McCourtie Park

About

The W. H. L. McCourtie Estate, originally called Aiden Lair and now known as McCourtie Park.

Story

SOMERSET CENTER, MI – Many people consider it a hidden Hillsdale County gem whose uniqueness isn't noticed by most people driving by on U.S. 12.

But Somerset Township's McCourtie Park is a historic landmark linked to legends, ghostly lore and an interesting, whimsical man who left a more than 90-year-old legacy to the industry and community he loved.

McCourtie Park's trademark is its concrete bridges artistically handcrafted to resemble wooden structures. They were the creations of William H.L. "Herb" McCourtie, a cement magnate who had them built on his estate known as Aiden Lair.

McCourtie was born on the family farm in Somerset Center in 1872. He received a law degree from the University of Michigan and practiced law in Jackson.

There, in 1897, he met W.F. Cowham, who introduced him to the cement industry. Soon after, he left for Dallas, Texas where he made a fortune speculating in oil and then spent some of his earnings to establish the Trinity Portland Cement Company.

McCourtie returned to Jackson in the 1920s, where he and his family lived in a mansion at 605 W. Michigan Ave. In 1924, he purchased his family's 42-acre farm and turned it into a showplace.

McCourtie was known for giving lavish parties. And he hosted a homecoming celebration every year that drew thousands of people to Aiden Lair to witness stunt flyers and enjoy baseball, local musicians, dancing and free refreshments.

In the underground garage and rathskeller he created, McCourtie threw all-night poker parties that were attended by the likes of Detroit auto baron Henry Ford.

At this time, McCourtie also was director of the board of West Virginia's General Portland Cement Co. and secretary of Cement City's Peninsular Portland Cement Co. The passion he had for this industry spilled over onto Aiden Lair.

A visionary who loved architecture for art's sake, McCourtie showed the versatility and beauty of the product he manufactured in 17 bridges created on his property in the 19th-century lost art of "el trabajo rustico" (the rustic work) in faux bois (imitation wood).
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For more than 10 years, two Mexican artists, George Cardoso and Ralph Corona, created the bridges that span Goose Creek on the property, as well as two concrete trees that cleverly hide the chimneys to McCourtie's rathskeller.

The bridges were individually created from wet mortar to resemble ropes and logs simulating native trees, such as oak, walnut, cherry, birch and beech. The intricate details include knots, insect holes, saw cuts, wood grain and even moss, lichen and beetle holes.

An elaborate system of underground wires provided lights on and under some of the bridges.

McCourtie died in 1933 at age 61 in a Battle Creek sanitarium, where he had been confined for six months due to an illness that had lasted several years, according to his obituary in the Citizen Patriot.

McCourtie's estate was purchased by Dr. Arnold Kiessling of Jackson in 1961 from then owner Zelda M Ridler of Minneapolis. Ridler had purchased the property from the McCourtie family around 1951. Kiessling opened a medical office in part of the rathskeller.

The Kiesslings, who were animal lovers, kept a small herd of buffalo on the property for many years.

In 1987, Somerset Township purchased the property with the intent of turning it into a park. McCourtie Park formally opened on Saturday, July 29, 1989.

Facing a cost of more than $200,000 to restore the farmhouse, the township decided in 1990 to instead demolish it. The home had been damaged in a 1939 fire and while the outside had been repaired, the inside hadn't.

In 1991, McCourtie Park was named to the State Register of Historic Sites by the Michigan Historical Commission. The next year, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.