
Our second mural of 2024 has been completed. Artist Kevin Burdick completed 'Embark' on Monday, August 5, 2024. This mural tells the story of how Caro became the county seat of Tuscola County. When Tuscola County was founded, Vassar was the county seat. In 1860, the County Supervisors began discussing that the county seat should be more centrally located. For six years, a battle raged about where the county seat should go and what should happen. In 1866, it was finally decided that Centerville (soon to be Caro) would become the county seat. Peter Bush, one of the first colonial settlers, recognized what an opportunity this would be for Caro. He donated property to the county and built a courthouse. When this was complete, they sent word to Vassar that things were ready and that they should send over the county documents. Vassar declined; they wanted to remain the county seat. After months at a standstill, Peter Bush took things into his own hands. He asked his friend Ashdonquit, an indigenous resident otherwise known as Crossing Cloud or “Indian Dave” to help. Under the dark of night, they paddled downstream in a canoe on the Cass River to Vassar, acquired the documents, and rowed back upstream. The documents were secure in the new courthouse by morning. That is the story of how Caro became the county seat. This mural 'Embark' was created to honor the legacy of those men and tell the story of how history has shaped Caro‘s future.