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Please let us know of
any historical sites, recreation, arts & culture, or yearly
events, that should be added to the individual communities by
e-mailing fultontourism@aol.com
or info@fultoncountytourism.org |
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Above images:
1. Nightly Rides the St. David Carnival
2. Ellisville Post Office and Postal Wagon
3. Farmington All Wars Memorial
4. Plank Toll Booth (Dickson Mounds)
Pictures by Bill Burnham
and Cindy Arnett |
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H - Historic
Site R - Recreation
A&C - Arts & Culture Y - Yearly
Event
Astoria Avon
Babylon Banner
Bernadotte Blyton
Breeds Brereton
Bryant Canton
Checkrow Cuba
Duncan Mills Dunfermline
Ellisville Enion
Fairview Farmington
Fiatt Ipava
Leesburg Lewistown
Little America Liverpool
London Mills Maple
Mills Marbletown
Marietta Middlegrove
Monterey Norris
St. David Sepo
Seville
Smithfield Summum
Table Grove Vermont
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Astoria
61501
It was organized by special
charter January 24, 1839. Astoria is one of only nine municipalities
in the state to retain its special charter, granted prior to
1872. The shady park in the middle of town has an old fashion
band stand.
It is located on U W West 24. There is plenty of free parking,
camping facilities are available. Main Street has a variety
of retail shops and a restaurant.
Sept. 15-18 2004, Astoria’s Homecoming Contact 309 329
2768 - Y
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends of October
- Y
Horse
Creek Trails - R
| Sponsors: |
Farmers State Bank of Astoria |
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122 W. Broadway |
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Astoria, IL 61501 |
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Phone: 309-329-2196 |
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fsbfc.com |
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Avon
61415
Avon was settled
by the Woods family from New York in 1837. It is worth the drive
to see the many beautiful old homes surrounded by beautiful old
trees. I has been the home to the Avon Fat Steer Show for many
years. It is located in the northwest part of Fulton County on
Route 41. It has several small stores and a restaurant, along
with gas station, golf course and RV camping with hookups. A restored
Train Depot in Avcon Park.
Avon Depot - AVCOM Park 309-293-4961
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends of October
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Babylon
Babylon's
Iron Bridge - H
Pictures by Crystal Hardesty |
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| Banner
61520 |
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Bernadotte
Located on the famous Spoon
River Bernadotte is the site of the only dam on Spoon River. The
original dam was built in 1830 for the mills to use and the falls
you see today were built to generate electricity for the former
Camp Ellis, an army camp built in this vicinity in 1943. It is
a favorite spot for picnickers and fisherman. The old iron bridge
is now a walking bridge with a beautiful view up and down the
Spoon River. Canoers’ love to canoe past the old iron bridge
on the Spoon River located near North County Highway 2 and East
County Highway 14.
August Bernadotte Annual Fish Fry 11 am until fish is gone Contact
309-753-8809 for information - Y
Iron Bridge - H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y |
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| Breeds
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| Bryant
61519 |
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Canton
61520
The largest city in Fulton
County is the City of Canton. Canton has a large variety of
businesses which provide great shopping opportunities to residents
and visitors. Graham Hospital, Fulton County’s only hospital
is located in Canton. Canton boasts an excellent public park
system with extensive playground equipment and fishing lakes.
Spoon River College is a public Junior College with its principal
campus located in a rural setting near the southwestern edge
of Canton. Click on the Jones Park Bandstand below to link with
the Canton Profile webpages which contain detailed information
about Canton.
The original town of Canton was laid out in plots on December
10, 1825, by Isaac Swan and a man named Kinney Harrison Hughland,
a blacksmith and a maker of cow bells. This was the first manufacturer
of any; kind in the township. The Public Square was deeded to
the city by Deacon Jones around 1836. Soon after a store was
opened by two men named Brooks and Cogswell which was the beginning
of many businesses on the Square. The P&O plow factory which
later became International Harvestor was for a long time one
of main employers in our area. Canton was hit by two destructive
tornados, in June of 1835 and again in July of 1975. Canton
has many things to be proud of including excellent park system
with playground equipment and fishing lakes. The Parlin Library
has many things to see and read about Canton. The public park
now called Jones Park is still in the center of the business
district, has a nice new gazebo. We have both a Y. M.C.A. and
Y. W. C.A. with various programs for everyone. They have a new
swimming pool and water park, along with a new teen and senior
center. Canton can be reached by Route 78 and Route 9. ? We
have several motels, a bed & breakfast, along with a campground
at Lake Canton.
