About this property
The House of David (formally The Israelite House of David) is a Christian Israelite religious organization and commune founded in Benton Harbor, Michigan, in March 1903. It was co-founded by spouses Benjamin Purnell (1861–1927) and Mary Purnell (1862–1953). The Purnells claimed to be the successors to Joanna Southcott (1750–1814), a self-proclaimed prophetess who attracted a sizeable following in England during the last decade of the eighteenth century. The House of David flourished in the 1900s and 1910s, but faced serious crises and legal scandals in the 1920s. Following Benjamin Purnell's death in 1927, a power struggle ensued over who would lead the movement, resulting in a schism and the commune splitting into two independent organizations in 1930: the original Israelite House of David, and, a breakaway group, the Israelite House of David as Reorganized by Mary Purnell, also known as Mary's City of David. Both groups are still active, although only a handful of members remain. The House of David is well known for their many successful business ventures including exhibition baseball teams, an amusement park, touring vaudeville bands, and their own brand of packaged food products. There are three listings on the National Register of Historic Places associated with the House of David: Mary’s City of David, Eden Springs Park, and Shiloh House.
Location
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Mary's City of David
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Questions about this property
When was Mary's City of David listed on the National Register?
Mary's City of David was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 2009.
What type of historic resource is Mary's City of David?
Mary's City of David is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Mary's City of David?
The period of significance for Mary's City of David is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1750.
Can I research the history near Mary's City of David?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Mary's City of David will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Mary's City of David will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.