The building that once brought thousands of people into Auburn now has a fence around it keeping people out.
Auburn's Industrial Development Board (IDB) installed the fence around Auburn's historic train depot after they noticed light fixtures, doorknobs and metal mail slots were missing, according to Megan McGowen, deputy economic development director with the city of Auburn.
"Someone knew what they were taking was valuable, and it's really unfortunate," McGowen said.
The large, pink, Victorian-style train depot has sat on Mitcham Avenue since 1904 and is the third train depot on that plot of land.
The previous two buildings burned down.
Also a historic placard marks the spot where Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, reviewed Auburn University cadets before they went to fight in the Civil War.
No police report has been filed, according to Capt. Lorenza Dorsey of the Auburn Police Division.
The stolen items were only from the exterior of the building, and the IDB is working on gathering a complete list of everything stolen before filing a police report, according to McGowen.
The building has not been used since 2003.
"Over the years, people have found ways inside, and they've left beer cans and trash behind, but nothing stolen," McGowen said.
IDB, which is a public corporation, bought the building last year, according to David Dorton, director of public affairs with the city of Auburn.
"We're actively seeking a tenant who will agree to restore the building," McGowen said. "We think we're close, but we can't release any information on that yet."
IDB's goal is to have a tenant who will restore the historic train depot and preserve its historical status, according to McGowen.
"It's a protected historic building, so no one is trying to tear it down," McGowen said. "Nor could they."
Ron Russell, previous owner of the depot, wanted to sell the building to Auburn for $1.2 million dollars, according to an earlier report in The Plainsman. IDB eventually agreed to buy the historic train depot for $950,000.
"We wanted to get the building under public control so it would be preserved," McGowen said.
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