Fincastle in Botetourt County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Botetourt County Courthouse Fire
Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2015
1. Botetourt County Courthouse Fire Marker
On 15 December 1970, fire gutted the 1848 Greek Revival-style Botetourt County courthouse. Amid the charred wreckage, in a secure vault, the county’s historic records fortunately survived almost unharmed. Because of the near-loss of the Botetourt County records, however, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Public Records Act in 1975. The act mandated that deeds, wills, and other vital records be inventoried and microfilmed and copies of the film stored permanently in the Library of Virginia in Richmond for safekeeping. The Botetourt County courthouse was reconstructed and reoccupied in 1975.
Erected 1999 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number D-39.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 15, 1970.
Location. 37° 29.948′ N, 79° 52.679′ W. Marker is in Fincastle, Virginia, in Botetourt County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (Local Road T-630) and Roanoke Street (Local Road T-1204), on the left when traveling east on Main Street. It is at the courthouse. Touch for map. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fincastle (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Santillane (approx. 0.4 miles away); Breckinridge Mill (approx. 1.8 miles away); Fort William (approx. 3.1 miles away); Roanoke Valley Baptist Association (approx. 3.6 miles away); Coming of the Railroad (approx. 4.2 miles away); Greenfield (approx. 4.7 miles away); Daleville College (approx. 6.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fincastle.
Regarding Botetourt County Courthouse Fire. “The fire, discovered at 2:30 a.m. by two unidentified youths, was out of control when Fincastle volunteer firemen arrived on the scene at 2:45 a.m. with two trucks containing 1,800 gallons of water. The town of Fincastle does not have a water system so water had to be pumped from a creek and a pond several hundred yards away from the courthouse on either side of the town.”
Also see . . . Botetourt County Courthouse. Virginia Department of Historic Resources website entry (Submitted on March 20, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2015
2. Botetourt County Courthouse and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
