March 2019 - Page 2 of 3 - Lost In Michigan

The Concrete Bridges of McCourtie Park

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Bridges .

On US-12 in the town of Somerset Center is McCourtie Park. The park has some wonderful concrete bridges that span a little creek which flows through the park. A Historical marker tells the stories of these bridges and the park:

Somerset Center native W. H. L. McCourtie (1872 – 1933) was introduced to the cement industry by W. F. Cowham of Jackson in 1897. McCourtie soon went to Dallas, Texas, where he made a fortune speculating in oil and established the Trinity Portland Cement Company. During the 1920s McCourtie returned to Somerset Center. In 1924 he acquired his family’s home and turned it into a community showplace. McCourtie sought to create a model town. He gave free white paint to any home owner that needed it. He also hosted the community’s annual homecoming celebration. Thousands of people came to “Aiden Lair” to witness stunt flyers and enjoy baseball, local musicians, dancing and unlimited refreshments. At the height of the Great Depression, McCourtie offered his estate as a place “Where Friends Meet Friends and Part More Friendly.”

The W. H. L. McCourtie Estate may contain the country’s largest collection of el trabeio rustico, the Mexican folk tradition of sculpting concrete to look like wood. Around 1930, most likely inspired by work he had seen in Texas, cement tycoon W. H. L. McCourtie hired itinerant Mexican artisans George Cardoso and Ralph Corona to construct seventeen bridges on his property. The artisans formed the bridges with steel rods and then hand sculpted wet concrete to resemble planed lumber, rough logs, thatch, and rope. Different species of trees can be identified. Two concrete trees that stand on the property continue to serve as chimneys for the underground rathskellar and garage. The McCourtie estate is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

What the marker does not tell is that the estate included an underground lair and during prohibition, it operated as a speakeasy and even Al Capone was said to have visited it. After McCourtie died in 1933 the estate changed hands a few times but the owners were not able to maintain the property and in 1987 the township purchased the property and razed the house. It is now a park and if you are ever in the area be sure to stop by and visit it.

P.S. There is a lot more to the story but I think I am writing about it in Volume 3 of my Lost In Michigan books. If you are wondering I started working on it and hope to have it available this fall (September 2019). I was busy working on my Camp Michigan book which you can see HERE

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Marlette Train Depot – Michigan Historical Marker

Flint and Pere Marquette Depot

The first twenty-five miles of track for the Port Huron & Northwestern Railroad opened from Port Huron to Croswell in 1879. Marlette residents lured the railroad by raising $15,000 toward construction of the tracks. The line extended from Saginaw Junction in St. Clair County to Marlette in January 1881, and Marlette and Mayville line opened in the fall. The Flint & Pere Marquette purchased the Port Huron & Northwestern in 1889. Flint contractor E.M. Stewart built this depot in 1890 with a double waiting room, an office and a baggage room. The Marlette Historical Society bought the building in 1999.

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Posen Barns

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms .

I saw these two old barns standing together like an old married couple watching over their family. They are just outside of the town of Posen. it’s northwest of Alpena, and the area was settled by Polish immigrants in the late 1800s. They named the town Posen after a providence of Poznan in Poland.

These two old barns must have seen a lot of Michigan winters. I assume they are old since they have stone foundations.

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The Gardner House

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Houses, Michigan Historical Markers .

I thought this house south of downtown Albion was magnificent, and I loved the roof. I see many beautiful old houses and wonder about their history but thankfully it had a Michigan Historical Marker proudly posted in front of it which reads:

Augustus P. Gardner (1817-1905), a wealthy hardware merchant, built this Victorian style house in 1875. A three-story, thirteen-room mansion with a mansard roof, it was Gardner’s home until his death in 1905. In 1966, after decades of neglect, the house was purchased by the Albion Historical Society. Restored, it houses a local museum. Five of the rooms are furnished as a nineteenth century home, and the remainder feature permanent and rotating exhibits. This house is among the last of its type in the area.

