NATCHEZ— Arlington antebellum house is gathering friends in the community — and on Facebook.

Concerned Natchez residents have created a “Save Arlington Historic Mansion” Facebook page to gather efforts to rescue the badly damaged antebellum house.

Arlington suffered severe fire damage, which destroyed the roof and the second floor in September 2002. A new roof was installed in the house shortly after the fire, but the property has yet to be renovated completely.

The house was named the second most endangered historic property in Mississippi by the Mississippi Heritage Trust in 2009.

Historic Natchez Foundation director Mimi Miller said the house was well preserved at one time.

“It was beautiful before the fire,” Miller said. “It was considered by many to be one of the grandest federal-style houses.”

Starkville resident Amy Taylor Myers is an admin on the Facebook page.

She said the group was created approximately two weeks ago, and within the first day gained 1,200 members. Now, the group has approximately 2,500 members.

Myers said the group’s main functions include researching the house’s historical importance and brainstorming realistic ways of improving the property’s state of repair.

“We’re talking about what people would like to see happen there,” Myers said. “And about things we’ve been trying to do to get the project out and in the public’s eye.”

Myers said she expects the property’s owner to be the group’s main obstacle.

Thomas Vaughn, who owns the property, has declined to sell the property, and has been in court several times to answer for the house’s condition.

“That’s why this project is going to be very hard to start,” Myers said. “We’re kind of trying to discuss ways to build a good relationship with Vaughn.”

In autumn of 2014, Vaughn was under financial pressure from the courts to sell the house to avoid the fines concerning the property’s upkeep.

Natchez Building Inspector Jody Rutter said the property is now up to code, and the city has no outstanding fines against Vaughn.

Municipal Judge pro-tem Tony Heidelberg said Vaughn has appeared in his court several times in violation of city code concerning the state of the historic property.

Heidelberg said several people have approached the property owner to purchase the house and lands, but none have been able to buy it.

However, Vaughn has not appeared before Heidelberg for several months.

“If he does violate an ordinance, he’ll usually give us an update on what he’s doing, even before I ask for it,” Heidelberg said. “So we probably won’t hear about him until April or May, when the grass starts growing again.”