The I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor Civic Center Authority held “Crossroads of America,” a free, family-friendly history celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Commissioners Park in Justice. The event marked the nation’s 250th birthday with historical re-enactors portraying George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Rosie the Riveter, Jane Addams, Bertha Palmer, and other American figures.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., children participated in colonial crafts, a trading post, old-fashioned games, and washboard laundry. Live music from the Theatiki Fife & Drum and the band Trillium filled the park. Exhibits from local historical societies—Bedford Park, Flagg Creek, Hodgkins, and Willow Springs—displayed local and regional history. Food was available for purchase.
The event replaced the annual River Thru History Rendezvous, which had been held along the Des Plaines River at Columbia Woods Forest Preserve in Willow Springs…