Canton Historic Train Depot 309-647-1756 - H
Civil War Monument, Greenwood Cemetery - H
Farmer’s Market JC Penny’s parking lot. Every Saturday
morning from June to September
Canton Friendship Festival Parade, Carnival, rides, food, games
and exhibits.
Contact 309-647-7409 - Y
Parlin-Ingersoll Library, special exhibits 309-647-0328 - H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y
September Canton Ingersoll Airport - Steerman Dawn
Patrol Pancake Breakfast. Planes on display & rides. Contact
309-647-0804 - Y
Westside Neighborhood Historic Homes 309-647-2710 -
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Lakeland
Park -R
South Park -R
Pictures by Crystal Hardesty
Lake Canton -R
Pictures by Larry Rilea
Sponsors |
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Buell's Marine
700 East Linn Street
Canton, IL 61520
Phone 309-647-3421
www.buellsmarineinc.com
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The Sweet Shoppe
24 S. Main Street
Canton, IL 61520
309-647-7320
trytospamme@att.net
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MidAmerica National Bank
100 W Elm Street
Canton, IL 61520
Phone 309-647-5000 |
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Barbara Scalf
255 Thompson Ct.
Canton, IL 61520 |
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Jim & Margaret Nelson
1250 Sunview Dr.
Canton, IL 61520
Nelson2460@sbcglobal.net
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Charles
"Duke" Taylo
1275 Sunview Dr.
Canton, IL 61520
Phone: 309-647-4611 |
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Alexander
Lumber Co.
406 S. 5th Ave
Canton, IL 61520
309-647-0396 |
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Ducks Unlimited
229 N. Third Ave.
Canton, IL 61520
309-647-5651 |
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Cuba
61427
Cuba is located in the center
of Fulton County and is easily reached from any direction (Rts
97 & 95). It offers central park or “square” with
a bandstand and grassy area for visiting. A mural of life in the
Cuba area is on display in the Masonic Hall on the west side of
the Square. The mural was painted by Harold Kee Welch, a Chicago
commercial artist who returned with his family to his boyhood
home of Smithfield. Coal mining was an imp9rtant industry in the
Cuba area until the 1980’s. The Strip mining history began
south of town in the 1920’s and grew until Cuba was called
the strip mine center of Fulton County. Today Puman Township Park
is the location of the first strip mine in Fulton County. The
park is equipped with playground equipment, picnic tables, shelters
and lakes for fishing. Five large oak trees (over 200 years old)
may be viewed at the south end of 4th and 5th streets. Under these
trees, Douglas and Lincoln debated. Several business are located
in or near the park.
1st Hospital in Fulton County - H
September - Abate Fun Run Contact 309 789 6639 - Y
Cuba Christian Church, Founded in 1832, Building 1895 ~ 309- 785-2831
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Sinnett Chapel, Northwest of Cuba Built 1884 - H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive
- First two weekends of October -
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Duncan
Mills
This area was once known as
the Southern Gateway to Fulton County via the Illinois and Spoon
Rivers. It is located in Isabell Township, the 1892 Town Hall
has been kept in good repair through the years and still has many
pictures and items of interest in it. The Helms Park on the banks
of Spoon River has a shelter house with picnic tables. There is
a replica of a covered bridge by the park. In 1835 a part of the
Duncan family and the Isaiah Wallace family left Philadelphia
to settle in Illinois and in the spring they ferried across the
Illinois River and up the Spoon River to a bend in the river,
which George Duncan decided would be the spot where he would build
his mill. In the spring of 1836 he built the first mill on this
spot. Duncan Mills is located near the junctions of 24, 100 and
136. Three miles south of Duncan Mills on Rte. 24 is the Isabel
Church which is still being used for Sunday Services.
