With over 20 years left yet in 19th-century Texas, our complete list of Texas County Courthouses with missing records continues to part four. After the 1870’s, the incidence of courthouse fires decreased drastically, likely a result of better document protection procedures. Though less structure fires were reported, significant loss of court documents occurred prior to the turn of the century.
County Courthouse Fires 1878 – 1889
Unlike the earlier 1870’s, only seven county courthouses experienced a structure fire resulting in loss of court documents later on:
- 1878 - The spring of 1878 proved unlucky for the Rusk County Courthouse, as the building was consumed in flames, losing the majority of county records.
- 1878 - A short two seasons later, Wood County Courthouse did not survive a building fire, nor did any court documents survive. From marriage and death to land and other court paperwork, all early records were lost in this fire.
- 1879 - The first and only reported courthouse fire in a Texas county to occur in 1879 took place in Refugio County. Not long after the New Year’s celebrations began to settle down, Refugio County Courthouse caught fire, resulting in the loss of many court documents.
- 1881 - In a fire believed to be the work of an arsonist, the Wise County Courthouse burned down in 1881, resulting in significant record loss. In 1895, Wise County Courthouse was set ablaze again while the fire guard was off duty.
- 1882 - Believed to be caused by rodents chewing on matches, the Tom Green County Courthouse caught fire in June 1882. According to reports, the fire started in the Clerk of District Courts office, which consumed many of the documents in this area of the building.
- 1882 - Though there was no catastrophic loss of courthouse records, Shelby County Courthouse suffered fire damage in May 1882. While very few documents were lost forever, many property records needed to be reconstructed by officials. As a result, the accuracy of replaced documents is in question.
- 1884 - A year after it was constructed, Hunt County Courthouse was enveloped in flames, as a fire damaged the county’s commercial district. This fire resulted in the loss of land, marriage, and court records.
- 1885 - Early in November 1885, Leon County Courthouse caught on fire resulting in the loss of many records. Though land and probate records dated prior to 1885 are available, nearly all of the court’s marriage records were lost.
- 1886 - In August 1886, Hardin County Courthouse was destroyed in a structure fire, which consumed many court documents. Assessment rolls, surveyor records, and probate records were most affected by this destructive fire. However, a select few records kept in a safe did survive this event.
- 1889 - Over three years after Hardin County Courthouse’s fire, Crosby County Courthouse caught fire from an unknown cause. Reports indicate the fire started under the building’s floor and lasted a few hours before being extinguished. Among the records destroyed were treasurer, county clerk, and judge documents.
In the last decade of the 19th century, Texas counties were set to experience a reprieve from courthouse fires as document storage methods improved. Prior to the turn of the century, a few more courthouse fires shaped the future of record keeping. The upcoming final installment of this series will review the most significant Texas courthouse fires of the 20th century.
* Some information courtesy of Genealogy Inc.
