One of the most remarkable things about the Israelite House of David — a religious commune founded in 1903 in Michigan — is that it still exists. Its tumultuous history weaves together the ...

Mary’s City of David didn’t move far, establishing itself on 11 acres across the street from the Israelite House of David. It eventually grew to 141 acres with 81 buildings.

The sale of Benton Harbor’s former House of David was supposed to close in November. Now, that deal has been delayed until next year. History and Real Estate Broker Chris Siriano says "So at the ...

The House of David was established in Benton Harbor in 1903 by Benjamin Purnell and his wife, Mary. Saying he was the seventh messenger prophesized in the Bible’s book of Revelations, Purnell ...

In 1903, Benjamin and Mary Purnell founded the Israelite House of David, a religious society in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The House of David had many of the characteristics of a typical cult: a ...

A new documentary film covers the history of the former House of David communal religious society in Benton Harbor and its properties around the world, from its amusement park, zoo, cruise ships ...

Having grown up in southeast Michigan, I was not familiar with either the House of David or City of David so, for me, our visit was an introduction to these Christian communal societies.

He and his wife Mary wound up in Benton Harbor in 1903 and started a commune called the Israelite House of David on land donated by a follower. He preached that Jesus was about to return to usher ...

Charles W. Ferrel, 59, who lives in Hawaii, claims in his 27-page Oakland Circuit Court lawsuit that a few members of the Benton Harbor-based Israelite House of David have diverted funds from the ...

The sale of Benton Harbor’s former House of David was supposed to close in November. Now, that deal has been delayed until next year. History and Real Estate Broker Chris Siriano says "So at the ...