Construction work on Lampton Auditorium and Elizabeth Cottagewere delayed last week when the Mississippi School of the Artsrejected bids on the project.

“All of the bids were too high. We’re going to have toreadvertise,” said Dr. Vicki Bodenhamer, director of thestate-sponsored residential school.

Bids were opened July 22 on the project and evaluated during theweek before being rejected, she said.

The project includes some work on the interior and exterior ofLampton Auditorium, primarily to waterproof the building, and majorroof and exterior work at Elizabeth Cottage. Both structures werebuilt in 1913.

The interior of Elizabeth Cottage “needs to be painted orwallpapered, but it’s in fairly good shape,” Bodenhamer said.

However, she added that some rooms show water damage from theleaky roof.

Other exterior work on the cottage includes the porch and anaddition that was added to the rear of the original building.

“The porch will be replaced and there is an addition to the backthat will be removed,” Bodenhamer said.

The cottage is expected to serve as a reminder of the history ofthe historic campus and house items from its inception as WhitworthCollege to its present hosting of the Mississippi School of theArts.

“We hope to turn it into a mini-museum for the campus,” shesaid.

The museum would include the original land grants for the schooland items that have returned to the school from alumni and othersover the years.

“We know there are a lot of artifacts in the community. And weknow there’s a lot of interest,” Bodenhamer said.

The museum would occupy the cottage’s first floor. The secondfloor would be used as storage primarily for the theaterdepartment.

“This would be in keeping with the historic use of the buildingafter it was the president’s home,” she said.

Bodenhamer could not say when the project would be rebid.