Historic Rapid Transit Building in Erie to sell nearly 500 items at 'old school' auction

A.J. Rao, Erie Times-News
Updated ·3 min read
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Finding a 19th century spinning wheel; a Bradley stencil machine; or a vintage, iron-wheeled railroad cart from Erie’s past, is undoubtedly rare.

But look no further than the Rapid Transit Building, at 1304 Sassafras St., where on Wednesday, those antiques and nearly 500 other items stored in the historic train depot will be auctioned off.

From an assortment of tools, equipment and supplies to rare and fascinating trinkets like an old Greyhound clock and an antique ladder, the items available run the gamut.

Mark Tanenbaum, an auctioneer with Erie-based Ace Auctioneers & Liquidators, displays a saw that will be available at the auction at the Rapid Transit Building, 1304 Sassafras St., on Wednesday.
Mark Tanenbaum, an auctioneer with Erie-based Ace Auctioneers & Liquidators, displays a saw that will be available at the auction at the Rapid Transit Building, 1304 Sassafras St., on Wednesday.

Mark Tanenbaum, the auctioneer for the event with Erie-based Ace Auctioneers & Liquidators, said the auction will be open to the public and be run “old school," where bidders attend in-person, not online.

“Anybody can come, and anybody can bid,” he said. “It’s going to be an absolute blast.”

A 'historically significant' building

Much has accumulated in the building over the years.

Built in 1905, the building was originally a New York Central Railroad freight depot, where cargo was loaded and unloaded from the railways. By the mid-century, the Rapid Transit Co. Inc. operated there, shipping and receiving cargo from trains and later freight trucks.

Robert Mang, 76, who’s been the owner of Rapid Transit Co. since 1990, said he closed his business in December to retire. He’s now put the building on sale.

“I’m hoping I can walk away, break even and live happily ever after,” Mang said with a laugh.

Tanenbaum, who also sits on Erie’s Historic Review Commission, said a big driver of the auction is to clear out everything inside the building, a requirement for the building to be listed.

“It's a historically significant piece of property," he said. "It ultimately should go into the hands of somebody who has both the vision and resources to create something that's sustainable and beneficial to the community."

When is the auction?

The auction will take place Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors will open at 8 a.m.

The public can register online at aceauc.com/form or can register in-person at the event.

A look of the items to be auctioned off at the Rapid Transit Building on July 31, 2024.
A look of the items to be auctioned off at the Rapid Transit Building on July 31, 2024.

The public can also preview all items Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment. Visit aceauc.com or call 814-434-0687 to set up an appointment or for more information.

The auction will accept cash, check or credit card.

More: Find garage, yard, block, estate sales around Erie County

What’s being auctioned?

The auction has close to 500 separate lots. Items include cabinets, chairs, shelves, heaters, lamps, tires, lawnmowers and a 2015 GMC truck, along with a slew of other items.

A full list can be viewed at aceauc.com.

For safety, no items can leave the premises until 4 p.m. Wednesday. Large items can only be removed Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Attendees must bring any necessary labor, tools and boxes to take items out.

Tanenbaum encouraged auction veterans and newcomers alike to attend.

"Auctions are the most democratic thing in the world," he said. "Anybody gets to come. Everybody sees an item at the same time that everybody else does. Everybody can compete on it openly. And you can get a bargain. That's the fun part."

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Historic train depot in Erie to sell nearly 500 items at auction