The inside of the former Star-Clipper Newsroom in downtown Traer pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 28. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Members of the Traer Historical Museum Board received word last week that their grant application to improve the main floor lighting in their downtown museum has been approved to the tune of $8,990.

The grant was awarded by the Tama County Community Foundation and will be used to replace the lights on the first floor, according to Carol Boyce, a member of the museum’s board.

The community foundation’s annual awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 5, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Traer Memorial Building. The Traer Museum is just one of this year’s many award recipients.

In addition to lighting improvements, Boyce said she is working on grants to help with the refurbishment of the second floor of the Traer Star-Clipper building including asbestos mitigation. The building and its Winding Stairs are part of the National Register of Historic Places.

According to an article published in the museum’s most recent newsletter, the second floor of the Clipper building has not been used since 1953 and is in a general state of disrepair.

The plaque located on the Traer Star-Clipper building in downtown Traer designating the building and the Winding Stairs as historic sites. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The museum board is currently working to source funds in order to preserve the building and make the space usable for both storage and displays.