The following newspaper article is about Murray's original courthouse needing to be replaced in 1904. What is interesting to note is that it was not long after that the courthouse burned under mysterious circumstances. After it burned down the people would still not vote for a new building and went without a courthouse for several years until after one election it is told that the officials juggled the numbers and changed the outcome of the vote and the building of the new courthouse was approved. DAILY MESSENGER Mayfield, KY February 18, 1904 ____________________ VISIT TO MURRAY. __________ Find A Thriving Enterprising, Prosperous People, Who Are Up-to-date In All Business Enterprises. __________ NEEDS A NEW COURTHOUSE. There is no visit that a man can make, that he can enjoy, better than to Murray the capital of the good County of Calloway. There is no end to the cleverness and sociability of her people. They are industrious, progressive and hospitable. Calloway County has improved wonderfully in the past few years; in fact she is up-to-date in every thing except her courthouse. After a stroll through the present old dilapidated courthouse and the public offices of the County we were led to the belief that the voters and taxpayers of that good county are standing in their own light by not building a new courthouse. Several votes have been taken heretofore on the proposition, but in each instance it has been voted down. We think this is a great mistake. This old structure was built in 1843, over sixty years ago, when the old and valuable records were removed from old Wadesboro, after the county of Calloway was divided and the county of Marshall created. The old records in nearly all the counties in the Purchase have long since been destroyed and burned, which cost the people thousands of dollars in getting them corrected and in paying the expenses of necessary litigation, but the oldest and most complete records west of Louisville, are still to be found in the old courthouse at Murray. These records have stood the dangers of over sixty years, and are still in existence, but not safe. The county clerk's office with all its records, the circuit clerk and the county judge, all have their offices upstairs with large piles of wood and other inflammable material. One spark of fire could in a few moments, damage the people of Calloway County more than enough to build four or five new courthouses. There is no vault in which to keep the records, but they are upstairs on the shelves exposed to all the dangers of an old house. The people of that county need a new courthouse worse than any county in the State, not one excepted. With property valued at over $3,000,000 the people of that county can build a new $40,000 courthouse and pay for it in two years and never miss the money. If they could realize the real condition and danger of the present old "shack," of a courthouse, there would not be 100 votes against the proposition. If their present courthouse were to burn, $100,000 would not pay the expenses to the people of Calloway County for the loss. Sentiment seems to be growing in favor of a new courthouse.