Iconic Buildings Archives - Lost In Michigan

The Strange Story about The Rise and Fall of the House Of David

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings, people .

Near Benton Harbor is this massive palatial looking building. It was part of the Israelite House Of David a religious commune that was started by Benjamin and Mary Purnell in 1903. The members of the commune were prohibited from alcohol, tobacco, meat, owning property, and having sex. Their belief in not cutting their hair made the members of the commune stand out with their long hair flowing down to their waist, including the men.

Members of the House Of David band

To occupy their time when they were not out working in the farm fields or doing chores they played music and sports and even built an amusement park called Eden Springs which was known for its miniature train. The House of David opened their park up to the community and became very popular with people traveling for miles to visit it. The members played a lot of baseball to occupy their time, and because of that, they excelled at the sport. The House of David baseball team began traveling the country playing teams in exhibition matches defeating some of the best teams in the country. They were never allowed into the major league because of the rule banning facial hair. Their musicians traveled the country playing music to audiences in the vaudeville circuit. By 1916 the commune had more than 1000 members and attracted over half a million visitors to their amusement park. The House of David owned over 1000 acres and they had their own hotel, cannery and operated a power plant to supply electricity.

The group became rather wealthy and well liked by the public until the 1920s when 13 young women confessed to having sex with the group’s leader Benjamin Purnell when they were minors. Purnell died in 1927 before he was convicted. The accusations caused the commune to split with Benjamin’s wife Mary Purnell taking half it’s members and creating a new commune down the street known as Mary’s City Of David. Over time the membership declined in both communes and the amusement park closed. Today there are a few members left. The Eden Springs Park has reopened restoring one of the trains. The park is not what it used to be but the train still gives rides to passengers.

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Michigan’s Other Grand Hotel

Posted on September 6, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

I was traveling around Portage Lake near Onekama and I came across the Portage Point Resort. It is a historic complex of buildings and it reminded me of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. It was constructed in 1902 by the same builder of the Grand Hotel. About ten years after it was constructed the canal from Lake Michigan to Portage Lake was dredged. Large steamships could bring guests from Chicago and Milwaukee to the relax in northwestern Michigan. Over the decades the resort has continued its unique historic look and there are plans to restore and improve the historic property in the next few years. You can see more on their website HERE

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The Smallest Post Office In Michigan

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings, small towns .

The small town of Elm Hall is located west of Alma near the center of the mitten. The thing it is most noted for is the small post office building that sits near the center of town. The little building is not much more than a shed but it serves the community and is still important to those in the area. You know what they say “its not the size of the post office that is important, It’s how you use it”

It is not the smallest post office. It is located in Ochopee, Florida and used to be a shed that stored irrigation pipe for a tomato farm.

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Meinhardi Museum

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Iconic Buildings .

I saw this old historic building next to the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in Whitehall which was an old train depot. It building was built by Dr Meinhardi where he practiced medicine and operated an apothecary (pharmacy), It was originally located in front of his house on 811 South Mears Avenue in 1903. In 2011, the building was moved to its present location and became a museum, depicting what Dr Meinhardi’s office may looked like in the 1900s. Artifacts are from same time period.

The building is open to visitors from Memorial Day to Labor Day and follows the same hours of operation as the Chamber of Commerce.

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Where the Oxen Stopped

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

Burrage Library stands on the campus of Olivet Colege which is in the town of Olivet. The Library was constructed in 1889 with a gift of $35,000 from Leonard Burrage. In front of the library is a Michigan Historical Marker that reads:

On Feb 14, 1844, the Rev. John J. “Father” Shipherd and 39 followers arrived by ox-cart on this wilderness hilltop, driving their herds before them. They felt that God had directed them to this oak grove for the purpose of founding a coeducational Christian college open to students of all races. First chartered as Olivet Institute, the school received its charter as a college in 1859. For over a century it has given a broad liberal arts education, with strong support from the Congregational Church. Many alumni have gone forth “Pro Christo et Humanitate.”

The Story I read is that when Father Shipherd was driving his Ox Cart the oxen pulling the cart continued to disobey his orders and would stop on top of a hill. This was the revelation he needed to decide where to start his school. I am not sure how true the story is but if Father Shipherd wanted a quiet out of the way place he definitely found it.

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The Town House

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

This historic town hall sits in Tyrone Township south of Fenton. The historical marker on the front reads:

Tyrone Township was settled in 1834, and Joseph M. Becker was elected as the first township supervisor in 1838. Township meetings were held in the homes of the townsfolk until 1887, when this hall was erected on Hartland Road at a cost of $640. Locally referred to as the town house, it served as a gathering place for township business, elections, and 4H activities until a new hall was constructed in 1967. In 1975, as a bicentennial project, the town house was relocated, restored and rededicated on this site.

The township recently built a new township hall and the historical society is working on moving the historic building to a new site. You can see more on their website HERE

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The Old Paper Mill in Plainwell

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

This massive building complex sits along the Kalamazoo River in Plainwell. It was a paper mill built in 1886 and at its peak produced 50 tons of paper daily. It changed owners a few times and then it closed in 2000. The city of Plainwell purchased the old mill and have been redeveloping the property into office and retail space.

If you are near the Plainwell area I will be giving a presentation at the Ransom District Library on February 16th, at 7pm. You can learn more about my winter presentations HERE

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Star Township Hall

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

the small town of Alba sits in northern lower Michigan near Mancelona. It is situated in Star Township and the first township hall built in 1897 still stands in Alba..

Reminder: I will be at the Tyrone Township Hall giving a presentation this Saturday January 29th from 2-4 pm 8420 Runyan Lake Road, Fenton, MI 48430

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The Office

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

North of downtown Flint near the Flint River is this two-story brick building. It is not ornately decorated with victorian ara trim, nor is it extremely large but it is an important starting point for one of America’s largest companies. It was constructed in 1895 to be used as an office and showroom for the Durant-Dort Carriage Company. In 1915 the company became the Dort Motor Car Company manufacturing four different models of cars until production ended in 1924. It was Dort’s partner William Durant that went on to consolidate several automobile manufacturers into General Motors.

Over time the building went through a few different ownerships and configurations. It even had a third story floor and flat roof added to it. In the 80s, the Genesee County Historical Society restored the building to its original construction. In 2013 GM purchased the building and designated it a General Motors heritage site.

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The Scott Club

Posted on December 11, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings .

This magnificent stone building stands on Pheonix Street in South Haven. At first glance, it looks like a church but it is actually a literary club. It was constructed in 1893 by the Scott Club named after Sir Walter Scott. The building has two stained glass windows created in Austria portray Sir Walter Scott and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The club continues to this day providing cultural enrichment programs to the community.

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