To the editor:

I realize that I may be the “new kid on the block” as the newly appointed director and curator of the Old Depot Museum here in Vicksburg but, here are some of my thoughts concerning the Mississippi River problem preparations.

Today, Tuesday, Dec. 29, I learned that the Public Works Department in Vicksburg at a meeting at City Hall decided to announce that the electricity would be cut off to the Old Depot on Monday, Jan. 4, well ahead of the Jan. 15 river crest date.

I guess the overly aggressive action was to tell everyone who is really the boss in Vicksburg.

In actuality, this particular decision presents many problems to many people — and the reaction from the Public Works Director was “so what, that’s what is going to be done.”

I will explain some of the problems we face. Without electricity, all the heavy display cases cannot be moved to the second floor without the elevator; no work to clear all the exhibits can be done as dusk approaches because it is too dark and unsafe without lights; with the short notice it is very difficult to get volunteers that can lift and travel up and down the stairs; without the temperature controlled atmosphere, the wooden model ships, the sensitive electric scaled trains and the books and pictures may be damaged, but most of all, the diorama of the Vicksburg Military Park may be permanently damaged from the extreme changes in temperature.

Actually. the demand on those who work at the Old Depot is unnecessary and just plain stupid.  To introduce this much potential damage to one of Vicksburg’s main attractions is unnerving to those of us trying to build Vicksburg as a top tourist community.

I realize that these comments may not win any points with the Vicksburg City Administration, but I truly believe in our motto at the Museum which is,  “We are not politically correct, but we are historically accurate.”

Dave Benway, 

director and curator

The Old Depot Museum