter family into the 1960s, when the farm was subdivided for residential development.231 The Gilbert Gaylord house would li kely be considered a National Register eligible example of Italianate style architecture. The front porch, although generally matching the profiles of the origi nal porch, is a recent reconstr uction and extension. A number of agricultural buildings are also preserved on the site, including a much altered crib barn (below left) and a Three-Bay Threshin g barn (below right). 230 Hicks, Rev. E.W., History of Kendall County, Illinois, from th e Earliest Discoveries to the Present Time (Aurora, Illinois: Knickerbocker & Hodder, 1877), 234. 231 Oswego Township Heritage Places (1983), No. 19. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 111 Notable Farmsteads in Na-Au-Say Township Campbell 06-12-100-003 In the nineteenth century, this site was owned by the Smith family. By 1903, this was the home of James Campbell. The 1922 plat map lists the land owner as Mrs. James Campbell, but indicates that the house was the residence of Raymond Campbell, who was perhaps her son. The large and historically distinctive round roof barn on the property was likely built by the Campbell family. By the 1947 plat map, the property had been acquire d by Murley Wheeler. The farmstead site is still owned by Wheeler family today, although the house has been demolished. The Wheelers were among the more prominent pioneer families of Kendall County. Alanson K. Wheeler, born in 1799 in Vermont, moved his family to Na-Au-Say Township in 1846. He was a township supervisor and assessor for many years and represented Kane and Kendall Counties in the State Legislature in 1854.232 Although the historic house on the Campbell farmstead has been demolished, the round roof bar n on the site is very well preserved and a unique example of this type in the survey area. The site also has several smaller outbuildings and three mesh grain bins. 232 Bateman, Newton, and Paul Selby, eds. History of Kendall County (Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co., 1914), 1069. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 112 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Falkenberg 06-14-100-001 Moses Cherry is listed as the property owner for this site on the 1859 atlas, although he resided elsewhere in the township. His extensive holdings in Kendall County totaled 32,000 acres by his death in 1870.233 The 1903 atlas lists the property as the Falkenberg estat e, with M. J. Falkenberg identified in the 1922 atlas. The existing historic buildings on the site were built in the first decades of the twentieth century by the Falkenberg family. The farm remained in the Falkenburg family into the 1960s. The Falkenberg farmstead includes a range of historic buildings, all of which were li kely built early in the twentieth century, including the American Foursquare house, th e Plank Frame barn, the concrete block crib barn, and other wooden outbuildings. 233 Bateman, Newton, and Paul Selby, eds. History of Kendall County (Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co., 1914), 962. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 113 Foulston–Wheeler 06-12-400-001 This property is associated with two of the pioneer ing families of Na-Au-Say Township, the Foulstons and the Wheelers. The 1859 county map lis ts this site as the Foulston estate. In 1870, the owner is given as F. Foulston. The existing house was li kely built by the Foulston family. Later in the nineteenth century, the property passed into the Wheeler fa mily, perhaps by inheritance. The 1903 atlas lists the owner as Mrs. S. H. Wheeler, foll owed by John Wheeler on the 1922 atlas. These are apparently descendants of Alanson K. Wheeler. Alanson K. Wheeler, born in 1799 in Vermont, joined his two oldest sons in Na-Au-Say Township in 1846. He is one of the men credited with assigning th e name “Na-Au-Say” to th e township, as noted in Chapter 2. He was a township supervisor and assess or for many years and represented Kane and Kendall Counties in the State Legislature in 1854.234 Sheldon H. Wheeler was one of the older sons of Alanson K. Wheeler; he was born in Vermont in 1826 and joined hi s older brother in Na-Au-Say Township in 1845. In 1866, Sheldon married Mary Foulston. Sheldon died in 1880, and Mary died in 1892.235 The property was owned by Wheeler descendants into the 1980s. The well-preserved Greek Revival style house and plank frame barn on the F oulston–Wheeler farm. 234 Bateman, Newton, and Paul Selby, eds. History of Kendall County (Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co., 1914), 1069. 235 Bateman, Newton, and Paul Selby, eds. History of Kendall County (Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co., 1914), 1070. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 114 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Tuttle 06-13-200-002 The Tuttle farm in the northeast quarter of Section 13 of Na-Au-Say Township is notable for its very well preserved concrete block crib barn. Since the 1960s, this farm has been owned by Roland and Margaret Nelson. This concrete block crib barn, located on Lockport Road just west of downtown Plainfield, is one of the best preserved examples of an agricultural structure type that was once common across Kendall and Will Counties. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey Page 115 Smith 06-25-100-001 Beginning with the 1859 county map, nineteenth century atlases list the owner of this farm as Jerome T. Smith. The elaborately detailed Italianate style resi dence on the property was built for Smith, likely in the 1860s or 1870s. The farm remained in the Smith fa mily through several generations and was recognized as a Centennial farm in the 1970s. Currently the house is rented. The very well preserved house on the farmste ad exemplifies the Italianate style architecture. Note the details of the front and back porches, brackets at the roofline and projecting bay window, and the window hoods. There are a number of historic farm buildings also on the property, including the cr ib barn and Three-bay Threshing barn shown below. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Page 116 Plainfield Rural Structures and Farmsteads Survey New development in Section 8 of Plainf ield Township shows the continued ex pansion of suburban housing onto formerly agricultural lands in the survey area.