Near Benton Harbor in Berrien County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Historic District of Mary's City of David

National Register of Historic Places

— Listed by the Keeper of the National Register, April 15, 2009 —

The Historic District of Mary's City of David Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

1. The Historic District of Mary's City of David Marker

Inscription. Officially beginning on 14 March, 1930, Mary Purnell’s reorganization of the Israelite House of David began in a very humble fashion on newly acquired properties along Britain and Eastman Avenues. With four agricultural properties, an unfinished and vacant hotel building in the city and these parcels began a chapter of the Christian–Israelite history that is unparalleled in its building and economic success at the outset of the nation’s economic disaster of the Great Depression. By 1937, Mary Purnell had successfully directed the construction for most of the 80-some buildings while adding several hundred acres to her original lots along Eastman Avenue at Britain, which today is the heart of the historic district of Mary’s City of David.

Mary’s Purnell’s success lay not only in her administrative skills, but her rise to become the voice of the Christian–Israelite movement (dating back to the Philadelphian Society of 1652) with her continuing publications that positioned her as an authority in attracting many new members from an international following.

During its years of economic presence in SW Michigan,

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Mary’s City of David owned and operated several of Berrien County’s largest farms bolstering the Benton Harbor open-air fruit market as it became the nation’s largest “cash to grower” market. Her baseball team became the most celebrated of all the House of David ball clubs in carrying on the tradition of professional excellence through the 1956 season. She welcomed and hosted a summer season Jewish resort from 1930 through the mid 1960s that included the Gate of Prayer Synagogue and the adjoining Rabbi’s house. Mary’s City of David built and operated a bakery and resort vegetarian restaurant with an accompanying vegetarian cookbook in 1934 that successfully served the resort guests and the area into the mid 1960s.

Property restoration began in 1991, to which a museum and tours programme was initiated in 1997, answering requests from two area historical organizations and the SW Michigan Tourist Council. The coordination of restoration work and museum attraction has enhanced both the success and preservation of the Israelite community now recognized by Department of the Interior, so placing it upon the National Register

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

2. The Historic District of Mary's City of David Marker

of Historic Places in America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is March 14, 1930.

Location. 42° 6.501′ N, 86° 25.778′ W. Marker is near Benton Harbor, Michigan, in Berrien County. It is on Eastman Avenue south of E. Britain Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1158 E Britain Ave, Benton Harbor MI 49022, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan

and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Israelite House of David / Mary's City of David (within shouting distance of this marker); Morton Cemetery

Mary's City of David image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

3. Mary's City of David

Nearby there is also a Michigan Historical Commission marker
on Mary's City of David

(approx. 0.9 miles away); The Morton House (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Fruit Belt (approx. 1.4 miles away); Benton Harbor Fruit Market (approx. 1.4 miles away); Burnett's Post (approx. 2½ miles away); Boatbuilding Industry (approx. 2.6 miles away); St. Joseph Maritime Heritage (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Benton Harbor.

Also see . . . Mary's City of David. The website of the Israelite House of David as Reorganized by Mary Purnell, 1930. (Submitted on March 21, 2015.)

Main Building of Mary's City of David image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

4. Main Building of Mary's City of David

View to the southeast from E. Britain Avenue

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

5. Main Building of Mary's City of David

View to north from Spring Lane

Near Front Entrance to<br>Main Building of Mary's City of David image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

6. Near Front Entrance to
Main Building of Mary's City of David

Informational Sign on Mary's New Shiloh image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

7. Informational Sign on Mary's New Shiloh

Lizzie's Stand image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

8. Lizzie's Stand

Informational Sign on Lizzie’s Stand image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

9. Informational Sign on Lizzie’s Stand

The Martha Washington Rose image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

10. The Martha Washington Rose

The rose bush is located behind the informational sign

Informational Sign on Martha Washington Rose image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

11. Informational Sign on Martha Washington Rose

Gate of Prayer Synagogue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

12. Gate of Prayer Synagogue

Informational Sign on<br>A Jewish Haven in a Christian Community image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

13. Informational Sign on
A Jewish Haven in a Christian Community

Mary's Vegetarian Restaurant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

14. Mary's Vegetarian Restaurant

Informational Sign on Mary’s Vegetarian Restaurant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

15. Informational Sign on Mary’s Vegetarian Restaurant

Mary's Auditorium image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

16. Mary's Auditorium

Informational Sign on Mary’s Auditorium image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

17. Informational Sign on Mary’s Auditorium

The Bakery Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

18. The Bakery Building

Informational Sign on Bakery Building 1930 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

19. Informational Sign on Bakery Building 1930

Site of the 1890s Athletic Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

20. Site of the 1890s Athletic Field

Informational Sign on Col. Harry and Elizabeth Eastman Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

21. Informational Sign on Col. Harry and Elizabeth Eastman Field

Miami Trail at Eastman Spring image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

22. Miami Trail at Eastman Spring

Informational Sign on Miami Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 26, 2013

23. Informational Sign on Miami Trail

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,029 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 21, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on April 26, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. submitted on March 21, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.