Red Bay Museum begins renovations

By Staff
Melissa Cason
RED BAY – Crews are working to get a downtown storefront ready to be used by the Red Bay Museum.
The space is located between the present museum and the Civitan Depot.
Museum organizer Scotty Kennedy said the renovations began last week, and they hope to have them completed by Founder's Fest, which is held each September.
Kennedy said the new addition will hold the church display so that it can be expanded and more displays will be presented for public viewing.
"We have a lot of stuff we don't have room for," Kennedy said.
"So we can definitely use the extra space."
Kennedy said the museum hired contractors to do the renovations and the Civitan Depot, open on Fridays next door, will help fund the expansion.
"All the money raised by the Depot goes to pay the expenses for the museum, like the utilities," Kennedy said. "We are actually borrowing the money for the renovations, and the depot will cover that cost."
Kennedy said the thrift store is always accepting donations and is open to the public to purchase items every Friday.
Kennedy said the museum will host an open house to introduce the new items to the public.
Present items include displays of the Red Bay Bank, Red Bay Hotel, Tammy Wynette Tribute and Red Bay Depot, along with displays of the town's church, drug store and soda fountain.
"When we get the renovations completed and the displays moved, we may have room to expand existing displays," Kennedy said.