Members of Steelville Forward, a community action group comprised of local business owners and city officials, met Sept. 28 at the Steelville Country Club for their monthly meeting. The group announced plans for a month-long Christmas market event on Main Street.

Steelville resident Linda Spurgeon presented plans for the market.

Spurgeon said that she and Marilyn Lakaner, owner of The Main Deck, are spearheading organizational efforts for the Christmas market, and are already in talks about what the event might look like.

Tentatively named “Christmas Comes to Steelville,” it will take place weekly, every Saturday starting on Nov. 28 - Dec. 19 at The Main Deck.

The organizing duo also said they would like to invite a juried vendor group to sell goods, rather than a flea market format. According to Spurgeon, they have a list of approximately 20 vendors they would like to invite to the free event.

Steelville Forward members discussed having each Saturday market be themed in order to encourage repeat visits from shoppers.

Spurgeon suggested that the first Christmas market’s theme would be a “grand opening,” followed by an “old fashioned Christmas” in the second week. On the third week, she suggested having a Santa theme for children. The last market on Dec. 19 would emphasize last-minute shopping.

Spurgeon also said that she has spoken with art teachers at Steelville R-3 School District about having art students help decorate storefronts on Main Street, adding that she would like to get permission from the owners of vacant storefronts about using or decorating their buildings.

Organizers also plan to implement a “passport” system during Christmas markets designed to encourage shoppers to visit local businesses.

Under the system, shoppers would be given a punch card which could be filled out at participating businesses. When a shopper visits a business, they could have their cards punched. Shoppers with a full punch card would be entered into a drawing to win prizes.

Steelville Forward members also discussed options for securing Christmas decorations to be used on Main Street.

Tamra Cape provided an update on decorative Christmas wreaths that were donated to Steelville from Cuba.

According to Cape, the wreaths, which were donated some years ago, were being stored at City Hall.

Cape said that the wreaths were in decent shape, but needed new light bulbs. Now, they’ve gone missing.

“Cuba at one time donated those humongous wreaths, and they were hanging back there at City Hall. They needed new lights in them, so I said we can probably get somebody to donate bulbs to put in those,” Cape said. “But I guess they threw them away.”

Cape said she confirmed with Public Works Director Jason Evans that the city no longer had the wreaths.

Jim Trippensee, a member of the Steelville Arts Council, suggested using a sleigh decoration owned by the Arts Council to create a photo opportunity of Main Street.

In other discussions, Steelville Forward members discussed the future of the Jonas Museum, a historic but damaged building that is located on Main Street. The museum was badly damaged during a break-in in January 2026, during which an antique china cabinet, piano and dishes were damaged.

The structure was built in the late 19th century and later donated by Helen Jonas to the city in 2000 to be used as a museum.

Steelville Forward members, including Steelville Mayor Jason Ward, said they would like to see something done with the house, rather than seeing it torn down.

“I truly feel like something needs to be done. If we just let it sit there, people will break in and mess stuff up. We need to take the funds that we have and make it something that is worth having,” Ward said. “Because I don’t want to sit there and watch it fall down.”

According to discussions held by Steelville Forward members, there is approximately $40,000 in a trust associated with the Jonas Museum that was paid by insurers when the building was damaged.

Ward said that while he is unsure of the exact financial situation, he would like to see something done with the funds in the trust.

“That’s something that I’ve heard the entire time I’ve been on the council. My question has always been ‘why aren’t we doing something with those funds?’” Ward said.

Since the break-in earlier this year the museum has remained closed.

Steelville Forward members suggested bringing a discussion about the future of the Jonas Museum to the Steelville Board of Aldermen for public discussion.