McCourtie Park
One of the Largest Trabajo Rustico Art Collections in the U.S., Somerset Center, located along the U.S. 12 Heritage Trail, has a gem, McCourtie Park. William H. L. McCourtie hired George Cardosa and Ralph Carona to produce Trabajo Rustico sculptures on his property. Forms are built of steel and wire, covered with cement then sculpted to look like wood.
The legacy McCourtie left behind is now a public park and includes 17 unique walk-able concrete bridges that are hand carved to look like wood planks, ropes and logs. These walk-able bridges are breath taking and at one time were equipped with lights. Two spring-fed ponds are 14 feet deep and 100 foot long by 60 foot wide once used as a swimming pool and a stocked trout pond. Two chimneys sculpted to look like trees stand above an underground apartment built into the side of a hill, hidden from the highway. Rumor has it that it was used as a rathskeller during prohibition. The beautiful paneled bar has beamed ceilings, and a fieldstone fireplace. The poker room just to the right has a mysterious opening filled with cement. On either side of the apartment there were 6 garages that were heated and opened electricity. Henry Ford was also a guest at the McCourtie estate.
For more information call (517) 688-9223 or (800) 968-9333.
