Mason County TX Courthouse fire

[henzilla]

Appears to be a total loss for 111 year old structure. Sad to see the damage this morning
Hoping they find it structurally rebuildable after the experts weigh in

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hist...vernight-fire/

4A4A3523-03EB-45C8-A65F-A75CCE75E8A8.jpeg

6573BBEF-9BFA-4EAE-BE53-439B6EFFC742.jpeg

[Lee]

Damn

[PGlaves]

I wonder how many public records are lost and not backed up somewhere. Deeds, divorces, liens, etc. might be at risk here.

[Omega Man]

Jefferson NH lost a town hall as well-

https://www.boston.com/news/local-ne...troyed-by-fire

OM

[Lee]

I wonder how many public records are lost and not backed up somewhere. Deeds, divorces, liens, etc. might be at risk here.

"the building was being prepared for renovations at the time of the fire. All county records and documents had been moved to a safe location in December 2020"

[akbeemer]

That courthouse looks much like many in Montana. A company was hired to build several courthouses up here back around 1900 and they all look very similar. I wonder if TX did the same thing, maybe even with the same company.

[20774]

That courthouse looks much like many in Montana. A company was hired to build several courthouses up here back around 1900 and they all look very similar. I wonder if TX did the same thing, maybe even with the same company.

Is the architect's name here the same as for Montana?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_...thouse_(Texas)

[henzilla]

The latest

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hist...vernight-fire/

A list of Texas courthouse architects

http://www.texasescapes.com/Texas_ar...Architects.htm

Our former county courthouse in Blanco didn’t stay in use long when some new counties got added and wasn’t considered to be central in location ... got moved twelve miles north to Johnson City. Politics and late night moves literally
We see siblings of it when traveling and always do a double take

Several notable courthouses here

https://www.tourtexas.com/amp/articl...blow-your-mind

[akbeemer]

Is the architect's name here the same as for Montana?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_...thouse_(Texas)

I do not know the architects responsible for the Montana courthouses, but the guy that did the Mason County, TX courthouse is not listed as doing any in Montana. We had a ride in which we visited many of Montana’s county seats and there was an historical marker by one that talked about the architect who designed several courthouses in Montana. A quick scan on Wikipedia did not show anything that resembles Mason County’s.

[rangerreece]

Alway sad... as it turns out, some things aren’t replaceable. The world is a lesser place when good architecture disappears.

[akbeemer]

Well the good news is I found a picture of the placard that describes how one architectural firm designed the courthouses for 18 of Montana's 56 counties. This is outside of the Rosebud County (where they claim the long departed Fredric Remington as a resident) Courthouse.....



The rather sad news is that their courthouse bears only a remote resembalance to the Mason County edifice, which casts significant doubt on the state of my mental acuity. So, let me say this about that.... Nevermind.

[20774]

I don't know, Kevin. Square, three floors, some columns, dome in the middle...I think we have a winner!!

[20774]

Something I saw suggests that the fire was arson:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/arson-sus...193745200.html

[pspencer]

I saw part of the chase up I35 in Temple yesterday. Of course we had no idea why there were so many police vehicles.

Not my video, we saw it north of Temple.

https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/...5-1546194736bf

[PGlaves]

I saw part of the chase up I35 in Temple yesterday. Of course we had no idea why there were so many police vehicles.

Not my video, we saw it north of Temple.

https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/...5-1546194736bf

I surely love the way the non-LEO traffic pulled to the right and slowed or stopped. NOT! Much of it was going by in all four lanes, seemingly oblivious to all the lights and sirens.