Kristie's Craziness

As we prepare to leave Michigan and head for Texas, I am making it a point to visit some of my favorite places. The first one on the list is McCourtie Park in Somerset Township. The focal points of this location are the 17 concrete bridges created to resemble wood.

The park property was previously a 42-acre farm owned by Herb McCourtie’s family. He had no interest in being a farmer and instead chose to study law at University of Michigan. He graduated and moved to Dallas where he amassed a fortune in the oil industry. Upon returning to Michigan, he had the soil of the family farm tested for marl, and used it to make another fortune in the cement industry. I assume he used some of that cement for the bridges.

Being a man of many interests, it is rumored that Herb McCourtie opened a speakeasy in the Rathskeller on his property. It’s known that liquor would travel down U.S. 12 from Chicago to Detroit, so a hidden stop in Somerset is plausible. After all, cars would have been hidden from the road by the hill that the building was built into. There is a trapdoor in the roof that would have been perfect for liquor drops to supply the beautiful English bar. The most famous reported guests were Al Capone and Henry Ford. Ford supposedly participated in an all night poker game in the vault.

Then there are the bird houses that look more like bird hotels. Made in the style of trabajo rustico, the use of cement to create wood-like sculptures, they were intended to attract purple marlins. I think they failed because I have never seen one in all my visits to the park.

While I love the history of McCourtie Park, there is a more sentimental reason for us to come here. It is where we took some of our first family pictures after Hannah’s birth. And where my kids used to run and play. We took Kenzie’s senior pictures here, and my favorite sister photos with all the girls.

I have so many memories here. It was important to make one more.

Had had so much fun running and posing on the bridges.

We took family photos on our favorite bridge as well.

Until next time, Somerset. You’ve been good to us all.

Kristie