Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield closed due to flooding
After a year of financial strain from COVID, 2021 isn't starting off great for the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield. A flood has damaged the museum, keeping its doors closed.
AND ON FOX 50 AT NOON ON MONDAY. >>> WHERE THE BRIGHTEST STARS OF THE HOLLYWOOD GOLDEN AGE. GROWING UP AMONG THE TOBACCO FARMS OF JOHNSON COUNTY. SMITHFIELD CELEBRATES HOMEGROWN MOVIE STARS WITH A MUSEUM DOWNTOWN AS WE SEE THE MUSEUM HAS MANAGED TO STAY AFLOAT DURING THE HAD TO MAKE ONLY TO BE SHUT DOWN BY A FLOOD. >> I AM VENUS DAUGHTER OF JUPITER. >> Reporter: THE SILVER SCREEN IN THE GOLDEN AGE, AVA GARDNER WAS THE VERY PICTURE OF ELEGANCE. HER FACE FLAWLESS. SMITHFIELD BUILT A SHRINE TO THE GODDESS OF THE RED CARPET. THE MUSEUM IS FILLED WITH PICTURES AND BOOKS AND HER KILLER DRESSES. IT'S JUST A BUILDING AND BUILDINGS LIKE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF PEOPLE HAVE THEIR FLAWS. >> WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE CARPET. >> Reporter: WHEN A WEEKEND OF WHAT WOULD SURELY BE A BETTER YEAR THAN 2020, THINGS WENT INTO THE TOILET. EVEN A SHRINE NEEDS PLUMBING. >> WE HAD A TOILET THAT RAN ALL NIGHT LONG. IT BASICALLY FLOODED MOST OF THE MUSEUM FLOOR. >> Reporter: TED JOHNSON ON THE ORDER OF DIRECTORS FOR THE MUSEUM SAYS THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR OPENED UP GENERATE THEY FOUND WATER, AND INCH OR TWO DEEP CUTTING THE CARPET FROM THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO THE BACK. >> NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR EVERYTHING TO TRAIL. >> Reporter: THE GIFT SHOP, THEATER, LIBRARY, ALL CARRIED WATER BUT EVEN THIS TROUBLED TOILET HAS A SILVER LINING. NOTHING ON EXHIBIT WAS DAMAGED. >> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE NONE OF THE ARTIFACT COME OUT OF THE COLLECTION MATERIALS WERE DAMAGED. IN THE PROCESS. BUT, IT MADE A HUGE MESS. >> Reporter: THE CLEAN UP CREW TORE OUT THE BASEBOARDS COME ALL OF THE CARPET MUST BE TORN OUT TOO. THAT MEANS THE MUSEUM WAS CLOSED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE MISFORTUNE COMES A YEAR AFTER REVENUE TRIED UP THANKS TO THE CORONAVIRUS. A TYPICAL YEAR THE MUSEUM ATTRACTS 6-7000 PEOPLE BUT, IN 2020, ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE NUMBER EVAPORATED. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM THE MUSEUM DOORS OPEN. AVA GARDNER DIED OR THAN 30 YEARS AGO AND YET COME DEATH OR HIGH WATER, NOTHING CAN DROWN HER DAZZLE. >> Reporter: AVA GARDNER RESONATES WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION. SHE WAS HER OWN PERSON. SHE WAS VERY GENUINE. THIS MUSEUM IS THRIVING AND I PREDICT IT WILL BE HERE AND IT WILL BE THRIVING YEARS FROM THE . >> Reporter: IT WILL BE FLUSH
