Hardinsburg in Breckinridge County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Courthouse Burned
Dec. 28, 1864, guerrillas set fire to courthouse at Hardinsburg but citizens saved building and records. CSA came in and allowed public to keep arms for defense.
Erected 1963 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 584.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Notable Events • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is December 28, 1864.
Location. 37° 46.868′ N, 86° 27.689′ W. Marker is in Hardinsburg, Kentucky, in Breckinridge County. Marker is on 2nd Street (Business U.S. 60) west of South Main Street (Kentucky Route 261), on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on the Breckinridge County Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 208 South Main Street, Hardinsburg KY 40143, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. County Named, 1799 (a few steps from this marker); Breckinridge County War War I Honor Roll (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Romuald Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Shelter for Lincolns (approx. 0.6 miles away); Joseph Holt (approx. 7.4 miles away); First Coal Oil (approx. 10.2 miles away); Lincoln Family Trail (approx. 10.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hardinsburg.
Also see . . .
1. Breckinridge County Courthouse History. The first courthouse was made of logs and erected in 1801. In 1868, the old courthouse was replaced by a new one. This one was built of brick which were burned on Mr. Hook’s farm. The brick kiln was located in the schoolhouse yard between the school building and Mr. Sherman Beauchamp’s home. Mr. Edgar Bennett of Basin Springs erected the building. The building stood the storms of time and answered well its purpose until it went up in flames February 7, 1958. The fire broke out in the extreme upper part of the building so all hands and the cook put forth every effort and succeeded in carrying to safety all of the early and valuable records of the county. (Submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Breckinridge County, Kentucky. During the American Civil War, raiding Kentucky Confederate cavalry burned the courthouse, as it was being used by Union troops as a barracks, though most of the records were saved. On March 12, 1865, Jerome Clarke, a well known Confederate guerrilla, claimed by some to have been Sue Munday, was captured near the Breckinridge–Meade County line. He was hanged three days later in Louisville. Afterward, his trial drew heavy criticism. A third courthouse fire nearly destroyed county records in 1958. (Submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Courthouse Images for Breckinridge County, Kentucky.
This link presents images of the current and historic Breckinridge County courthouses. (Submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 477 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.