House of David (commune)
The House of David (formally The Israelite House of David) is a religious group 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), 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.
Image of House of David and Eden Springs Amusement park in 1910. Miniature railroad depot can be seen in the background. | |
| Founder | |
|---|---|
| Benjamin and Mary Purnell | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Benton Harbor, Michigan | |
| Official website | |
Mary's City of David | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
Michigan State Historic Site | |
Location within the state of Michigan House of David (commune) (the United States) | |
| Location | 1158 E. Britain Ave., Benton Charter Township, Michigan United States |
| Coordinates | 42°6′32″N 86°25′51″W |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000201 |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 2009 |
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