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends of October
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Dunfermline
61524
Dunfermline Chicken Fry - Polka
Music - June - Y |
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Ellisville
61431
Ellisville Library Smallest Library
in Illinois ~ 309-293-4783 - H
Opera House restored to turn-of-century ~ 309-293-2088
- H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y
Ellisville’s
Old Post Office Converted into a Museum -
H
Ellisville's
Spoon River Scenic Drive Scarecrow Contest Application -
Y
Ellisville's
Spoon River Scenic Drive Scarecrow Examples -
Y |
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Fairview
61432
The Village of Fairview
is the site of the oldest Dutch Reformed Church west of the
Allegheny Mountains. The Fairview Dutch Reformed Church, was
built in 1838. Visitors are invited to worship there whenever
they are visiting the Fairview area.
Fairview is rare among many small rural towns
and villages with many active businesses still operating in
the old and picturesque business district. There is a restaurant,
small grocery and butcher shop, library, insurance office, an
accent and decor shop and a large antique store.
The unusual design of the octagon-shaped Fairview
Village Hall can be seen by visitors to Fairview when visiting
Fairview.
Reformed Church, oldest Reformed
Church West of the Alleghenies - H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y
Spoon
River Drive Sleigh - H
Esther's Place
-A&C
Pictures
of Fairview - H |
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Farmington
61531
http://www.farmingtonil.com/
Farmington, along with Lewistown,
rounds out the three largest towns of Fulton County. Farmington
has a number of fine stores and shops to provide shopping and
services for its residents and visitors. Farmington played a
major role in the Underground Railroad in the mid-eighteen hundreds.
Click on the picture of Farmington’s Reed Park below to
link to the Farmington Chamber of Commerce/ Farmington Betterment
Association website for more Farmington information.
Farmington Carnegie Library 309-245-2175
Farmington All Wars Memorial - Reed Park - H
Farmer’s Market Bank of Farmington parking lot - Every
Friday from June to August
7 am to mid morning.
Farmington’s Italian Fest Jacob’s Park Farmington
Sports, Talent Contest
Sponsored by: the Farmington Chamber of Commerce Contact 309-245-2441
September- Y
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends of October
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Underground Railroad Home, South Main Street -
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Fiatt
61433
Burr
Oak Tree, Hwy 9, 300 years old - H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y |
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Ipava
61441
Camp Ellis, between Bernadotte,
Table Grove & Ipava - WWII Base - H
Sept. 10 & 11, 2004, Ipava’s Homecoming Camp Ellis Days
Parade, food, music and more. Contact 309 753 8605
Presbyterian Church Built in 1874 - H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y |
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Lewistown
61542
Lewistown is the county
seat of Fulton County and is located in the east-central area
of the county at the intersection of U.S. Route 24 and Illinois
Route 97. The Fulton County Courthouse, built in 1897, is pictured
to the right. The home of Edgar Lee Masters is a historical
site in Lewistown; it is, however, not open to the public. The
Lewistown Society for Historical Preservation continues to maintain
the Rasmussen Museum and Original Blacksmith and Wagon Shop.
The Shop is one of the few blacksmith shops left in a state
of nearly original condition. Call (309) 547-2596 for information
about public tours of the shop and museum.
The Lewistown Society also has a continuing
project of restoring the old Fulton County Railroad Narrow Gauge
Railroad Station located one block west of the Northwest corner
of the public square in Lewistown.
The Oak Hill Cemetery which is located west
of Illinois Highway 97 in the north part of Lewistown is another
visitor attraction located in Lewistown. Oak Hill Cemetery is
located relatively near the Masters Home and was undoubtedly
a major influence on his Spoon River Anthology.
Lewistown achieved several “firsts”
in the State of Illinois including the first American Legion
Post, the first Volunteer Fire Protection District and Central
Illinois’s first newspaper, the Fulton Democrat. Lewistown
offers a number of stores and shops to provide area residents
and visitors shopping opportunities.
