____________________________________________________________________________ Washington: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1855 Clerk's Office Burned The Clerk's office at Murfreesboro, Pike county, was destroyed by fire on the night of Tuesday, the 13th inst. All records of the county, together with the law library of A.B. Williams, Esq., which had, but a few days previous, been moved into it, were destroyed. The fire is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, as there was no fire in the offices on the evening previous the destruction. The loss of the records is irreparable, and should admonish us of the absolute necessity of having a fire-proof building for the protection of the archives of this county. It has been but a short time since the clerk's office, and all the records of Prairie county, were destroyed in the same manner. Indeed, fire-proof buildings for the protection of the records are essential in every county, and we would respectfully urge the importance of the erection of a building of this character in this (Hempstead) county, to the earnest consideration of our County Court. The sooner it is done the better. ____________________________________________________________________________ Washington Telegraph, Volume XV, Washington, Arkansas, February 21, 1855, No. 8, page 2, column 1. ____________________________________________________________________________ David Kelley 1997