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Subject: Re: [WVMorgan] COURT HOUSE FIRE
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 23:35:08 EDT




Many records saved after fire strikes historic courthouse
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) -- Firefighters saved many birth certificates,
marriage licenses and other records after a fire destroyed the second floor
of the historic Morgan County Courthouse on Tuesday morning.
The sheriff's office and County Commission offices next door sustained smoke
and water damage in the fire that broke out at about 4:30 a.m., said James
Steiner, assistant fire chief for the Berkeley County Volunteer Fire
Department.
"We did save three quarters of the county records, including birth
certificates dating back to the 1800s, marriage licenses, deeds, county maps, things
like that," he said.
Flames were shooting out the roof of the courthouse when firefighters
arrived, Steiner said.
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Secretary of State Betty Ireland said her office has offered to help
recreate voter registration lists that could not be saved, along with any other
county documents that it has copies of.
Ireland said she also has offered to help the county with the November
election if voting equipment and records were damaged or destroyed.
"At this point, the condition of the electronic voting equipment and the
paper voting records stored in the courthouse is unknown," Ireland said.
Neighboring communities and Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, sent
firefighters to help battle the blaze, which was brought under control shortly
before 7 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
The state Fire Marshall's Office is investigating.
The 98-year-old yellow brick courthouse had heavy golden-oak doors and trim,
an arch of glass panes over the double wooden doors and a bell tower. The
large second-floor courtroom had two massive oak benches for the judge and
clerk, a jury box with original oak chairs and a heavy railing that separates
spectators from lawyers.
The courthouse was dedicated in September 1908 at a cost of $17,908.
"This has been a very tragic loss for the citizens of Morgan County,"
Ireland said. "I've visited the Morgan County Courthouse on many occasions and
understand well the great loss of this historic building, and its very important
contents."
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