Standard Oil Gasoline Station
Also known as: Welco Gas Port
Why it's listed
Built in 1932 as a Standard Oil gasoline station at 600 West Lockport Street in Plainfield, Illinois, this small brick and stucco building later operated as the Welco Gas Port. It has a one-story, single-bay plan with an enclosed office and restroom beside an open canopied bay, a pitched roof of metal sheeting imitating mission tile, finials on the gables, and four piers topped with glass-globed lights. A cement block car wash addition from about 1960 gives it an L shape. The station is notable as an example of the 'house with canopy' Domestic type, combined here with Spanish elements. Standard Oil developed early station chains and later a prefabricated prototype with tile roofing and stucco. The site lay along the Lincoln Highway, later U.S. Route 30, which passed through Plainfield. Only the gasoline pumps and an octagonal neon clock appear to be missing from the original appointments, so the building remains a recognizable survivor of early roadside architecture.
Significance in brief: The station is presented as a well-preserved example of the 'house with canopy' Domestic type of early gasoline station, here mixed with Spanish mission elements. It reflects early automobile-era roadside commerce and Standard Oil's move toward corporate imagery, and it sits on the Lincoln Highway route, later U.S. Route 30. It is described as possibly one of the last decorative stations in the Chicago area.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84000340, listed November 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 600 W. Lockport St., Plainfield |
|---|---|
| County | Will County |
| Listed | November 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000340 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Standard Oil Company design |
| Architectural style | Domestic 'house with canopy' type with Spanish mission elements |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good to excellent condition and largely intact, continually occupied until recent months; the form lists the status as occupied and unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.60818, -88.20568 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84000340.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7598279
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.