SMITHVILLE, Texas — People in Smithville believe their beloved railroad museum that shares its building with the chamber of commerce was set on fire purposely.
The town said around 2 a.m. was when the fire was set. Surveillance footage captured what happened.
The footage hasn't been publicly released but the town said a man who was wearing gloves, a dark hoodie and blue jeans, and carrying a crowbar was seen sitting on a rocking chair in front of the building.
The footage shows the man break into the building, leave just a few minutes later, and the building then catches fire.
Before and after photos of a fire at the Smithville Railroad museum
The town considers the building a total loss and it will have to be torn down.
Now the question remains: Who was it, and why?
"Shocked, stunned and horrified, every word you can think of," said April Daniels, the executive director of the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce. "This is just a place where we do good for the community. This whole railroad park is here for people to enjoy."
The mayor of Smithville, Scott Saunders Jr., thinks this wasn't anything against the city, chamber or museum.
"I just think it was somebody that thought it was exciting to start a fire," said Saunders. "A lot of the firefighters were all local volunteers and, while we’re fighting the fires, we’re emotional too ... the train and the railroad is part of our culture."
Described as a full community effort, volunteer firefighters and crews put out the flames within 15 to 20 minutes.
"While there were people on one side in the chamber side putting out the fire, there were first responders in the museum side pulling out as many artifacts as they could – everyone trying so hard to save as many of those pieces as possible," said Daniels.
And they did. The president of the railroad park board of directors, David Fehlker, said a lot of the artifacts were recovered.
"It's just that there's serious damage to them," said Fehlker. "Our main goal is looking to the future."
They're already thinking about fundraisers and different ways to fund the tearing down of the building along with putting up a new one.
The mayor said there will be a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect.
If you would like to donate to the rebuilding efforts of the building, click here.
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