Randolph tourism board 'Picture Postmarks' series to honor Bicentennial

The Randolph County Tourism Board will be celebrating the Illinois bicentennial by hosting an eight-month series of Picture Postmarks.

Beginning on Memorial Day and ending in December, a number of towns in Randolph County will commemorate the year with events.

The Randolph County Tourism Board last year asked each town in the county to come up with a hand drawing/computer generated picture depicting their towns' annual event. Once the picture was completed, a rubber stamper was made of the pictures.

On the day of the events, the Postal Service will have a booth where they will apply the postmark on any envelope that has proper postage, making it a first class souvenir of the day. The Picture Postmark is free.

Pictorial Postmarks have already been set for the following towns:

May 27: Memorial Day Station, Ellis Grove IL 62241

June 1: Prairie du Rocher Station - Fort de Chartres, Prairie du Rocher IL 62277

July 22: Short's Prairie Station, Percy IL 62272

Aug. 11: Baldwin Station, Baldwin IL 62217

Sept. 9: Ruma Station St. Patrick Church, Ruma IL 62278

Oct. 6: Tour de Bluff Station - Village Park, Prairie du Rocher IL 62277

Oct. 13: Rockwood Station, Rockwood IL 62280

More events will be announced as plans become finalized.