On May 24th, 2006 we finally made our pilgrimage to Plainfield to experience the legend of Ed Gein for ourselves. Aside from a few uncomfortable glances from the local inhabitants, being momentarily followed by a creepy old towtruck, and unknowingly leaving with some souvenir ticks, it was an enlightening trip. When you are there it all makes sense.
Directions to Ed Gein’s Property and the Plainfield Cemetery (map)
I-35 exit 136. West on Hwy 73 a little over a mile, then left (south) on Hwy KK. After two miles, turn right (west) on Archer Ave. The former Gein property is one mile west, at the corner of Archer and 2nd Aves. NO TRESPASSING signs are on almost every tree on the property that lines Archer. The driveway is overgrown and blocked by a chain with a wooden sign that reads “Fischer.”
Most of the Gein property was carved up and sold off, but the land the farmhouse sat on is currently owned by the grandson of the man who bought it when it was auctioned off in 1958.
Fischer put the property up for sale in April of 2006, but there has been no recent news of it’s sale.
The Plainfield Cemetery is just outside of town on 5th Ave. (map)
The street sign in front of the Gein property at the corner of Archer and 2nd Ave. on the outskirts of Plainfield
The old Gein property
The shed, which is the only building still standing from when Ed Gein lived here
The area behind where the Gein farmhouse once stood
Was this Eddie's can?
Welcome to Plainfield
The Plainfield Cemetary
The Gein family plot, including the empty space where Ed Gein's headstone once stood
Eddie's older brother Henry Gein's headstone
The headstone of Eddie's father George Gein
The grave of Augusta Gein
The Plainfield Cemetary rules. Notice it doesn't mention you can't dig up bodies...
The Worden family, owners of Worden's Hardware Store
The grave of Bernice Worden, Ed Gein's last victim
The grave of Eleanor Adams, who Ed Gein had dug up shortly after her burial
Chuk and James with Mama Gein
Mama Firefly with Mama Gein
This used to be Worden's. After all these years it is still a hardware store.
The Wautoma County Historical Museum, the final resting place of Ed Gein's headstone after it was stolen.
I still don’t know the exact location of the tavern owned by Mary Hogan, where, one night after bar close in 1951 Ed Gein shot her and dragged her out to his truck.
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i’ve been to plainfield cemetery several times and took photos with me and fellow ghoul. the first time is better than losing your virginity, maybe because when i went, there was a fresh grave ready for the planting, i got directions to it from a pedophile in a park, found a missing child poster a row back from eddie’s, and got followed into the cemetery and watched by some mysterious truck that left and returned several times to make sure my droog and i weren’t donning homemade girl suits or something. it was awesome, particularly when i lied on top of eddie’s grave, i never quite felt that kind of rush or electrical charge since.
i always wanted to stomp around where his house use to be and thanks to your site, i have directions. i will definitely check it out this summer with maniacal glee.
I have the second headstone of ed geins, but need a picture of it while it was on his grave, please email me a greenngold53@gmail.com
I have just come across this website when i was reasearching ED GEIN, and think that it is wrong to show images of people sat on his mothers grave!!!!!! I belive Ed was an extremely disturbed man and his actions were appauling< however i do not belive in people sitting on his mothers grave with a smile on their face!!!!!!!!!!!
I have pictures of a violin in my photo collection on YouTube, a violin and also what may be a cello. I don’t know what happened to it after the house fire, but it is there when people were taking pictures inside of the house. The violin is at about 1:27 and the cello? is at 2:08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IHxXCW_R0w
well i read and re read and found zero on a vionil. i even made some calls and still nothing. it could have existed. it still may. but one thing to keep in mind ed had the education of an 8th grader. what are the chances? it may have been laying around among the skulld skin and various body parts. it may have been in his mothers room too. i have nothing concrete. sorry. any other questions just ask.
chuk. i believe the violin angle is a bit of hype. if it was mentioned in his book (one which i have refused to read) i dont doubt it existed. but a few things come to mind. eds death car is something highly saught after. its been made a fairly big deal of. why not the violin? i have studied for 13 years now and never read or heard word one about it in any circle any where. and i am in the heart of ed gein country. i went through some old papers and pictures that were redily available to me and saw nothing. i have two more sources i will check and let you know what i find. im almost sure i will come up empty though.
I believe the violin was mentioned in the Harold Schechter book “Deviant.” Of course that doesn’t make it accurate, but if it is…I want it.
chuk i have seen hours of gein footage. i have seen pictures and visited many of his old stomping grounds. i have went so far as to talk to the auction house that did his auction in 58. yes they are still around. now having said that i have never seen mention of a violin. a truck yes. and the famous ghoul car. its whereabouts seem to have eluded the best. but no violin. it seems that it would be a legend maybe. i could be wrong. i know people who may know though. if interested please email me. im down for whatever.
j
I just want the Gein family violin to use in a recording. I’ve heard it was sold at the auction, but obviously isn’t of enough interest for anyone to have tracked it from there.
i live in plainfield. i moved here for the gein experience. i have talked to most of the town about it under the cover of not wanting certin people to find out about my inquiries. it is not a subject to be brought up in some circles. my circle is just fine though. i started my “obsession” in college and now 15 years later i have seen the property which was closed on may 8th i believe of 2008, and is now owned by a husband and wife in brookfield. i have read books seen documenteries watched movies and comtacted the auction house that did the auction march 28 1958. im all about ed. i have 3 things i want to do before i die that deal with ed. first on my list is to see his headstone. anyone that wants to talk about ed, im available to anytime. john_willie75@yahoo.com. email me anytime you want to ill ALWAYS respond.
Nice photos! I LOVE THIS SITE!!! haha, its a trip! I wish I woulda known about it sooner. I’ve been browsing it for an hour and I dont think i’ve gone thru half of it yet. Good work, what exactly is Wisconsin Sickness if you dont mind me asking, im assuming you’re affiliated with a band (same name?), anyways, great shit! Im also a fan on your facebook (gag). Keep up the good work
-the “Ed Gein Roadtrip” youtube guy, Josh