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What has been a leisurely drive on Dixie Highway from Blue Island to Momence is reversing its route by request.
The 18th annual Drivin’ the Dixie on Saturday departs from Earl D. Schoeffner Farm Museum in Momence and ends at Gas Works Grounds in Blue Island with stops in Grant Park, Beecher, Crete, Steger, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Homewood, Hazel Crest, Markham and Posen along the way.
Elaine Egdorf, chair of the Village of Homewood Heritage Committee, said it was Kevin Brown’s request to reverse the route and have it end up in Blue Island.
Brown is executive director of the Blue Island Historical Society.
“We have community meetings where we have representatives from each community. We asked and they voted to go along with it. The big reason he wanted to do it was he wanted to sponsor an old-time baseball game,” Egdorf said.
Blue Island Brewmasters open their third season of playing vintage “base ball,” which was two words when played in 1858, by taking on Deep River Grinders from Lake County Parks & Rec in Indiana at 2 p.m. June 15 at Gas Works Grounds.
Activities and events for all ages take place along the way from Momence to Blue Island, where there also will be a celebration featuring food, drinks and music.
“It’s not a parade. It’s a tour. You go as slow or as quickly as you want. You look at whatever you want in that town,” said Egdorf, who developed Drivin’ the Dixie by collaborating with Southland historical societies to promote Dixie Highway.
“So many people have no idea what the importance of the highway is. I did Drivin’ the Dixie because of the history of Dixie Highway,” she added about what started as a buffalo trail from Minnesota and became Dixie Highway in 1915.
Drivin’ the Dixie includes vegetable races in Grant Park, the Beecher Depot Museum and an exhibit on former Chicago Cub Milt Pappas in Beecher, and a stop in Crete, which is on the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom for having locations with verifiable connections to the Underground Railroad.
Other stops include a free hot dog lunch for participants in Steger, Italian ice in Chicago Heights, Flossmoor Family Automotive Repair’s specialty car display and a first-time visit to the Homewood Science Center.
After leaving Homewood, which also features the Illinois State Historical Society marker for Dixie Highway and Dixie Highway national mileage post, participants visit Hazel Crest’s Community Center, Markham Roller Rink, and American Legion Hall and Historical Museum in Posen.
“We let the communities decide what they want to do. Some do a little. Some do a lot,” said Egdorf, noting that activities are coordinated by groups including chambers of commerce, historical societies and municipal governments.
“Every one of these towns has a huge sign that shows the national map of Dixie Highway clear down to Florida. The sign gives the history of the highway and photographs of that particular town. We’ve provided that free for every town up to Momence.”
Egdorf noted that the registration fee for Drivin’ the Dixie covers everyone in the vehicle.
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“It’s an inexpensive, all-day event,” she said.
“I’m really proud of the people that are involved and the people who support it. If they weren’t having a good time they wouldn’t be coming back.”
Drivin’ the Dixie
When: June 15 with 8-10 a.m. registration; first car leaves at 9 a.m., last car leaves at 10 a.m.
Where: departs from Earl D. Schoeffner Farm Museum, 105 E. 2nd St., Momence; ends at Gas Works Grounds, James and Ann streets, Blue Island
Cost: $20 per vehicle
Information: 708-798-9535 (Elaine Egdorf); www.drivingthedixie.com