Fire engulfs historic Rome courthouse, collapsing bell tower
For more than a century, the Floyd County Courthouse has anchored downtown Rome. The 1892 landmark, built on the site of the old Davis Foundry and serving as a link to the city’s civic and industrial past, was still housing key county offices as recently as Monday.
But by Monday afternoon, the building was in ruins. A fast-moving fire ripped through the historic structure, collapsing its bell tower and sending ash and thick smoke across downtown.
The blaze was first reported shortly after 2 p.m., according to county officials, at a time when the courthouse was undergoing renovations funded through SPLOST and ARPA.
Inside were offices for the Tax Commissioner, Tax Assessor and Tag Office — all of which had remained in use even as work continued on the building.
According to Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord, employees were evacuated quickly after the first signs of smoke. Once outside, supervisors conducted a roll call to ensure no one was left behind. No injuries were reported.
Rome-Floyd County Fire Department crews worked for hours to battle the flames while ash and smoke drifted through the city’s downtown corridor.
By evening, little remained of the courthouse’s upper floors. The Floyd County Commission is expected to consider emergency funding to relocate those operations.
“We are so thankful for the quick response and hard work of all of our first responders,” said Commission Chair Rhonda Wallace.
“From the first report of smoke by a facilities employee and their work to evacuate the building, to our 911 operators who took the calls and our law enforcement who protected the people on the ground, we thank you. And, to our Rome-Floyd Fire Department, we cannot begin to express our thanks for the preservation of life and adjoining property by your quick and professional action.
It truly takes a team, and we are so proud of ours.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
For now, county officials say residents can continue to pay property taxes and renew vehicle registrations online, while plans are being developed to reopen services at another location.
About the Author
Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.
