W.H.L. McCourtie Estate facts for kids
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W. H. L. McCourtie Estate
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10426 S. Jackson Road at US 12, Somerset Center, Michigan |
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| Area | 42 acres (17 ha) |
| Architect | George Cardoso, Ralph Corona |
| Architectural style | Folk art, rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001984 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 24, 1992 |
The W. H. L. McCourtie Estate, also known as McCourtie Park, is a fun park located in Somerset Center, Michigan. It's famous for its amazing concrete sculptures that look just like real wood! This special art style is called el trabejo rustico, which means "rustic work" in Spanish. The park was recognized as a special historic place in Michigan in 1991 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. It might even have the biggest collection of this unique concrete art in the whole country!
History of McCourtie Park
William Herbert Lee McCourtie was born in 1872 on a farm near Somerset Center. He was the eighth child in his family. William went to the University of Michigan and earned a law degree in 1891. In 1896, he married Ellen D. Hulett.
In 1897, William learned about the cement industry. He soon moved to Dallas, Texas, where he became very successful in the oil business. He even started his own cement company called Trinity Portland Cement.
In the 1920s, McCourtie returned to Somerset Center. In 1924, he bought his family's old home and the land around it. He named it "Aiden Lair." This place became a community center where he held many events. He continued to host free community events even during the Great Depression. Famous people, like Henry Ford, even visited Aiden Lair.
Around 1930, McCourtie hired two artists from Mexico, George Cardoso and Ralph Corona. They built 17 concrete bridges at Aiden Lair. These bridges crossed the stream that flowed through the property. Cardoso and Corona used a special technique called el trabejo rustico. This is a Mexican folk art style where wet concrete is shaped to look like wood. They learned this skill from Dionicio Rodriguez, a very famous artist in this style. Another artist might have helped them, possibly Rodriguez himself. The concrete structures were finished between 1930 and 1933.
W. H. L. McCourtie passed away in 1933. After his death, the estate was owned by different people. In 1987, the estate became a public park for everyone to enjoy. The original house was taken down, but the amazing concrete sculptures, an underground garage, and a special basement room called a rathskeller are still there.
What You Can See at McCourtie Park
McCourtie Park covers about 42 acres (17 ha) of land. It has seventeen unique concrete bridges and two life-size concrete trees. These trees even serve as chimneys for the underground garage and rathskeller!
All these amazing structures are made using the el trabejo rustico technique. This Mexican folk art style makes concrete look exactly like wood. The artists used strong steel rods as a base. Then, they covered the rods with wet concrete. They carefully sculpted the concrete by hand to make it look like natural materials. This includes smooth lumber, rough logs, thatched roofs, and even rope!
There are also two concrete pools and two large birdhouses on the property. One birdhouse has 192 rooms for birds, and the other has 288!
Each of the seventeen bridges is special and different. One bridge looks like a small thatched cottage. Another looks like a swinging rope bridge. The details in the sculptures are incredible. You can see marks from "hewing" wood, the grain of the wood, and even individual fibers in the thatch and rope. You can even tell what kind of tree bark some of the sculptures are supposed to be!
Activities at McCourtie Park
Today, McCourtie Park is a public park that offers many fun activities. Besides the unique concrete sculptures, you can find:
- A tennis court
- A basketball court
- A fenced baseball field
- An 18-hole disc golf course
- A picnic area
Admission to McCourtie Park is free for everyone!
