Built in 1927, the 94-year-old, two story, brick Max House Apartments at 101 East Main Street in downtown Auburn has been home to a lot of activity in its long life, as tenants and street-level businesses came and went.

But gutted by fire during the early morning hours of July 24, 2021, the building at 101 East Main has just one bit of business left to transact with history — its end.

That end begins soon, though people may not know it for a while, Jason A. Krum, Development Services Manager for the City of Auburn told the Auburn Reporter on Nov. 15.

“We expect to be issuing the demolition permit to the owner’s contractor sometime this week, and that preliminary demolition work will begin sometime next week,” Krum said.

The work will be phased, Krum noted, and include several preparation steps, such as asbestos abatement and disconnection from utilities, so progress will probably appear slow at first.

“The most visible work, including major building demolition, is not anticipated to occur for a few weeks,” Krum said.

The city had held demolition in check for weeks so it would not interfere with this year’s annual Veterans Day Parade along Main Street.

Among the businesses that called the Max home over the years were: Nelson’s Jewelry at the corner of East Main and Auburn Avenue; Wagner’s Hobby Shop; a Coast to Coast store; and farther back in time, Jungleland Pet Shop in the late 1960s.