Moving forward: Millions of dollars, several years to fix Loudon Co. Courthouse

LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The mayor of Loudon County says it could take millions of dollars and three years to renovate the Loudon County Courthouse after it was destroyed in a fire on the night of April 23.

Mayor Buddy Bradshaw says the courthouse, built in 1872, is a total loss, and it could take up to three years and millions of dollars to get the building up and running again.

"This is heartbreaking,"

Bradshaw said.

"This was just a staple of Loudon County."

However, Bradshaw said at a press conference on Wednesday,

"We're going to rebuild."

Early estimates suggest that the building is a total loss, and investigators have not been able to get into the building due to safety issues.

"Part of the struggle moving forward,"

the mayor said, is that so much of the building and its contents were original.