Nearly nine months since the Marion Natural History Museum roof collapsed, the Selectmen have approved a contractor to complete the repairs.

On Tuesday, the Selectmen hired the Raynham-based Loughton Construction, which had the low bid of $47,583.

The museum’s 50-foot by 50-foot ceiling collapsed last July due to the natural deterioration of the building, which was built in the late 1800s.

Since then, the museum has held its after-school programs at the adjacent Sippican School.

The repairs have been delayed due to a misunderstanding with the first contractor Dimitrios C. Construction of Canton. The contractor failed to include the cost of new carpeting in the original bid of $34,700, said Town Administrator Paul Dawson. As a result, repairs were put on hold while the project went out to bid again.

A start date to begin repairs has not been set.