With a loss of city funds and a museum hostess to pay for, the McComb Railroad Depot Museum needs financial help from residents interested in preserving the city’s railroad roots.
The museum will have a “Friends of the Museum” membership drive fundraiser, said Winnie Len Howell, volunteer executive director for the museum.
She said museum officials hope to raise around $10,000 from pledges on three annual contribution levels: individual, $25; family, $40; and business, $50.
People interested in donating to the museum can pick up a form at the museum or visit www.mcrrmuseum.com.
Friends of the museum will be invited to an April reception, in addition to other events.
“Any kind of special event, they’ll receive an invitation,” Howell said. “We’re just trying to keep the museum open for people.”
The need for funds comes as museum officials try to remain in compliance with the conditions set up by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, which recently put signs promoting the museum on Interstate 55, that require the museum to be open five days a week, Howell said.
And that means the museum must come up with more money to pay its hostess, Mary Woods.
“She guards it like she owns it,” Howell said of Woods. “She loves it.”
Howell said its officials spent six years hammering out an arrangement with the MDOT to obtain and display the signs, which seem to be working already.
“We ask people that come into the museum, ‘How’d you hear about museum?’ A lot say they saw the signs,” Howell said. “It is bringing people into the city and the downtown area.”
In its better financial days, the city of McComb annually contributed $12,500 to the museum, but diminished revenues forced city officials to eliminate funding to outside agencies, such as the museum.
Howell said the museum’s fund will be out of city money by the end of March.
There is still an outside chance railroad museum can receive funds from the city, which owns the depot and leases it to the museum, City Administrator Quordiniah Lockley said.
“If revenues increase, they will be considered for funding like any other organization that requests donations or contributions,” he said. “If revenues increase, we will consider it.
“They do a wonderful job and they should be commended. That shows their commitment and dedication to museum as well as city of McComb.”
