Pepin County Courthouse and Jail

Pepin County Courthouse and Jail
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Interactive map showing the location for Pepin County Courthouse and Jail
Location	307 W. Madison, Durand, Wisconsin
Coordinates	44°37′44″N 91°57′53″W / 44.62889°N 91.96472°W / 44.62889; -91.96472
Area	1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Built	1873–74
Architectural style	Greek Revival
MPS	County Courthouses of Wisconsin TR
NRHP reference No.	82000695[1]
Added to NRHP	March 9, 1982

The Pepin County Courthouse and Jail is located in Durand, Wisconsin. In 1982, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.^[2] Additionally, it is listed on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places.

The courthouse was constructed from 1873 to 1874 at a cost of $7,000, with the jail built next door.^[3] Attached to the jail was the official residence of the Sheriff of Pepin County, Wisconsin. In 1881, the site managed to survive a fire that cause great damage to the town. The jail and sheriff's residence remained in use until 1984, while the courthouse remained in use until 1985.

Currently, the property serves as the Pepin County Heritage Center, which is operated by the Pepin County Historical Society. Exhibits include the courtroom, jail, and displays of local history and culture.

In 1881, a man who had been associated with Quantrill's Raiders and the James-Younger Gang was arrested in Durand for the murder of a sheriff's deputy. On the day of his trial at the courthouse, a mob descended upon the area, taking custody of the man and later hanging him.

The event was reported in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and The New York Times, causing Durand to gain a reputation of a "hanging town". However, it was later reported that most individuals involved in the hanging had come to the town from other areas. It was the last hanging in Wisconsin.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pepin County Courthouse and Jail.

• Pepin County Heritage Center - official site