Park of Bridges and More Concrete

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Today we explored the Battle Creek area of Michigan.  We started out at a Park of Transplanted Bridges.  Six old bridges for vehicles have been moved into a small park specifically built for the old bridges, where they're now used by pedestrians.

Entrance to the Park.

Charlotte Highway, Ionia County, Built in 1886.

Gale Road, Ingham County, Built in 1897.

Bauer Road, Clinton Road, Built in 1886.

20 Mile Road Calhoun County Built in 1906.

133th Avenue Allegan County Built in 1897.

Dixon's Bridge, Built in 1892, existing bridge when park established.

While we were visiting this park many emergency vehicles showed up, including a rescue boat.  We assumed there was trouble somewhere on the river, but we never did find out what happened.

Our next stop was McCourtie Park.  This park has a history with Al Capone, the Underground  Railroad, and cement wood.  McCourtie was a successful businessman, first in oil then in concrete.   He hired two expert artisans who excelled in the Mexican folk art known as Trabajo Rustico or rough art.  George Cardosa and Ralph Corona created 17 small bridges, two cement lakes, two large birdhouses and two life-size trees that acted as chimneys for McCourtie's underground garage and Rathskeller.  It is rumored he hosted Al Capone.  Every estate needs a ghost and McCourtie park has the "Lady in Blue," a women sometimes seen wandering in mid-19th-century dress, who is thought to be the ghost of a runaway slave who had used the rumored tunnels under the estate as part of the Underground Railway.

Another interesting day.