Fulton
County Courthouse - H
Carnegie Library
Carillon Music, Lewistown United Methodist Church
Central IL Dirt Riders Assn. Hare Scrambles Contact 309 647
3009
Dickson Mounds Museum, 4 miles Southeast of Lewistown, 309-547-3721
- H, A&C
Hickory Ridge Coffeehouse Performance Dickson Mounds Museum
7:30 pm
Adults $4.00 Children $2.00
Fulton County Playhouse, 309-647-6032 - A&C
Edgar Lee Masters Information, 309-547-2860
Glen Hillig Lawn Mower Poker Run Second Weekend of September
- Y
Mountain Dulcimer Workshops Dickson Mounds Museum
Beginners and Advanced Contact Steve Endsley 309 668 2362 -
A&C
Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot 547-4300 - H
Old Fulton County Courthouse Pillars, Oak Hill Cemetery
- H
Rasmussen Blacksmith Shop Museum 309-547-4300 - H
Self guided historic tour available 309-547-4300 - H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends of October
- Y
Waterford 1839 School 309-547-3721 - H
Sponsors |
Dickson Mounds
State Museum
10956 N Dickson Mounds Road
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone 309-547-3721
museumstate:il.us.ismsks/dickson
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Fulton County Board
P.O. Box 226
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone: 309-547-3041 Ext 67 |
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City of Lewistown
119 South Adams St.
Lewistown, IL 61542
309-547-4300
lewistownillinois.us
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Elaine Stockham
400 W. Ave. J
Lewistown, IL 61542 |
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Weirauch Florists
727 N. Main St.
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone: 309-547-2243 |
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Harry Burch DC
510 N. Main St.
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone: 309-547-2343 |
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| Little
America |
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| Liverpool
61543 |
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London
Mills 61544
Ross Hotel Museum 309-486-3707
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Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y |
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| Maple
Mills |
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| Marbletown |
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Middlegrove
61531
Middlegrove Clair School
- H
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends
of October - Y |
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| Monterey
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| St.
David 61563
Sponsors |
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Glen Hamm
P.O. Box 180
St. David, IL 61563 |
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St David Optimist Club
201 N. Main St.
St David, IL 61563
Phone: 309-668-9607 |
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Smithfield
61477
Buckeye Church, North of Smithfield
built 1868 309-783-3283
Red Brick School -7838 E State
Street Route 95 - Community
Center Used for dinners, receptions sporting activities for area
young people senior center and many more
community related activities.
-309-783-3283 - A&C
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - First two weekends of October
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Welch Art Studio (restored) - 309-783-3121 - A&C |
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Table
Grove 61482
The Village of Table
Grove lies near the western boundary of Fulton County and on
U.S. Highway #136 seventeen miles east of Macomb, Illinois which
is the home of Western Illinois University. Table Grove has
a rich colorful history. It was first platted in May of 1837
as Laurel Hill. In July of 1881, it became the Village of Table
Grove. Table Grove lies in the eastern portion of the prime
farm land of West Central Illinois and served the surrounding
farm population for many years as a trading center. As family
farms consolidated and agriculture underwent changes toward
larger farms with increased mechanization, the importance of
Table Grove as a trade and service center for farm families
declined as it has for most small towns and villages in the
heart of rural America.
The 2000 census population of Table Grove was
396; a great turn downward from those days of yyesteryear when
it was over twice that figure. Table Grove is incorporated as
an Illinois village and is governed by a Village Board of Trustees
and Village President. The Village of Table Grove lies in the
V.I.T. School District which also includes the Villages of Ipava
and Vermont along with the community of Bernadotte which is
on the Spoon River. The Village population consists of a large
number of retired persons and a large number of working people
who commute to Macomb, Peoria or Beardstown to work at various
jobs.
The Village owns and maintains a spacious and
beautiful Village Park lying at the west edge of the Village.
The Table Grove Community Church, on the National Register of
Historic Places, serves as a center of focus for the community’s
religious and social activities. The church is pictured to the
right. The businesses which still operate in Table Grove are
few; the bank, an insurance agency, a beauty shop, the Post
Office, a dog kennel, a tire and farm store and a convenience
store are the community’s businesses. The Table Grove
community is serviced by Mid-Century Telephone Cooperative which
provides a full range of telephone and communications services
including DSL internet connections.
The building and operation of Camp Ellis during
World War II produced an exciting chapter in the history of
Table Grove. Camp Ellis changed the community drastically and
very quickly as the area made its contribution to our Nation’s
war efforts in the 1940’s. In the history pages of this
site, some of the information and history related to Camp Ellis
may be
found.
Table Grove Community Church - on National Registar -
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Vermont
61484
Vermont Cemetery Civil
War Monument - H |
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