Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and LCRA representatives present a $15,868 grant to the Dime Box Heritage Society for museum upgrades. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, in the front row, from left, are: Sharon Phears, society president; Jean Blaha-Davis, society vice president; Bonnie Langham, society treasurer; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA board member; Monica Kallus-Spacek, society director; Russell Jurk, Bluebonnet board member; and Kate Ramzinski, LCRA regional affairs representative. Middle row, from left: Waymond Davis, society member; Sherry Murphy, Bluebonnet’s Giddings-area community representative; Texas State Representative Stan Gerdes; Cynthia Bayer-Krenek, society secretary; Frances Koudelka-Whitsel, society member; and Donald Whitsel, society director. Back row: Keely Mikolajchak, Bluebonnet intern.

The Dime Box Heritage Museum soon will have a new roof and an upgraded heating and cooling system, thanks to a $15,868 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,592 in matching funds from the nonprofit Dime Box Heritage Society, will pay for a new roof and an energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

“Our little museum building is old,” said Bonnie Langham, treasurer of the Dime Box Heritage Society. “The roof has rusty spots that are starting to leak. A new roof will protect our museum exhibits from getting ruined.”

Langham said a window air-conditioning unit has been used in part of the museum to help maintain a consistent temperature throughout the building for memorabilia and visitors.

“The air and heating system is at least 30 years old, and it’s on its last leg,” Langham said. “With this grant, we will be able to replace the current system with a new one that will be energy efficient and will cool and heat properly.”

Langham said the organization has been fortunate to receive items from residents who have generously donated pieces of Dime Box history. These donations include a mailbox that was used when President Franklin D. Roosevelt kicked off the March of Dimes.

“Our museum showcases a walk back in time for Dime Box,” Langham said. “We have an extensive genealogy library, and a lot of people have come to Dime Box looking for information about their ancestors, which has been a real positive thing.”

Langham said the organization will make the much-needed upgrades without having to worry about fundraising.

“When our organization first started, we all agreed that we did not want to spend all of our time fundraising,” Langham said. “This grant ensures that we will be able to protect our items in the museum for a long time, which has lifted a weight off the shoulders of a group of people who really care about Dime Box.”

The community grant is one of five grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available here