A group of Maquon residents has formed a not-for-profit committee to fix up the village and make it a destination again. Now a part of the Knox County Rural Improvement Foundation, the committee has already gotten to work tearing down a dilapidated building in town back in December. The committee has made bringing a convenience store back to Maquon a priority says member Linda Norville. “The village owns the gas station but they’re very motivated to sell it,” Norville said. “And we’ve been working hand in hand with Mark Thomas the (Village) President. He has all the information on the station and he’d gladly show the property. It looks really good. (A buyer needs) to update the pumps, of course. The thing is, Maquon isn’t just a quaint village on the historic Spoon River, we’re the route to Galesburg to the north, to Lewistown, Farmington, Peoria (to the south). It’s a great place to stop and get some gas and snacks.” Norville said another option is having an oil company install card-reader-only pumps at the station as well. The committee is also working with the DNR to put a boat launch on the spoon river, they’re working to repair Maquon’s historic footbridges, and make improvements to the Fruit Hill one-room schoolhouse. Norville says Maquon will be a part of the Spring Scenic Drive in downtown Maquon park on May 1st and 2nd. Sunday, May 2nd will be the start of the First Sunday Flea Market in the Maquon park from May through August.
