Hi again! You can go through the list of reels and ask for that year to be sent to your library so you can view it yourself. I have a web so I just go into search and type in the name of the state and add archives. Or, Type in State name and Historical Newspapers. Then go through the list of different newspapers published during the year you are looking for and ask for your library to be sent the reel(s) with the date you believe this occured. It would seem that the Fire Department would have some knowledge of this. Maybe, even before the PD. I do not know if the coroner would have records for that year released or not. Most times the barber in the town was the surgeon because he was trainned in cutting hair. Unless the jail burning was because of a war effort I do not know if there would be a write up. I read there were Democratic and Repblican Newspapers pretty much as today actually. Therefore, they printed only thier immediate interests of the community, etc. and was limited on Birth, Deaths and Marriages reporting. Whichonly the Minister would have kept those records as I read also they were the only ones in some areas that could read. They wrote names by sound so it was reported those were created by the perso writing down the names. What is the information you have? name of person,( jail City, County) and year. I might try finding something for you. NO PROMISE(S). Like I said I have a web not a computor but I have no problems unless the web has some problem. Otherwise, Good Luck on your search. You could also place an article in the paper. You may have old timers remembering this as a child or by family telling them. Also where is this person buried? Judy in Quincy