Skip to content
Sections
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
Dispatch Mobile Logo
Share
Subscribe
Login
LoginSubscribe
March 23, 2023
  • QUICK LINKS
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
  • News
  • Columbus & Lowndes County
  • Starkville & Oktibbeha County
  • West Point & Clay County
  • Area
  • State
  • National
  • Business
  • Sports
  • High School Sports
  • College Sports
  • Local Columns
  • eEdition
  • Opinions
  • Local Columns
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Roses & Thorns
  • Dispatch Editorials
  • Obituaries
  • Lifestyles
  • Columns
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Transitions & Announcements
  • Community
  • Religion
  • Classifieds
  • Photo Galleries
  • Public Records
  • Building Permits
  • Marriages & Divorces
March 23, 2023
Dispatch Logo

Open eyes, open minds.

Home » News » Columbus & Lowndes County » CVB looks to raise money for Elks Building restoration

CVB looks to raise money for Elks Building restoration

By Alex Holloway • February 28, 2017

 • 3 mins to read

CVB looks to raise money for Elks Building restoration
Nancy Carpenter

The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau is moving into early fundraising stages for restoring the Elks Lodge building downtown before converting it to a children’s museum.

Organization CEO Nancy Carpenter said during Monday’s CVB board meeting the restoration will cost about $700,000. Carpenter said the work will ensure everything is brought up to modern building codes, adhere to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and install a new elevator and HVAC system.

Carpenter said she wants the CVB to raise half of the money before requesting expenditure from the board. She said some efforts are already underway — the organization should receive a $20,000 gift soon, and she added CVB recently applied for a $40,000 grant. CVB will continue to seek additional funding sources, but Carpenter noted the organization will wait until later in the spring or summer to ramp up fundraising efforts.

“Once we have roughly $350,000 in hand, we will feel good about moving forward,” Carpenter told The Dispatch after the board meeting. “At some point, what we’re going to do is ask for commitments from businesses and individuals, but we’re not at that stage yet.”

Carpenter also noted CVB will work alongside the Mississippi Department of Archives and History on the project, because the Elks Lodge is a historic building.

CVB board member Mark Castleberry, a local developer, has been working with Carpenter on the early stages of the museum.

“We’re very excited about how it’s progressing,” he said. “We feel very good about the plans that the architect and exhibit designer have developed. I think we have a challenge to get it funded, but I think it’s very possible through phases.”

Total project cost estimates

CVB purchased the Elks Lodge, located on Main Street across from the Tennessee Williams home, from Frank and Dean Loftus in December 2015 for $450,000, with the Loftuses donating $200,000 of the total $650,000 purchase price.

CVB is working with the Jackson-based Dale Partners architect firm and Dublin, Ohio-based designer Roto to plan the museum.

Carpenter said the museum may cost between $3.5 million and $5 million total. The cost is higher than a preliminary $1.5 million estimate, but she said the initial estimate did not include costs such as restoring the building.

The museum’s first floor will be divided into three main rooms, Carpenter said, that should be large enough to accommodate 10 to 15 people at a time. The top floor will have a catering kitchen and a ballroom that can be used for events independent of the children’s museum, Carpenter said.

She said the museum will tie all of its themes to Columbus and Lowndes County, and should have enough material for visitors to spend about 90 minutes.

“We have so much rich history ourselves that we’re going to make sure our story is told,” Carpenter said. “Those stories about Columbus and Lowndes County are going to be at the forefront of every room.”

Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.

CVB Elks Lodge

You can help your community

Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.

Subscribe

READER FAVORITES

  • Goings on with Grant: New fresh market and butcher shop opening in Caledonia

    By Grant McLaughlin • 10 hours ago

  • After son’s suicide, father raises awareness of sextortion, social media dangers

    By Jessica Lindsey • 1 day ago

  • Making a difference has been driving factor in Baptist’s new CEO

    By Grant McLaughlin • 1 day ago

  • MSU choral professor charged with embezzling $39,000

    By Abigail Sipe Rochester • 10 hours ago


Popular

Goings on with Grant: New fresh market and butcher shop opening in Caledonia

March 23, 2023

After son’s suicide, father raises awareness of sextortion, social media dangers

March 22, 2023

Making a difference has been driving factor in Baptist’s new CEO

March 22, 2023

Slimantics: Tate Reeves’ love/hate relationship with “woke capitalist” Steel Dynamics

March 22, 2023



On This Day 2022

Mississippi State bats power up for rout of Southern in midweek action

By Theo DeRosa

Featured Podcast

The C Dispatch Podcast

Sections

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries

Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Submit a Tip
  • Terms & Service
  • Popular Content

Contact

Main Switchboard:

(662) 328-2424

Physical Address:

516 Main Street
Columbus, MS 39701

Mailing Address:

PO Box 511
Columbus, MS 39701

cdispatch.com © 2023 – The Commerical Dispatch

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT