Fireplace destroys 111-calendar year-old Texas courthouse in Mason County

A massive hearth destroyed an 111-calendar year-old Texas courthouse Thursday night.

The Mason County Courthouse, about two hours north of San Antonio, erupted into flames all over 10:15 p.m., according to Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden, who spoke to the KXAN News Friday morning. All that was left in the developing were the rock outer partitions, he stated.

“It really is a terrible tragedy for the people listed here in the county,” Bearden informed the television station. “Correct now, it really is just a shell. It just breaks your coronary heart to seem at it.”

Check out a video of the fireplace from Prosperous C Klein.

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Bearden informed the Connected Push fireplace investigators feel arson was the result in in both of those the courthouse hearth and an additional blaze to a residence about a mile absent. In accordance to KXAN, legislation enforcement officers have a suspect in custody they believe that begun the hearth.

No 1 was in the constructing during the time of the fireplace. Significantly of the interior household furniture and county information ended up moved out prior to the unexpected fire because of to the courthouse established to have reservations in May possibly, in accordance to Mason County Information.

Even so, the interior, the roof, the bell tower, and a 150-year-previous clock had been ruined in the flames, alongside with antique furniture.

Priscilla Aguirre is a standard assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre