What was once a cigar factory in downtown Maquoketa now hosts art classes titled “Uncorked and Creative.” Who would have thought? Sue Mayberry would have.

Owners of Mayberry Appliance Center, Sue Mayberry and her husband, Jim, purchased the 1874 building to use as storage in 1991. With their appliance business just around the corner, it was large, sound and convenient.

When Maquoketa, a Main Street community, upgraded its downtown with a streetscape project in 2015-2016, Mayberry decided to jump on board. “We...