The Illinois State Historical Society presented Elaine Egdorf of Homewood with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding efforts in her community and across the state.
left, after receiving a
Lifetime Achievement
Award from the Illinois
State Historical Society.
With her is ISHS President
Randall Saxon of Peoria.
(Provided photo)
The Illinois State Historical Society presented Elaine Egdorf of Homewood with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding efforts in her community and across the state.
The presentation was made by Randall Saxon, president of the society, at the organization’s annual meeting in April. Egdorf has been on the Illinois State Historical Society’s board of directors for many years and served as the society’s vice president. She also was chair of its nominating committee and is serving on the Centennial Awards and Markers Committees.
Locally, Egdorf was the founding president of the Homewood Historical Society in 1980. She served in that position for 10 years, and now is the group’s vice president. She also is credited with working to save the Dorband-Howe House, 2035 W. 183rd St., and developing it as a local historic landmark.
Today Egdorf is chairperson of the Village of Homewood Heritage Committee. She spearheaded the Drivin’ the Dixie program that promotes the history of Dixie Highway as an Illinois historic transportation corridor. Egdorf coordinates a day’s activities ― this year on June 17 ― along a route that goes through 12 communities from Blue Island to Momence. The highlight is the annual vintage car tour stopping at historical places along the route, including Homewood.
Through her initiative, red, white and blue street signs and banners line the road to Danville, Ill., and towns on Dixie Highway have signs displaying photos and a map telling the history of the route. In Homewood, the sign on Dixie Highway at Hickory Road displays an Illinois historical marker and a mileage post with the distance to Miami.
The Drivin’ the Dixie program won an Illinois State Historical Society Superior Achievement Award for historical community projects, and received an Award of Merit from the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In addition, Egdorf helped found the South Suburban Heritage Association in 1987 and serves as the association’s president. The group sponsors conferences and bus tours to promote area history.