Historic Chatham County courthouse burns

PITTSBORO -- The Chatham County courthouse in Pittsboro is on fire, according to authorities.

The courthouse, which is the centerpiece of the traffic circle in the quaint Pittsboro downtown, was built in 1881 by T.B. Womack at a cost of $10,666. In 1930, a story was added to the building and in 1959, there was an extensive renovation that cost $130,000.

In 1985, a large new courthouse was built across the street from the old courthouse.

In recent months, extensive renovations have been underway in the historic building.

Jim Woodall, the district attorney for Chatham and Orange counties, said Superior Court had just finished around 4:30 p.m. when the fire broke out.

While most of the records are stored across the street in the new courthouse, Woodall said the Chatham County historical society had an office and museum on the first floor, as did the state probation system. Judges' chambers were on the second floor.

Woodall, who was on his way back to the Orange County courthouse in Hillsborough when he found out about the fire, said his staff called him and told him they had all gotten out of the building safely.

From video footage he has seen, Woodall said it looked as if the fire leaped from the clock tower, which is surrounded by scaffolding from the extensive work. Workers have been replacing windows and updating electrical wiring.

"They were doing a lot of work to the clock-tower portion, the attic area," Woodall said.