History of the House of David

Founding Era 1902 - 1916

In 1903, self-proclaimed prophets Benjamin and Mary Purnell moved with a group of loyal followers from Fostoria, Ohio, to Benton Harbor, Michigan, and established the Israelite House of David as a religious commune. Also known as Christian Israelites, they saw themselves as the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel. They believed their coming together, an event called the ‘ingathering,’ would usher in the birth of the god-child Shiloh, triggering the apocalypse. In keeping with Benjamin and Mary’s teachings, during its early years the sect’s members were discouraged from mixing with outsiders, lived in sex-segregated housing, and were celibate, pacifists, and strict vegetarians. Followers worked in the colony’s various businesses and gave to the collective their property, wealth, and earnings. The colony grew rapidly from a handful of members to a thousand by the start of World War I. Most converts came from the American South or from preexisting Christian Israelite communities in Australia and New Zealand. The remainder hailed mostly from America's Upper Midwest, England, and Germany.

In contrast to most communal societies historically, the House of David did not isolate itself from the outside world. Ultimately, the colony became better known for its entrepreneurial zeal than for its religion, thanks to the dozens of successful businesses they started in the early twentieth century. In addition to extensive farming operations, they founded the Eden Springs amusement park in 1908, which became a major tourist attraction in the region. They also branched out into popular entertainment and professional sports. Their storied exhibition baseball teams played all over America from 1915 to 1949, and their touring showbands played to packed audiences in vaudeville theaters across the country from the 1910s through the early 1930s.

Clockwise from Top Right:

The archway between Bethlehem and Jerusalem; the archway was constructed in 1905 and served as the main entrance into the colony.

Edith Meldrim Bell, Miriam Hannaford, Flossie Tulk, Ada Jeffrey, and Rachel Hannaford in the colony gardens in front of Jerusalem. circa 1909.

A colorized portrait of co-founder Mary Purnell (1862-1953).

Era of Crises 1917 -1930

Benjamin Purnell next to one of his accusers, Bessie Woodworth, during the People vs Purnell in 1927.

The meteoric rise of the House of David was followed by a scandal-plagued period between 1917 and 1930. The press labeled the commune disloyal and unamerican over its pacifist stance during World War I. Then a series of scandals and lawsuits rocked the House of David between 1921 and 1923, when the colony was repeatedly sued by disgruntled ex-members who accused Benjamin of fraud and sexual abuse. This prompted the State of Michigan to investigate and file charges against Benjamin and others at the colony in 1927.

Following Benjamin’s death at the end of 1927, the colony fractured into rival factions, one led by Mary and the other by Benjamin’s heir apparent, Judge Harry Dewhirst. Mary and her followers left the House of David and formed their own commune, Mary’s City of David in 1930.

Second Golden Age 1930 - 1949

An exterior view of the House of David Cold Storage Plant in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Factory floor of the Preserve Department, in the Jam and Jelly Factory, located in Saint Joseph, Michigan.

After the era of scandals and now under Judge Dewhirst’s leadership, the House of David created lucrative new businesses and enjoyed a brief second golden age during the 1930s and 1940s. Despite the onset of the Great Depression and World War II, the colony expanded business operations, building a food processing plant and massive cold storage warehouse--one of the largest in the nation. They also continued to run numerous farms as well as their amusement park and baseball teams. They started other small businesses and colony workshops during these years that churned out crafts, souvenirs, and commercial artwork. To staff these ventures, the House of David increasingly hired non-members from the local area. In the process, the colony became one of the largest employers in the Twin Cities (Benton Harbor and St Joseph).

Decline 1950 - 2020

Ultimately, time devastated the House of David more than did the scandals of the 1920s. Despite the hard work of Dewhirst and later leaders, changes to the local economy led to the shuttering of their once-profitable businesses.

As members who arrived as children or young adults in the early years aged as the century wore on, there was no second or third generation to replace them. With the colony's staunch commitment to celibacy and meager recruitment efforts after the early 1920s, the number dwindled over time. By the 1980s, the commune counted only a few dozen elderly members. Just a handful remained by the 2000s.

The decaying Archway on the Eden Springs property, c. 1990.

House of David Today 2021 - Present

The House of David still exists as an organization, but today our mission is to preserve and celebrate the commune's unique history. Most of our energy now is directed at the preservation of the colony’s extensive archival and artifact collections, as well as the preservation and restoration of its remaining historic structures. Increased efforts in public outreach and education about the House of David’s storied history are ongoing and the organization’s trustees have plans for an event and conference center as well as a House of David museum at the site in the near future.

Brian Carroll, Historian & Archivist, sorting House of David archival material in 2023.

Volunteers working in the Local History Collection.

Shiloh during the 2012 Shiloh restoration.

Written by Brian Carroll, PhD., 2024