Monday morning August 4th at 5am, the Lancaster County Courthouse located in downtown Lancaster South Carolina was heavily damaged by fire. The courthouse is listed on the National Historical Registery and was designed and built by famed Architect Robert Mills, who designed many courthouse through out South Carolina as well as having a hand in the designing of the Washington Monument.
The courthouse was built in 1882 and was used during the Civil War to house prisioners on the first floor. There are writtings and pencil drawings on the first floor walls that were put there by those prisioners. This in itself is remarkable, since they are in such good condition. The first floor of the courthouse was being refurbished.
The last witchcraft trial in the United States was also held at the Lancaster County courthouse.
The building was heavily damaged with the entire roof gone and damage to the courtroom itself. The fire has been determined to have started near the Judges bench. The arsonist came through a window on the first floor and then used the stairway to enter the courtroom. The building itself was very beautiful and you could see the handcrafted work throughout.
Court was scheduled to begin Monday morning at 9am and the 6th Circut Solicitor Doug Barfield stated that court would be held even if they had to use tents in the parking lot
Early this morning around 4am the 6th Circut Solicitors office was destroyed by fire and four attorneys offices were damaged. These offices are across the street from the courthouse. It appears the arsonist has struck again. Guards had been on duty at the courthouse until 8pm last night. Once the courthouse had been secured they were sent home.
This is a sad week for our judicial system in Lancaster County. Emotions this morning were running high, wondering where they will strike next.
My father in law was a Constable during the 50's and early 60's, and their offices were housed in the Courthouse. When my husband was between the ages of 3 and 6, his dad carried him to work with him. My husband played on the first floor of the courthouse and has fond memories of times shared there with his dad.
Lancasterians are very emotional about the devastation of our courthouse and are praying it can be saved. Please say a prayer for the residents of our small town for we all fear where they may strike next.
The courthouse was built in 1882 and was used during the Civil War to house prisioners on the first floor. There are writtings and pencil drawings on the first floor walls that were put there by those prisioners. This in itself is remarkable, since they are in such good condition. The first floor of the courthouse was being refurbished.
The last witchcraft trial in the United States was also held at the Lancaster County courthouse.
The building was heavily damaged with the entire roof gone and damage to the courtroom itself. The fire has been determined to have started near the Judges bench. The arsonist came through a window on the first floor and then used the stairway to enter the courtroom. The building itself was very beautiful and you could see the handcrafted work throughout.
Court was scheduled to begin Monday morning at 9am and the 6th Circut Solicitor Doug Barfield stated that court would be held even if they had to use tents in the parking lot
Early this morning around 4am the 6th Circut Solicitors office was destroyed by fire and four attorneys offices were damaged. These offices are across the street from the courthouse. It appears the arsonist has struck again. Guards had been on duty at the courthouse until 8pm last night. Once the courthouse had been secured they were sent home.
This is a sad week for our judicial system in Lancaster County. Emotions this morning were running high, wondering where they will strike next.
My father in law was a Constable during the 50's and early 60's, and their offices were housed in the Courthouse. When my husband was between the ages of 3 and 6, his dad carried him to work with him. My husband played on the first floor of the courthouse and has fond memories of times shared there with his dad.
Lancasterians are very emotional about the devastation of our courthouse and are praying it can be saved. Please say a prayer for the residents of our small town for we all fear where they may strike next.
