Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade

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Parade Grand Marshal Announced

Mike Bortel’s mom was a Monahan. He figures that was what landed him the seat of honor in the vehicle that will bring him down Lockport Street as the grand marshal of the 2014 Hometown Irish Parade.

That might have swayed the selection committee, but mostly it was Mike’s tireless commitment to Plainfield, particularly its remarkable history, that made him this year’s choice. Among the myriad benefits the village has reaped from Mike’s antiquities activism is its recognition last fall for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places– a very big deal indeed.

Although he has called the village home for barely a dozen years, Mr. Bortel, 66, has become more thoroughly familiar than almost anyone with the characters, buildings and stories that comprise the community’s fascinating past.

Chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, Mike moved here in 2002, the same year he retired after a 31-year career at Thornridge High School in Dolton, where he taught history and geography, also serving as director student activities for more than half of that time.

He got involved a decade ago in advocacy for his adopted hometown, after discovering some of the intriguing details behind select structures and sites in the area. Since that time, Mike has spent countless hours in the basement headquarters of the Will County recorder’s office, poring through records stored there in long metal drawers. Among his current projects is exhaustive research into all of the lots in the oldest part of town, from 1834 to the present day. All of them.

“It’s so interesting – more to me, because I don’t know it. I’m learning it, bit by bit,” he said. “Plainfield history is really quite fascinating when you consider by the 1850s, probably 50 or 60 percent of the population were related to one another.”

He’s learning a lot of tidbits, and retains nearly everything – thanks to the combination of his passion for the past and his gift for razor-sharp retention of detail. He can tell you, off the top of his head, that Franklin Mathers spent $200 for each of the 160 acres that would become home to the 96 lots known as East Plainfield. He knows it was 1911 when the village’s sewer system went in.

Mike puts his energy behind his passion, working to save buildings from the wrecking ball whenever it’s possible and makes sense. He understands that not every old building can, or should, be saved – but he sees immense potential in the future for many of the village’s architectural treasures from the past.

“We’ve got as much to offer as Galena, or St. Charles, or even Geneva,” he said, adding, “I always have ideas. I just have to find people to pick up on them.”

2023 Parade Sponsor

Emerald Sponsors

 

Pot O’ Gold Sponsors

Leprechaun Sponsors


In-Kind Sponsors

Parade Princess

To be announced…

Parade Route

Click on the map below for a larger view of the 2020 Parade Route

Images from the Parade

Parade News Ticker

  The 2023 Plainfield Irish Parade Princess to be announced
The 2023 Plainfield Irish Parade thanks all it’s sponsors.
CLICK HERE to visit the “Become a Sponsor” page for more information.
  The 2023 Plainfield Irish Parade Grand Marshall to be announced
  Friends Message: Want to see your Parade Message here? CLICK HERE to become a Friend of the Parade and post your message
  Friends Message: In memory of Bess Eichelberger and Tim Stettenfeld.. both Plainfield through and through
  Friends Message: Katherine Calahan: In loving memory of my leprechaun Phil Calahan. Have a green beer for me with all the other “Irish” up there! Miss you!
  Friends Message: Thank you to the Byrnes for the $100 donation!
  Friends Message: From Maureen Hatfield …Fiona Hatfield, our Rose of Tralee
  Friends Message: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
  Friends Message: The Bloxsom Family… Happy St Patrick’s Day!  
Friends Message: In remembrance of Dan Cassidy

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