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30th anniversary of courthouse fire approaching

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Contributed by: Joseph Kirchmer/YourHub.com on 3/4/2008

In the dining room of the venerable B & B Cafe, 322 Wilcox St., in Castle Rock, a headline from a weathered news page that's framed up on the wall reads "Flames reduce county landmark to rubble." It's a story that most of the locals are familiar with.

The Douglas County Courthouse, which was built from native rhyolite in 1890, went up in flames March 11, 1978, leaving almost nothing behind except for a smoldering rubble. Though most of the courthouse's documents were saved on microfilm in an office in Jefferson County, the loss of the building was a major loss to the identity of both Douglas County and Castle Rock.

"The loss of the courthouse is still felt in the community," said Johanna Harden, an archivist with the Douglas County Research Center. "I think the building embodied the personality of the county. Its loss was not only physical, but was also very emotional."

The actual fire started at 12:25 a.m. on the second floor of the building, according to reports. Seven prisoners had to be evacuated from the jail, which was housed in the basement of the courthouse.

An investigation eventually revealed the blaze was started by a 17-year-old Denver girl named Rose Ann Lucero, who started the fire in hopes of freeing her boyfriend, who was in jail at the time. She pleaded innocent in court and ended up serving probation time, according to reports.

Residents attempted to form a "Save The Courthouse" committee, but the remains of the building were eventually razed. The county quickly replaced the site with an administrative office, which now houses the county's clerk and recorder's office.

Local historian Kent Brandebery, who has lived in Castle Rock since 1938, said many residents were disappointed with the courthouse's replacement.

"They were disgusted with it," Brandebery said.

The longtime resident said the town had to halt plans to rebuild downtown Castle Rock around the notorious "courthouse square."

"When the courthouse burnt down, all those ideas and plans went by the wayside," he said. "It kind of took away from the area."

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

Submitted By: Michael Rule

posted on 3/10/2008 @ 8:30:01 AM

Rated Story

I was talking to a long-time local the other day at The Next Door Bar about the time a local rancher dumped his neighbor's bull (that had been getting into his cows) on the front lawn of the town square, and the ensuing fistfight. Now THERE'S some local history!

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Submitted By: Dub Jones

posted on 3/5/2008 @ 9:11:31 AM

(Not Rated)

I was there that night with my family standing on the front lawn watching the building burn. I was only 7 years old, but I knew it was a significant time. My mom was new to the Treasurer's office at the time and we ran the office out of our living room for several days until it was temporarily moved to Jeffco. For years afterwards, offices were moved around town until the new building was built. I agree with Brent in the story, the building that replaced the old courthouse was, and still is, ugly.

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Submitted By: Michael Rule

posted on 3/5/2008 @ 6:58:52 AM

Rated Story

I moved here the year after the courthouse fire, so I never saw it. I have to agree with the sentiment on the replacement building, though. What an ugly piece of sh_t.

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