Historic Mason County Courthouse destroyed overnight by fire

The 111-year old Mason County Courthouse caught fire Thursday night, soon becoming engulfed in flames and appears to be a total loss. According to Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden, “We are strong and we will rebuild.”

Bearden said that the fire started around 10 p.m. Thursday, and by approximately 1:30 a.m., the only thing still remaining was the building’s rock structure. The building was originally constructed in 1909.

County records and documents had been relocated last December as the building began preparing for renovations.

Firefighters had responded to a house fire more than a mile away at roughly the same time, but there is no word as to whether the two fires are related. Multiple fire departments responded to the scene including the Mason and Llano Volunteer Fire Departments. A fire marshall was expected to be on the scene Friday morning.

Mason’s population is estimated to be roughly 2,300 people and is located 110 miles west of Austin and 270 miles from Houston.