If you’ve spent any time digging into the weird, wonderful, and occasionally dark history of American religious communes, you’ve likely stumbled upon the Israelite House of David. It’s the stuff of legends. Long-haired men playing world-class baseball, an amusement park that rivaled early Disney, and a "Seventh Messenger" named Benjamin Purnell who promised his followers they would never die.
But then there's Abner.
Honestly, if you try to search for "Abner" in the context of this Benton Harbor, Michigan colony, things get murky fast. People often confuse the historical General Abner from the biblical House of David with the actual members of the 20th-century Michigan commune. Or, they’re thinking of Abner Pratt, a Michigan legend whose "Honolulu House" sits just down the road and feels like it belongs in the same fever dream.
Let's clear the air. There wasn't one single "Abner" who ran the House of David. Instead, the name "Abner" serves as a bridge between the commune's ancient inspirations and the very real people who built a millionaire empire on the shores of Lake Michigan.
The Biblical Abner and the Commune’s Obsession
To understand why the name pops up, you have to realize that Benjamin and Mary Purnell didn't just start a club. They believed they were literally restoring the House of David—the royal lineage of Israel.
In the Bible, Abner was the commander-in-chief of Saul's army. He was a powerhouse. He was the guy who eventually tried to unite the warring factions of Israel under King David. For the members of the Michigan commune, these weren't just Sunday school stories. They were blueprints.
The Purnells saw themselves as the final "messengers" in a line of seven. They lived in a world where the boundaries between the 1900s and the Old Testament were basically non-existent. When you hear about "Abner" in their literature, they’re usually talking about the struggle to bring the "lost tribes" together.
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The Michigan Reality: No Haircuts and High Stakes
Imagine walking into Benton Harbor in 1915. You see dozens of men with hair down to their waists and beards that would make a modern hipster weep with envy. These were the Israelites.
They lived by a strict code:
- No meat. Total vegetarians.
- No sex. Even for married couples.
- No shaving. Not a single blade touched their faces.
- No personal property. You gave everything to the "House."
It sounds like a drag, right? But here’s the kicker: they were incredibly wealthy and had a blast. They built Eden Springs, an amusement park that drew half a million people a year. They had miniature trains, world-famous jazz bands, and a zoo.
And then there was the baseball.
Why the Baseball Team Actually Mattered
You can't talk about the House of David without the barnstorming baseball team. They were the Harlem Globetrotters of their day. They traveled the country in luxury buses, playing against everyone from local semi-pros to Negro League legends like Satchel Paige.
They were so good that they eventually started hiring "outside" players to keep the winning streak alive. While the original members (like the many young men who might have shared the name Abner in the colony's records) grew their hair for religious reasons, the hired ringers often wore fake beards just to fit the brand.
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It was a brilliant business move. It funded the commune and gave them a platform to preach their message of "immortality."
The Scandal That Broke the House
Everything was going great until the 1920s. Benjamin Purnell, the man who said he’d never die, was accused of some pretty horrific stuff. Thirteen women came forward claiming he had used his "divine" status to force them into sexual relationships while they were minors.
The ensuing trial was a circus.
It was the "Scopes Monkey Trial" of Michigan. The colony split in two. Mary Purnell, Benjamin's wife, took her followers and started Mary's City of David right next door. The original group was left under the control of Judge T.H. Dewhirst.
The legal battles lasted years. Thousands of pages of testimony revealed a community that was both a pioneer in communal living and a playground for a charismatic leader's whims.
Abner Pratt and the Michigan Connection
If you're looking for a physical "Abner" house in Michigan, you're likely thinking of the Honolulu House in Marshall. It was built by Judge Abner Pratt.
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Pratt was a former U.S. Consul to Hawaii who loved the islands so much he built a tropical mansion in the middle of a Michigan winter. He used to walk around in tropical clothes even when it was snowing, which—ironically—led to the pneumonia that killed him.
While Pratt wasn't a member of the House of David commune, his eccentric "Honolulu House" is often visited by the same history buffs who tour the remnants of the Purnells' colony. Both represent a specific kind of Michigan history: bold, strange, and deeply personal.
What's Left Today?
If you visit Benton Harbor now, the glory days of the House of David are mostly echoes. You can still see the massive, palatial buildings like Shiloh and the Mansion House.
There are still a few members left—literally a handful. They maintain a museum where you can see the old baseball uniforms and the musical instruments. The amusement park, Eden Springs, has seen some restoration efforts by volunteers who want to keep the miniature trains running.
Practical Steps for History Buffs
If you want to experience the "House of David" vibe for yourself, here is how to do it right:
- Visit the Museum: Go to the House of David museum in Saint Joseph or the City of David in Benton Harbor. Don't just look at the pictures; talk to the people there. Their perspective on the "scandals" is often very different from the newspaper headlines of 1927.
- Tour the Grounds: Walk through the Eden Springs park. It’s haunting and beautiful. You can see the ruins of the zoo and the old stage where the bands played.
- Check out the Honolulu House: Drive over to Marshall and see Abner Pratt’s creation. It gives you a sense of the architectural eccentricity that defined that era of Michigan history.
- Read the Trial Transcripts: If you're a true crime or history nerd, the 1927 trial documents are public. They offer a raw look at what life was actually like inside a "utopian" commune.
The story of the House of David isn't just about a "cult" or a baseball team. It’s about the very human desire to build something perfect, and the very human flaws that usually get in the way. Whether you're looking for the biblical Abner or the Michigan Israelites, the lesson is the same: the house you build is only as strong as the people inside it.