Funds sought to repair historic barn

By COREY NOLES

Statesman Staff Writer

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - No one knows for sure the age of the old barn that sits beside the Stars & Stripes Museum/Library.

It's served as a makeshift "Welcome to Bloomfield" sign for decades and no one seems to remember a time when it wasn't standing there.

Over the years, workers have tried to keep the barn up and functional, but after a recent storm it is once again in need.

Sue Tippen of the Stars & Stripes Museum/Li-brary Board noted that funds were collected last year to repaint the barn, but the board has decided that before painting, the barn should undergo some repairs.

Most of the needed repairs are minor things like replacing a few pieces of roof metal that were torn off during a recent storm. A door on the front is being held up with a prop, and some boards are in bad disrepair.

The money for painting is still set aside in a designated fund, but the repairs are going to cost money for materials as well. At this time, the money simply isn't there.

The hope is that citizens or a local business might be willing to donate either money or materials to aid in the project, Tippen said.

She said the board is hoping that a construction company might be willing to donate an afternoon's labor to compete the repairs.

"We just don't want to see it fall down," she said. "We want to try to keep it up, but if it keeps going downhill, one of these days it will come down."

The board isn't looking to restore the barn to pristine condition, but would like it to be safe and more attractive than it is right now with the damage.

Anyone interested in donating or with questions is asked to contact the museum at (573) 568-2055.