Site Of Freemen Saga Burns Down

A fire Sunday virtually destroyed the Garfield County Courthouse, the simple building where part of the freemen saga unfolded.

The Jordan Volunteer Fire Department was summoned at about 3:20 a.m., and firefighters remained on the scene Sunday night to watch for flareups.

Sheriff Charles Phipps said the fire destroyed District Court files and other important documents, but two vaults were left standing and will be checked to determine their contents.

Phipps said a heater is suspected in the fire, but the cause was not immediately determined. The state fire marshal was investigating.

Offices housed in the building included those of the sheriff, the county commissioners and the tax assessor. The antigovernment freemen took over the courthouse on Jan. 27, 1994, declaring their action was for the “Supreme Court of Garfield Countycomitatus.” The following month, county commissioners banned freemen “courts” from the courthouse.

It was at the courthouse in March 1994 that Phipps called for the formation of an unarmed citizen posse to help him and his lone deputy deal with the freemen. More than 70 people responded.

The freemen and the FBI were in an 81-day standoff in 1996, at a foreclosed ranch near Jordan. The standoff ended with the peaceful surrender of the freemen, some of whom are awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy and threatening public officials.