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535:) has been honoring the legacy of the House of David teams since 2001, playing vintage base ball under the 1858 rules while growing their beards and playing at historic Eastman Field near Benton Harbor, Michigan. Starting with the 2016 season, the Echoes moved to the original 1914 baseball field at Eden Springs Park, and will continue to use the field for the foreseeable future.
281:(1879-1881). While the preachers were in Richmond, Benjamin and Mary joined their group, known as "the Visitation Movement", which was started by a woman named Joanna Southcott, the First Messenger (Angel), in 1792. While studying the writings of Jezreel they noticed that he said that the Seventh and last Messenger was soon to emerge, allegedly mentioned in
609:
We wandered round till dinner-time, and then dropped into a little restaurant where they give you a whole meal for thirty-five cents and make a profit of thirty-five cents. When we'd staggered out under the weight o' this repast, a street-car was standin' there that said it would take us to the House
463:
teams, with all the same spirit of competition and fair play. At one point, the community had three separate barnstorming teams touring the country, playing and evangelizing wherever they went. The House of David teams were famous for inventing "pepper" baseball tricks, along the lines of the fancy
338:
The sensation created by the trial caused a division in the group. One group, headed by Mary
Purnell, remained together and in 1930 were given half of the land next to the original commune. There they rebuilt and reorganized the New Israelite House of David, better known as Mary's City of David; as
626:
It ain't a regular amusement park, but fifty-fifty between that and a kind of religious sex that calls themself the Holy Roller
Skaters or somethin'. All the men that was old enough to keep a beard had one; and for a minute I thought we'd bumped into the summer home o' the people that took part in
330:
and other newspapers ran critical articles about
Purnell. The news brought national attention to the group. The trial was lengthy, with over 300 witness testimonies and 15,000 pages of documentation. In the end, Purnell was convicted of fraud, but not convicted on the sex charges. Purnell was sick
342:
A second faction maintained the original commune, the Old House of David led by Judge T. H. Dewhirst, had 350 members in 1935, 24 of whom were clergy, and in 1955 had 150 members with 10 clergy. (As of 2010, the group was reported to have three surviving members.) Dewhirst's faction believed that
459:. Some professional players grew their beards out to show respect towards the God of Israel, while others wore false beards. They were known for their skill and played against some of the greatest teams in the country. The House of David played against Major League, Minor League, independent and
475:
teams until the 1940s. Mary's City of David sent out barnstorming teams from 1930 until 1940 and then again from 1946 until 1955. Throughout this period, there were numerous teams which bore the House of David name and wore beards. The most famous was probably the Black House of David, an all
263:(1750–1814), an English woman who had built a following as a self-described religious prophetess. The community flourished in the 1910s, but declined and split in various factions in the 1920s, after Benjamin Purnell was accused of sexual immorality. Today, only a handful of members remain.
1256:"Long haired band aids war gift fund The band of the "House of David", from the strange Michigan religious colony where hair cuts and shaves are forbidden, is seen playing in New York to aid the fund drive for America's gift to France ... [New York City theater district]"
575:. It also established "The Springs of Eden Park" which became a popular Michigan vacation spot in the 1930s. A revamped version, Eden Springs Park, opened in late 2011, making it at the time one of only a few known American amusement parks to have been successfully reopened.
296:
and had two children, one of whom died in a fireworks factory explosion at the age of 17. The
Purnells were looked down upon by residents of the city when they decided to forego the funeral due to their beliefs of not having anything to do with the dead.
630:
They wouldn't nobody of ever mistook the women for
Follies chorus girls. They looked like they was havin' a prize contest to see which could dress the homeliest; and if I'd been one o' the judges I'd of split the first prize as many ways as they was
622:
It was even better'n that. You couldn't get nothin' to drink, but they was plenty to see and hear—band concerts, male and female; movin' pitchers; a zoo; a bowlin' alley; and more funny-lookin' people than I ever seen in an amusement park before.
323:
Accusations arose in the 1920s towards
Benjamin F. Purnell by 13 young women testifying, under oath to the courts, that they had sexual relations with the patriarch while still minors. As soon as this became public knowledge, the
316:, carpenter shop, coach factory, tailor shop, and steam laundry. They also owned and operated their own electricity plant, providing lighting to the community. It had three brass bands and two orchestras, and a
311:
The House of David colony soon had several hundred members. In 1907, the House owned about 1,000 acres, on which the colony harvested fruit from a dozen orchards and cultivated grain. The commune had its own
444:. They were motivated by the need to make money for their families and colony back home and by the opportunity to share their beliefs. The team members wore long hair and beards as they played.
