Beeville, TX Masonic Lodge & Old Courthouse Fire, May 1888
THE FIRE RECORD
TWO BUILDINGS.
BEEVILLE, TEX., May 20. -- At 1 o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the saddlery store of Pollock & Nocker, in the Skaggs building, on the northeast corner of the square, opposite the court-house. A heavy rain storm was raging at the time but the flames soon spread to the adjoining building, a two-story frame building, the upper story of which is the Masonic lodge, the lower story a warehouse filled with agricultural implements belonging to the Kansas City Manufacturing Company of Kansas City. The things saved from the flames. The following are the approximate losses: F. J. Skaggs, house $2000; Pollack & Nocker, stock $800; Kansas City Manufacturing Company $1000. no insurance. The fire broke out inside and the origin is a mystery.
Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX 21 May 1888
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The building was originally built in 1860 and used as the second Bee County Courthouse. Soon after the building opening, the Masons received permission to add a second floor to the building to use as a Masonic Lodge. The building was used as a courthouse until 1879, when the third Bee County courthouse opened. The Masons purchased the building and used it until it was destroyed by fire. - Bee County Courthouses at historictexas.net