Approximately one-half of all the counties in Alabama have had their courthouse to burn. Some of them were burned during the Civil War era of 1860-1865. Some have burned as many as four times.

The destruction of courthouses greatly affects genealogists in every way. No only are these historic structures torn from our lives, so are the records they housed: marriage, wills, probate, land records, and others. Once destroyed they are lost forever. Even if they have been placed on mircofilm, computers and film burn too. The most heartbreaking side of this is the fact that many of our courthouses are destroyed at the hands of arsonist.

©1999-2002, Rhonda Smith