Aside from the "fish" as a religious symbol and some even say a pagan symbol, the history of the "fish weathervane" goes back to the early colonial settlers who arrived in America from England. According to scholars, many of these early settlers lived near the sea and fishing was a way of life for them. Even the inland part of their homeland was not far from the sea. The fish symbol seemed a natural item to place on the top of those early buildings which house the early Colonial and New England form of law and order. It reminded them of their mother land and here in the new land they were near water and relied on fishing to sustain them.

Others say that the fish is a very streamline item to place on a weathervane, would move with the wind very easily and had no meaning other than "efficiency." Still others say that when the two national political parties were fighting over which party symbol was to go on top of the legal buildings, the fish was a neutral symbol and satisfied both parties.

The fish weathervane used atop the Logan County Court Buildings, in the past, seem to be used more as a "target" for those frustrated or angry about something! One story about the fish goes back to the old court house which was located in the middle of town. The courthouse was used during the Civil War as a military prison and the headquarters of the Union forces. It is told that the fish was used as "target" by a Federal soldier out on a drinking spree.

Another story tells of the fish weathervane being used as a "target" by the Night Riders during the Tobacco Wars and still another deals with the Jesse James Gang using the fish as a "target" during one of their quick trips to town. The old fish weathervane with it's bullet holes now resides in the Saddle Factory Museum on E. 4th Street in Russellville.

However, today a weathervane replacement "target" in the shape of that same fish flies, in the slightest gust of wind, on top of the Logan County Courthouse. The only thing aimed at it today is the admiring glances from the public or a photographer trying to get the best picture!