Stapleton's first major fire in seven years destroyed the Logan County Courthouse in a spectacular blaze that roared out of control for seven hours the night of March 13, 1962. The Stapleton Volunteer Fire Department, assisted by the Rural Fire Dept.from North Platte, Nebraska fought the losing battle amid near zero temperatures. Streams of water were poured on the frame construction but were not able to control the blaze. Fireman dumped water on sections of the burning building which housed vaults where county papers were stores. Several hundred people gathered from town and rural areas to witness what some said was the biggest fire they had ever seen and undoubtedly the biggest ever in Stapleton. The Building was constructed in 1912 and used as a hotel. In 1929 the county seat was moved from Gandy, Nebraska, to Stapleton and in 1930, after remodeling by W.P.A workers, the county took over the building as the Logan County Courthouse. The county treasurer, county clerk, and county judge's offices were set up in the basement of the bank. The location was chosen because it has a vault. The ASC office, Soil Conservation and County Extension offices were located in the Medical Center Building, as was the County Library.
