
With rare photos and glimpses of its eccentric founder, discover the curious, fascinating history of the religious society that drew thousands of international visitors to the shores of Benton Harbor.
In 1903, Benjamin Purnell, a long-haired, bearded itinerant preacher, arrived in Benton Harbor. He and his wife, Mary, stepped out of their covered preacher's wagon, and gazing across a thriving summer resort, they saw their long-awaited paradise. Acquiring this paradise, they established a religious colony called the House of David, which grew to over 1,000 members from around th... Read More
With rare photos and glimpses of its eccentric founder, discover the curious, fascinating history of the religious society that drew thousands of international visitors to the shores of Benton Harbor.
In 1903, Benjamin Purnell, a long-haired, bearded itinerant preacher, arrived in Benton Harbor. He and his wife, Mary, stepped out of their covered preacher's wagon, and gazing across a thriving summer resort, they saw their long-awaited paradise. Acquiring this paradise, they established a religious colony called the House of David, which grew to over 1,000 members from around th... Read More