586:
One of the main attractions at The
Springs of Eden Park was the coal powered miniature locomotives, purchased in 1908. Members of the commune originally observed similar locomotives at the
1050:
Extracts from the Flying Roll: Being a Series of
Sermons Compiled for the Gentile Churches of All Sects and Denominations, and Addressed to the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel, Volume 3
1037:
Extracts from the Flying Roll: Being a Series of
Sermons Compiled for the Gentile Churches of All Sects and Denominations, and Addressed to the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel, Volume 2
1024:
Extracts from the Flying Roll: Being a Series of
Sermons Compiled for the Gentile Churches of All Sects and Denominations, and Addressed to the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel, Volume 1
590:
in St. Louis. The trains were used to carry people to the amusement park from the main entrance to the commune on Britain Avenue. In 2000, one of the trains was purchased by the
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In 1913, the Israelite House of David began to play competitive baseball and by 1915, they were following a grueling schedule. The House of David became famous as a
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in which he claimed to be the seventh and final messenger of the church ages, as foretold in the book of Revelation. A similar claim a decade earlier by
259:, 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
292:
The House of David was formed by Benjamin and Mary Purnell in 1903 after settling in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Prior to that, the Purnells lived in
605:
described the place in his 1916 short story "The Water Cure", in which some people from the Chicago area are spending the week-end at the beach:
601:
Additional amusement at the park included miniature racing cars, restaurant, penny arcade, pony rides, and dances and shows at the amphitheater.
713:
682:
https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/news/local/michigan-history/2018/03/06/the-colorful-history-of-michigans-house-of-david/32674183/
805:
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Deborah Madden, "Israelites in America: The House of David and Mary's City of David, Benton Harbor," in Jane Shaw and Philip Lockley, eds.,
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Mary Purnell had no right to usurp authority over the community, as it was led by his own self-appointed council of elders.
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Image of House of David and Eden Springs Amusement park in 1910. Miniature railroad depot can be seen in the background.
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Purnell was a sports enthusiast and encouraged the members of the Israelite Community to play sports, especially
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By the late 1920s, needing more skilled players, the House began hiring professionals, the most notable being
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The House of David continued to sponsor barnstorming teams well into the 1930s and then sponsored weekend
421:
Stadium for the House of David traveling baseball team from Benton Harbor, Michigan. Photo taken in 1925.
1085:
Carroll, Brian D (May/June 2023). "Whiskerinos at the Plate: The House of David's Baseball Teams."
521:
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as the Sixth Messenger. Jezreel had published a series of sermons in three volumes (842 pages) titled
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baseball team which toured rural America from the 1920s through the 1950s, playing amateur and
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The organization also fielded nationally known musical bands between 1906 and 1927. These
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of 2017, it maintained a handful of members, who kept the premises open to the public.
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743:"House of David- Religious Groups - The Association of Religion Data Archives"
26:
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1004:. American Communal Societies Series. Richard W. Couper Press. p. 161.
480:"Barn-storming" team that played solely against teams of the Negro leagues.
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1150:"Historical Virtual Tour of The House of David Park Benton Harbor Michigan"
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In 1888 the Purnells discovered a group of preachers extolling a man named
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598:. In 2011, the railroad at the House of David became operational again.
59:
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10:7. On March 12, 1895, the Purnells announced that the spirit of
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1202:"Musical Traditions feature on Israelite House of David web site"
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during the trial and died in 1927, before he could be sentenced.
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had grafted with them to become the seventh and last messenger.
494:(in which the team was called the "Stars of David") as well as
697:
The History of a Modern Millennial Movement: The Southcottians
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1089:(vol. 107, no. 3), pp. 23+. Historical Society of Michigan.
619:"I don't know," I says; "but it sounds like a road house."
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concerning himself may have been an influence on Purnell.
300:
Purnell, a native of Kentucky, published a book entitled
1172:
A Brief History :: The Southwest Michigan Directory
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714:"Benton Harbor remembers cult destroyed by sex scandal"
504:. The House of David was also featured in a segment of
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A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County Michigan
1002:
The Worthy Virgin: Mary Purnell and the City of David
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567:The House of David operated a world-famous zoo and
559:circuits: the Pantages, the Keith and the Orpheum.
699:, London and New York: I.B. Tauris, 2017, 140-163.
