Thirty-eight years ago, Western Springs’ residents celebrated the Nation’s 200th birthday. And, celebrate it they did!
In 1975, the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission selected Western Springs as one of just a handful of towns to be designated as an official “Bicentennial Community.” This was after reviewing hundreds of applications from across the country that proposed local celebrations reflective of all segments of the population. After the announcement, the Western Springs organization’s 70 volunteers began putting their plan to work. While some may remember the Bicentennial as just a bigger-than-normal Fourth of July celebration, it was really an all-year-long event.
Simple things, like designing the village’s 1976 vehicle stickers, became part of the celebration. The town also asked its citizens to submit designs for a new village flag. Seventh and eighth-grade students were encouraged to enter a Bicentennial essay contest with a $50 prize for the winning entry. And, every elementary school staged some type of Bicentennial pageant or musical performance during the year. Virtually every club or organization in town also contributed its talent and expertise to the celebration. For example, the Garden Club encouraged citizens to plant red, white and blue flowers in their gardens, while its own members made sure that the planters along the railroad tracks were appropriate to the occasion.
Ken and Jo Means at the Ball
Local planners also arranged for patriotic motion pictures to be shown, free of charge, every month. Such films as Walt Disney’s “Johnny Tremain” and Alastair Cook’s “America” drew sizable crowds in this era that pre-dated home video players. For the more social conscious, a Bicentennial Ball was held in the Lyons Township South Campus gymnasium. Music, both contemporary and historical, was provided. The ticket price was $5 each, with guests being encouraged to wear costumes from various periods in American history, or semi-formal dress.
Other groups participated in less visible ways. Members of the local PTA joined with Girl Scout leaders, the American Association of University Women, and 16 other organizations to design a commemorative quilt that was displayed during Bicentennial events. Meanwhile, the Thomas Ford Library conducted a Bicentennial literary contest with categories for elementary and junior high students, as well as adults. Students also had the opportunity to enter an essay contest with the two winners, a boy, and girl, being given an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. where they could see government leaders in action. And, for railroad buffs, there was an opportunity to see the red, white, and blue “Freedom Train” roar through town en route to Rockford.
British soldiers attack colonists
But, the grand finale was during the Fourth of July weekend in Spring Rock Park. Here, mock, reenactment battles were fought between hundreds of British redcoats and American colonists.
Residents could tour their encampments, see displays of spinning, weaving, and pottery-making, and also sample baked goods from the colonial period. The Theater of Western Springs even performed a play, “July ’76 Philadelphia”, in Spring Rock Park. And, all residents were given an opportunity to personally sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence. On the following Sunday morning, at five Western Springs churches, soldiers from the King’s Regiment appeared in search of persons who were on their list of most-wanted patriots, just as had occurred 200 years earlier. So ended one of Western Springs’ most memorable and successful celebrations.