Coosa Valley News sat down with Floyd County Tax Commissioner Kevin Payne to give the community a sobering look inside what remains of one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks after a devastating fire earlier this week.
The footage shows the charred interior of the historic Floyd County Courthouse, once a centerpiece of downtown and a symbol of the city’s history. Blackened walls, collapsed sections of the roof, and debris scattered across the floors highlight the intensity of the blaze that tore through the building.
The courthouse, built in 1892 and long used for county offices, was undergoing renovations when the fire broke out on March 23. Flames quickly spread through the structure, fueled in part by its aging wooden interior, leaving much of the building gutted.
In the video, Floyd County Tax Commissioner Kevin Payne describes the emotional experience of returning inside the damaged building. After serving there for years, Payne said walking through the remains felt deeply personal, as crews worked to recover important county materials and employees’ belongings.
“It was a little emotional,” Payne said in coverage of the visit, reflecting on the loss of a place that had been a professional home for decades.
Investigators are still working to determine what sparked the fire, with early indications suggesting it may have started in the upper portion of the building.
Despite the destruction, community members have rallied around first responders and county employees. Residents and local businesses have provided meals and support to firefighters who battled the flames, underscoring the courthouse’s significance beyond its brick and mortar.
Now, county officials face a difficult decision: whether the historic structure can be saved or if demolition and rebuilding will be necessary. An initial determination on the building’s future is expected soon.
For many in Rome, the video serves as both documentation and a reminder of what has been lost—while also sparking conversations about preservation, recovery, and the future of a landmark that has stood for more than a century.