680:The colorful history of Michigan's House of David
483:The House of David was the inspiration behind the
642:
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594:, refurbished and in use at a railway museum in
140:
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1219:
1131:"House of David Baseball Team Research Project"
711:
613:"Come on!" I says, and led the Missus aboard.
429:, to build physical and spiritual discipline.
755:
656:"House of David tales more fiction than fact"
1302:Intentional communities in the United States
875:
873:
148:House of David (commune) (the United States)
1312:Religious organizations established in 1903
385:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
16:Communal religious society in Michigan, USA
841:
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592:Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Group
1242:The Association of Religion Data Archives
879:
870:
582:Miniature Railroad at House of David Park
405:Learn how and when to remove this message
79:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
1071:. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland.
1066:
732:, p. 241. The Lewis Publishing Company.
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658:. The South Bend Tribune. Archived from
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941:"House of David train getting new life"
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812:, House of David museum, archived from
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1273:House of David Pamphlets and Ephemera
999:
848:"Amusement Park Revival a Rare Thing"
707:
705:
686:
120:Location within the state of Michigan
1187:"Israelite House of David Home Page"
756:Perry Donavin, Denise (2010-08-28).
712:Carlisle, John (November 13, 2016).
383:adding citations to reliable sources
350:
277:
47:Regions with significant populations
1238:"House of David - Religious Groups"
938:
845:
13:
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846:Ast, William F. III (2012-10-14).
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255:) is a religious group founded in
14:
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758:"House of David film to premiere"
555:almost non-stop on the three top
520:(1952) about the life of pitcher
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167:Benton Charter Township, Michigan
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914:Israelite House of David website
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1292:1903 establishments in Michigan
1260:Home | Library of Congress
1069:Baseball and the House of David
1047:Jezreel, James Jershom (1881).
1034:Jezreel, James Jershom (1879).
1021:Jezreel, James Jershom (1879).
902:
882:"Train Rides and Many Memories"
880:Heibutzki, Ralph (2011-10-30).
821:
1220:OpenLibrary.org (2010-04-14).
1168:"The Israelite House of David"
939:Ast, William F. (2002-04-07).
798:
781:
749:
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726:Coolidge, Orville W. (1906).
720:
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223:
1:
1222:Extracts from the flying roll
1067:Dragseth, P.J. (2021-08-21).
975:Siriano, Christopher (2007).
654:Mumford, Lou (14 July 2011).
635:
278:Extracts from the Flying Roll
151:Show map of the United States
547:House of David Band in 1915.
253:The Israelite House of David
88:Michigan State Historic Site
7:
10:
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1200:Israelite House of David.
1185:Israelite House of David.
793:, Israelite house of David
522:Grover Cleveland Alexander
449:Grover Cleveland Alexander
266:
1000:Frost, Julieanna (2014).
533:House of David Echoes BBC
242:
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222:NRHP reference
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42:Benjamin and Mary Purnell
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616:"Where to?" she ast me.
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553:bands toured the country
492:The Golem's Mighty Swing
464:basketball moves of the
1317:Benton Harbor, Michigan
1307:New religious movements
1063:. Self-published, 1996.
1061:Baseball's Bearded Boys
1053:. F. Shaw. p. 314.
1040:. F. Shaw. p. 304.
1027:. F. Shaw. p. 224.
573:Benton Harbor, Michigan
257:Benton Harbor, Michigan
53:Benton Harbor, Michigan
633:
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422:
979:. Images of America.
716:. Detroit Free Press.
607:
581:
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273:James Jershom Jezreel
206:42.10889°N 86.43083°W
164:1158 E. Britain Ave.,
1277:the Newberry Library
948:The Herald-Palladium
889:The Herald-Palladium
856:The Herald-Palladium
466:Harlem Globetrotters
379:improve this section
123:Show map of Michigan
71:Mary's City of David
1297:History of Michigan
806:"Train depot South"
770:on November 5, 2012
501:The House of Daniel
306:Charles Taze Russel
211:42.10889; -86.43083
202: /
21:
981:Arcadia Publishing
977:The House of David
960:Alternate location
910:"Miniature Trains"
763:South Bend Tribune
584:
549:
423:
327:Detroit Free Press
249:The House of David
19:
1224:(1879 ed.).
1078:978-1-4766-7011-9
1059:Gitersonke, Don.
1011:978-1-937370-14-5
990:978-0-7385-5082-4
830:Eden Springs Park
662:on April 15, 2019
529:vintage base ball
514:and in the movie
498:'s fantasy novel
473:semi-professional
415:
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318:zoological garden
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1204:. Archived from
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1087:Michigan History
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983:. p. 127.
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