The Montgomery County Court records were NOT destroyed by the 1999 tornado; but are with their respective offices, as usual, except the EARLY records are at the Montgomery County Archives, around the corner from the Public Library off Madison Street. In fact, some early records (tax lists before 1900) were DISCOVERED after the tornado! They are at the archives, and will be cleaned and made available in the future (not this year). The Register (of deeds) and some other offices insist on staying at the "Veterans Plaza" opposite the Library, and will NOT be coming back downtown with the court clerks at the end of this year, when the new "Montgomery County Courts Building" opens beside the Courthouse, which is being "restored" outside, renovated inside. The eagle on the clock tower went up Thursday. Both are opening in October, I hear. Many of the Court records are on microfilm at the library, and in the State archives, a useful fact to know, since the archives is only open during weekdays, and not at night. The library is open til 8pm MOST nights, and on Sunday afternoon, as well. There are professional researchers (list at the library, and at the archives) who will search records out for you. The government offices are serving the population of the FIFTH largest city in the state, and have (for 15 yrs I have known) NO time to answer genealogy correspondence, and the elected officials have not the slightest interest in genealogy research, nor the time to answer queries. Smaller counties operate differently, as we know. Write for the list of researchers, who will get to your inquiry eventually, or order the film on interlibrary loan where you are, from the state archives--I think they will oblige you? Cleo Hogan, cdmhogan@usit.net in Clarksville.