Welcome to the historical site of the Peninsular Portland Cement Company, a key player in the industrial development of Cement City, Michigan. This site marks the remnants of an industry that played a significant role in shaping the local economy and landscape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The story begins in 1898 when William Herbert Lee ‘Herb’ McCourtie, an ambitious entrepreneur, joined forces with William Foster Cowham, a cement plant designer and engineer, to establish the Peninsular Portland Cement Company. The choice of location was strategic; Somerset Center’s abundance of marl—a key ingredient in cement—made it an ideal spot for cement manufacturing.
Herb McCourtie, known for his shrewd business acumen, was not just a cement magnate. After dabbling in the oil industry, he turned his attention to cement, which promised a more stable income. His foresight proved critical in the development of Cement City, named after the thriving industry that put it on the map.
The factory was a marvel of its time, embodying the industrial spirit of the age. Cement produced here contributed to numerous infrastructure projects, echoing the ambitions of a growing nation. This site was not only a center of economic activity but also a place where innovation and ambition converged.
While the plant itself no longer operates, the legacy of the Peninsular Portland Cement Company endures. The industrial boom it sparked in Cement City is a testament to how one man’s vision can transform a rural area into a bustling hub of industry.
Visitors today can reflect on the site’s past and imagine the hum of machinery and the bustling activity that once dominated this landscape. It’s a poignant reminder of a time when industry drove progress and community development.
