It was the heart of Pepin County for 111 years. Now it's at the heart of its history.

In this Wandering Wisconsin, we head to Durand and inside an important piece of Pepin County's past.

These days when you hear about courthouses, it's about expansions, right? Well the only expansion the Old Courthouse Museum and Jail is focused on, is expanding minds.

((Sounds of an old-time record are playing))

This building is like a beautiful song to Terry Mesch. "I never get tired of coming in the building," he says.

Every memory is a melody to the man who's in harmony with the history here. "I get a true sense of awe," Mesch adds.

Because inside the Old Pepin County Courthouse, is enough yesteryear to make your head spin.

Mesch says, "I tell people when they ask how long will it take, I say, well, depending on your time, 10 minutes to 2 hours and beyond because the stories that I know about Pepin County and stories about this building and exhibits and displays can go on and on."

Mesch is the manager of the Old Courthouse Museum and Jail. He gave us a glimpse into its past that began in 1874.

"This is probably the most important historic artifact in Pepin County."

It's one of only two places in the county on the National Register of Historic Places and it's the only one of it's kind in another category.

"It's the last remaining wood frame courthouses in Wisconsin."

The main floor, where the offices used to be, is now a museum. It houses displays on everything Pepin County. From agriculture, to home or hospital life, the county's French connection, to it's celebrated citizens.

"There's Miles Durand Prindle, founder of Durand. These paintings around the room were all done by this man, Gleason."

He takes pride in the past. And wants everyone to know more about where they live.

As Mesch points out a replica of a Pepin County cabin, "you can see the upstairs," and when you see what's upstairs here, you see his favorite place.

"It's because of the sense of history I get here. We are in the old courtroom. The featured room of the Old Courthouse Museum."

There were trials here for more than a century, until the judge banged the gavel for the last time in 1985. The most famous of all to walk this floor, Ed Maxwell. "He's the gentlemen who was lynched," Mesch said.

Mesch says in 1881 Maxwell was accused of killing two local brothers in a shootout in Durand. One brother was a Dunn County deputy the other a Pepin County Sheriff's employee.

"Maxwell was caught and brought back here. As he was being taken from the courtroom after a preliminary hearing he was lynched and put in a tree in the yard."

About 14 years later, the long arm of the law was only a lawn's length away. He lived in the house next door. Attached to the jail.

"The sheriff or jailer could have stuck his head in from the other side to see."

He says this scary slammer, built in 1895 was home to criminals until 1985.

"This was typical of its day there aren't too many that exist in the state of Wisconsin now."

Mesch says he'd love to unlock more of his county's past for anyone willing to listen to the sounds of days gone by. "We have lots of stories about Pepin County."

The museum is free to the public, but they do appreciate donations. It's regular season is the summer time, but it's open any time by appointment.

To learn more about the Old Courthouse Museum and Jail, click here.