Additional work approved for Branch County Children’s Museum in downtown Coldwater
COLDWATER – The Children’s Museum of Branch County will spend nearly $10,000 to reduce noise in its building at 58-60 West Chicago, according to museum executive director Shana Grife.
The landlord, the Downtown Development Authority board, approved the project after investing $22,580 in improvements to the exterior of the three-story brick building.
Audrey Tappenden, director of DDA/Main Street, said work to waterproof the building included repairing the top cover, demolishing and capping the chimney, sealing the lintel, sealing flashings and patching brick joints.
The DDA and the city provided $25,000 for the work. The awning repairs are still pending.
Tappenden said water had entered the building and that contractors “may have recommendations for further maintenance that should be considered after they get up on the roof and take a closer look.”
Grife said the work had led to a decline in summer traffic and visitor numbers, but hoped to achieve a record visitor count of 18,000 this year and over 14,000 in 2023.
Due to external work, the numbers have decreased in recent months.
Grife said winter draws more visitors. “Last December was a phenomenal month for us,” she said.
The director believes that the museum is “doing well financially” as a non-profit organization.
She said the museum could use more volunteers. “We have three part-time employees and a few permanent volunteers. Our payroll costs make up a large portion of our revenue.”
Grife said not everyone can work with the children at the museum. “There’s a lot of screaming. It’s good screaming.”
Because of the noise, plans were put in place to reduce the noise. The multipurpose room retains the original tin ceiling as well as laminate flooring, countertops, tables and chairs, clean walls and a new air conditioning unit directly above.
A suspended ceiling provides soundproofing in the area, which is regularly used for birthday parties, classes and educational workshops for dozens of children at the same time. This requires the sprinkler system to be extended through the new ceiling.
Grife said the museum gets 38% of its revenue from the museum store. “Tell everyone you know: If you want to buy a gift, a toy, something special for someone, we’re constantly expanding that area because we think it’s important to have it downtown.”
The store also sells books and teaching materials.
Grife said: “The profit we make from retail goes to the museum and helps us cover our costs.”
Admission is $5 for a family and $3 with a Bridge Card. A family annual pass for $100 is also available.
Opening hours are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The city and DDA will lease the building for $1,300 a month through next May, then $1,600 a month after that, under a five-year, month-to-month lease to be renegotiated after April 2028.
DDA borrowed $350,000 from the city to renovate the museum’s 7,000-square-foot ground floor and bring the historic building up to date.
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The children’s museum thus returned to the city centre, where it opened in 2014.
The museum returned from the Fairfield Center on N. Marshall Street in April 2023.
Contact Don Reid: [email protected]
