On April 21, 1913, the Yell County Courthouse, formerly a commercial building on Front Street between Green and Oak Streets, along with a neighboring business—a “transfer stable”—and a private residence was totally destroyed in a fire that had started in the stable.
(The transfer stable probably provided delivery services as well as transportation from the riverboats up to the resort on Mt. Nebo.)
Dardanelle Courthouse Fire, April 21, 1913.
The photograph may have been taken by a local photographer, Sherwood T. Grissom.__________
As Yell County’s population increased, the Arkansas General Assembly had split the county into two judicial districts in 1875 and appointed Dardanelle as a judicial seat to serve alongside Danville. The cities held separate chancery, circuit, and probate courts, with the county clerk maintaining an office in both courthouses. A courthouse for the Dardanelle Judicial District was established in the Front Street commercial building in 1878.
Arkansas Gazette,
April 22, 1913
YELL COURTHOUSE
DESTROYED BY FIRE
__________
Transfer Stable and Residence Also Prey to Flames at Dardanelle.
Special to the Gazette.
Dardanelle, April 21.—Dardanelle was visited by a serious fire about 6 o’clock this afternoon and before the flames were extinguished the Dardanelle transfer stable on Front street, the county courthouse and the residence of Joseph Lipe were destroyed.
The flames started in the Dardanelle Transfer Company through some unknown cause and spread with great rapidity and by the time the firemen had reached the scene the courthouse was starting to burn. As all the records were in a vault in the courthouse, no effort was made to save them, as the safe was fireproof.
The firemen did good work and got the flames under control after Mr. Lipe’s home, which was in the rear of the courthouse, was destroyed. They pumped water on the ruins of the courthouse all night so the vault containing the records can be reached in the morning.
The courthouse was valued at $3,000 and was insured for $2,000. The Circuit, Chancery, County and Probate Courtrooms were in the building.
J. L. Carpenter owned the building in which the livery stable was housed. It was valued at $1,200 and was insured for $750. Croom Brothers ran the business, but their loss cannot be ascertained. Mr. Lipp carried $1,000 insurance on his home, which was valued at that amount.
Dardanelle Courthouse Fire, April 21, 1913.