A Town Called Plainfield
Lambert: Electric Park — Wild Days of Jazz, Booze and A Preacher Man
Once a thriving tourist attraction, what became of Electric Park once it closed for good in the 1920s?
The Inquiry This is the second installment of the 20th Century history of the Electric Park site in response to a Plainfield Patch reader’s inquiry: “What became of Electric Park after it closed in the 1920s?” The Facts Although Electric Park never re-opened in 1924, several interesting chapters were added to the site’s legacy over the course of the next five decades. Many attempts were made to revive Electric Park and its brief—but unforgettable—popularity. Nearly all of the efforts were tinged with a bit of notoriety and a few with a bit of outright scandal. As summer turned to autumn in 1924, most of Electric Park’s equipment and furnishings were sold off in piecemeal fashion before the 20-acre park grounds were sold. Radio Days The …
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3:37 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Prior to the tornado, there were quaint little houses and streets nestled between James Street and the river. I recall the streets being more like driveways, winding and narrow, no sidewalks. There were lots of big trees, a lot of big old oaks. I don't know for sure if all the houses were what remained from the cabins at Electric park, but I liked to think they were. My aunt and uncle lived on … more ›