JIM TOWN, PUMPKIN TOWN USA VISITS AMONG COLORFEST EVENTS

ANNA, Ill. -- Jim Town isn't found on an Illinois map, but some people in Union County know where it is.

Jim Town, a small community now known as Jim Town Loop, is east of Anna off Route 146, It does have a claim to fame by being listed in a book, "Southern Illinois Ghost Towns."

A number of people will pass through or along Jim Town Loop this weekend during the annual Union County Colorfest Celebration Saturday and Sunday.

The historic-homes tour during the two-day Colorfest includes a two-story farmhouse in Jim Town.

The home tour is just one of numerous events throughout the seven towns in Union County.

Every community -- Alto Pass, Anna, Cobden, Dongola, Jonesboro, Lick Creek and Wolf Lake -- has scheduled weekend events ranging from a vineyard festival, pet contest, pumpkin push contest, bus tours and walking-bicycle biathlon to Pumpkin Town USA and the annual Illinois State Championship Goose and Duck Calling Contest.

This marks the sixth year of Colorfest, designed to show off fall foliage and points of interest along Union County routes. Available throughout the area will be arts and crafts, musical entertainment and food.

The festivities kick off with a 10 a.m. parade Saturday at Anna.

Immediately following, two-hour bus tours will leave Anna at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day, visiting the site of the historic Lincoln-Douglas debate, Trail of Tears State Park, Tool Shed Corner between Cobden and Alto Pass, Giant City State Park and other destinations.

A complete schedule of events will be available at sites in each of the communities.

Three houses are on the historic-home tour.

The home of Paul and Lynn Steveson, at Jim Town has no connection with the ghost town connotation of the community. The Steveson home was built in 1913 by the Jefferson Sitter family. The family lived in an old corn crib while the house was being constructed.

Jim Town was named for Jim Treece, one of the first merchants in the community. Treece opened a store in the area and later put up a large tent where he showed movies. Only a stone now marks the Treece store site.

Other houses on the tour include a home owned by Jacob and Diana Alley south of Anna and the home of Paul and Carole Ham at Alto Pass.

The Alley home was built as a summer house and hunting lodge in 1920 and includes 17 acres and a pond. It was built by O.M. Burgess of Nashville, Ill., an avid hunter and fisherman. the Ham house is a Victorian home built in 1880 by C.C. Rendleman as a cottage for his bridge. A second floor was added to the cottage in 1888.

One of the highlights of Colorfest is Pumpkin Town USA on the grounds of the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna. Creative pumpkin displays will be complemented by food, crafts, a petting zoo and horse-drawn surrey rides. "From Sea to Shining Sea" is the theme of 1998 Pumpkin Town

Two races -- the run-bicycle biathlon 5K run and 18-mile bicycle ride -- and a 1-mile Fun Run will each start at the Choate Center, which has been around the Southern Illinois scene for more than 125 years. The historic facility was established in 1869 as a center to provide mental health and rehabilitative services to individuals throughout the 27 southernmost Illinois counties.

The goose and duck calling contest is a big draw for the outdoors crowd. The 56th annual event will be held at the Trail of Tears State Forest near Jonesboro. The Illinois championship wild-game cook-off and raccoon hunt will be held Saturday, with geese, duck and turkey calling contests starting at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Events at Bald Knob Cross near Alto Pass include the making of apple butter, a puppet show, ham and bean dinner, arts, crafts and flea market.

The schedule:

-- Alto Pass -- Alto Pass Vineyard Festival, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-5:30 p.m. Sunday; crafts and craft demonstrations both days.

-- Anna -- Colors on Parade, 10 a.m. Saturday; Bus tours, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; surrey rides; Colorfest biathlon at Choate Mental Health and Development Center, 8 a.m. Saturday; Fun Run at Choate Center, 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

-- Cobden -- Museum open both days; arts and crafts fair, art displays; food, demonstrations, children's activities.

-- Dongola -- Pet contest, 9 a.m. Saturday; antique tractor pull, 11 a.m. Saturday; petting zoo, arts and crafts.

-- Lick Creek -- Great Pumpkin Push Contest, local bands, antique cars and Harley Davidsons.

-- Jonesboro -- Music and entertainment Friday night; biscuit and gravy breakfast Saturday morning; arts and crafts booths, car show, children's activities/

-- Wolf Lake -- Old-fashioned barbecue, bingo, gospel singing.

-- Pumpkin Town USA -- Choate Center, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Activities include surrey rides, crafts show, and face and pumpkin painting.

-- Bald Knob Cross -- Arts, crafts and flea markets, puppet show, making of apple butter.