Photo gallery: A history of Plainfield
The oldest community in Will County, Plainfield was what some called "The Mother of Chicago," because it sent lumber, mail and supplies to the city. During the Civil War, resident abolitionists aided runaway slaves following the Underground Railroad, and the town is home to historic Flanders and Plainfield homes. Plainfield was mainly a farming town, and its most notable -- and tragic -- recent event was the the deadly 1990 tornado. Over the years, the village has grown to almost 40,000 people. Take a brief trip to the past, as seen through the lenses of Chicago Tribune.
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Nov. 8, 1930
The scene at the Plainfield State Bank after an attempted robbery. The bandits fired at bank employees, who were behind bulletproof glass. The robbers escaped without getting any money.