I wonder if I am the only one who reads the markers posted around the state but I am grateful for the information they provide.

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this week, you can order them HERE

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The House in the Blizzard

Posted on March 16, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Houses, Winter Wonderland .

I know it’s starting to warm up outside, and spring will be here soon. However, I still have a few pics from winter that I have not posted yet. I saw this little old house fighting through another Michigan blizzard near Dighton. It looks as though it has seen many winters and is close to giving up, but it’s still standing. I am looking forward to it getting warm and green again. It’s been a long and strange winter.

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The Peanut Barrel

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Restaurants .

North of Michigan State University campus across the street from the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum ( AKA the sand crawler) on Grand River Boulevard is the Peanut Barrel. Amongst several chain franchise restaurants, the Peanut Barrel is a locally owned pub that serves delicious made to order hamburgers.

The menu consists of mostly sandwiches and burgers, but they do them very well. The one thing that makes their burgers stand out is the fresh homemade buns and you have your choice of white, wheat, or my favorite rye. The burgers come with chips, but you can upgrade to fries and for less than $10 it’s the best deal in town.

Located at 521 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823 it’s a little tricky to find since it’s inset from the other buildings but it also has a nice patio area for those warm summer days. If you go, be sure to go to the back of the building where the parking lot is and there is a door from the parking lot. Just to let you know, you will have to pay for parking. To visit the Peanut Barrel’s website click HERE

I don’t do many restaurant reviews, but if I eat someplace I like, readers have asked me to share it. If you want to see more of the restaurants I have been to click HERE

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Bach Michigan, but not that Bach

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in General Store, Thumb .

Southeast of Sebewaing is the little town of Bach which is home to this old general store. If you are like me and think the town was named after the famous composer than you would be incorrect. You know what they say about assuming, you make an ass out of you and… well I guess I better get back to the town of Bach. The town was named after Fredric Bach who founded it in 1889. The little town even got a station on the Michigan Central Railroad and a post office in 1912.

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Michigan’s War Dog Memorial in Honor of K9 Veterans Day

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places .

Michigan War Dog Memorial in South Lyon

Michigan War Dog Memorial Cemetery

In 2013 The State of Michigan has declared March 13th K9 Veterans Day in recognition of the dogs and their handlers that have served our country. March 13 was chosen because, in 1942 the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army began training dogs for the newly established War Dog Program, also known as the “K-9 Corps”. K9 Veterans Day is a time to honor all dogs that have served in the military, police and civilian working dogs and their handlers. I also like to remember the dogs that have served in the past and there is the Michigan War Dog Memorial and Cemetery is in South Lyon, on Milford and 11 Mile Road. It’s a beautiful memorial and final resting place for the dogs of Michigan that have served our country and state so faithfully.

Thank you to all the dogs and Handlers for their service, I can only Imagine the lives that were saved because of your dedication and loyalty.

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Dryden Ladies Library Hall

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Library .

I am always on the lookout for historical markers like the one on the side of this building in the town of Dryden. Maybe someday I will have visited all of them but for now, here is what this one reads:

The Ladies Library Association was established in 1871 to provide reading material at a small cost to the community. In the beginning the association only allowed married women to be members and charged an annual fee of one dollar. The women of the association were also involved in charitable works, such as giving aid to Northern Michigan victims of fire in 1881. The association built this Italianate structure in 1885 for $1,500. The first floor contained the library, dining room and kitchen. The second floor hall, which includes a stage, continues to be used for plays and community meetings. Dryden Township accepted the building in 1974 and made it the public library.

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Woods Barn

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms .

I was roaming the backroads southwest of Clare and saw this old barn bracing itself from the windblown snow. I looked on google maps and it showed I was near the town of Woods. Other than showing up on Google maps, I could not find any info about the town.

as promised on my facebook post from yesterday it’s time to announce Teresa Worthington as the winner of the Lost In Michigan book giveaway. please email me at mike@huronphoto.com with your address and I will send out your book.

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