The Kibbe Museum in Carthage has found a solution to its growing pains.
It will build a new 40' by 60' addition to the east of the existing complex.
Storage space has been in short supply since the museum accepted an extensive collection last year that filled two semi-trailers.
It came from the Museum of Funeral Customs in Springfield which closed its doors for good in 2009.
Items from the collection have been stored in a building belonging to a local manufacturer. Mayor Jim Nightingale says that donation is coming to an end.
He says, “Methode has been very, very generous letting them have the building. But they're moving some stuff back in so we're trying to look down the road and have it all basically under one roof.”
He says the lack of space has prevented the museum from taking a complete inventory of the items in the funeral collection.
The addition will cost $88,000. The Kibbe Museum has the necessary funds and taxpayers will not pay for the construction.
K.C. Construction of Carthage was the low-bidder.
The Kibbe Museum had made an offer on an existing building in town but that offer was rejected.