Ford starts lost and found for stripped train station relics

(WJBK) - Ford Motor Company is looking for missing historic pieces from the old Michigan Central Station.
  
After buying the once great train station, it is hoping that anyone with the stolen relics from inside will be returned to them, no questions asked.

At a secret location, in the archives for Ford Motor Company, historian Ted Ryan is the man in charge of the archives. The darling of the bunch is the newly recovered clock from the Michigan Central Station. 
   
The green lead paint nowadays is peeling, chipped and worn but not broken like the bones of the home it will be returned to. The iconic clock sits in the secret room-moisture controlled. The temperature inside the Ford archives sits at 62 degrees. 

Ryan just left a job as an historian and archivist at Coca-Cola in Atlanta to take on a refreshing change at Ford at a time that’s special for Detroit and for the auto maker. 

"When I see the clock, I see the symbol of hope just like the entire building," Ryan said. "The restoration of it is going to be wonderful for Detroit and wonderful for the Corktown community and be a crown jewel for Ford for Innovation and looking forward."

But the clock isn’t the only thing Ryan and his colleagues at Ford want back. 

FOX 2: "What are some of the other items that you wish you had?"

"Some of the other items are the teller windows where you would get your tickets, there was some beautiful filigree metal work around there," Ryan said. "The elevator doors and the elevators had some beautiful work on them. The light fixtures were just stunning. 

"There was also a giant clock in the central mezzanine area that is beautiful. So any of those items that are out there, that people would like to see returned to Ford so that we can reuse them - every bit would be appreciated."

The train station clock returned just a few weeks ago, used to hang outside of the parking garage of the iconic train station.  The people who had it, wanted to give it back.  No questions asked. 

"I think that they were worried about us accusing them of stealing it or that there would be ramifications when in fact there will be no ramifications," Ryan said. "We would just love to see the items from the depot return to the company so that we can use them to restore the building to its former majesty."

Majesty made of a mosaic of mismatched relics that need to be returned - soon.  

"Sooner is always better than later," Ryan said. "So we can begin to incorporate the elements in quickly. We have a telephone number that people can call if they have something and they can work with us. Right now we are just collating all the data together about what is out there and then we will contact them later to arrange pickup.”

If you know where any of these items are call 313-322-1092.