The Veterans Museum of White County will be getting some needed upgrades and repairs, thanks to a grant from the Tennessee State Museum.
Veterans Museum Director Sandy Witt said she was surprised all three of the projects requested were funded.
“I kept thinking well, maybe we’ll get five or ten thousand dollars, that you know, I thought if we could just, even get a little, it will help,” Witt said. “And, I about fell out of my desk chair when I got the email earlier in the week. But yes, I was, I was, very grateful, but very surprised that we did receive the full amount.”
The money will go towards making long-overdue repairs. Witt said a new heating and air conditioning system is first on the list. Currently, the museum is using space heaters and air conditioners that are not adequate for maintaining the climate controlled environment necessary to protect the museum’s artifacts.
The second project is resurfacing the concrete floor and hallway in the museum’s entryway.
“It’s currently like a painted concrete, which can be slick and not very safe sometimes,” Witt said.
The museum’s third project is the replacement of the museum’s front door.
“We’ll be getting a new door with a handicapped button, where, so that folks that are on walkers or have wheelchairs, or have, even coming in, with trying to carry things, it will help everyone. Witt said, “But it, it will make the building much more handicapped accessible.
Witt said there is some paperwork that needs to be completed before work can begin on the museum’s construction projects. Witt said she is hoping work to begin after the first of the year. The museum is required to have the construction completed by June 30, 2026.
While this grant will take care of some critical repairs, Witt said she has a wish-list for future projects.
“New display cabinets, a new system for our record-keeping, that’s one of our main goals.” Witt said.
The Veterans Museum of White County was one of 99 museums across the state to receive grant funds. Officials with the Tennessee State Museum said they received 178 applications, totaling more than 12 million dollars, yet they only had a budget of 5 million dollars.
