Down Goes The Old Court House!
No building in the history of our county is more closely identified with the feuds and notorious bloody events of Breathitt County history as was our county's third courthouse. For nearly eighty-five years (ca. 1880-1965) it stood in the center of Jackson, the capital of Bloody Breathitt. Through the years it went through many changes and enlargements. It had a crimson career. From its windows shots brought down James Cockrell in 1902. Hen Kilburn was lynched from its tower in the late 1880s. J.B. Marcum was shot in its door. Witnesses have been shot on the witness stand. All about it gunplay and showdowns bloodied its grounds. It was the scene of hot political rallies, but also church meetings. In its walls state guards have camped and it was the place where the Jackson Hustler, our county's first newspaper, was first published. Tom Smith was hanged just behind it and there were jail breaks in its shadows. Yet, through it all the old building stood until in 1965 a wrecking ball conquered its aging strength. That it was not saved is one of many tragedies which saw numerous Breathitt landmarks fade from the scene. Jackson and Breathitt County once had so many things that today would be of interest to all.
The following photos are courtesy of Charles Neace. Taken in 1965, they depict the end of the old Breathitt County Court House. It was replaced by the county's fourth court house, one that most think is the most unlikely-looking courthouse in Kentucky. (No captions are used on the following pages. The pictures tell the story.)
(posted 7-28-98)
1. In ruins.
6. The wrecking ball at work again.
7. The beginnings of the fourth court house. (Note just across the street is the Jaxon Theater which had just burned at the time of this photo. Iron rafters may be seen through the upstairs windows.)