2011 MUSEUM EVENTS

 Visit the Base Ball Season for our "House of David Echoes" schedule.

MAY 1 -- 3:30 PM -- The House of David Echoes will host their annual Blossomtime guests, the Blossomtime Royals.

Twenty SW Michigan community Queens along with Mister Blossomtime and his Court will meet the Echoes on Eastman Field, 3:30 PM, (following the "Blessing of the Blossoms") for a match of "vintage" base ball, 1858 style. There is no admission for this event; the concession stand will be open for refreshments; bring your own chairs and some sunny and mild Spring-Blossomtime weather with you.

JUNE 4 -- 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM -- Opening Day for the Museum, Tours and Eastman Springs nature trails

JUNE 5 -- 1:00 PM -- What's New in House of David Arts

New art work, handi-craft, MUSIC BOXES and an assortment of artist creations will be on display as a first time showing.

JUNE 5 -- 3:30 PM -- Rare Books/New Books/Old Books & Book Signing

Colony author, Ron Taylor will sign, beginning at 3:30 (after the guided walking tour), his older publications, new publications and those recently reprinted that had previously sold out as a limited edition imprints. Also available are books no longer in print, including:

Island Life, Island Toil;
The House of David on High Island
Ramon Nelson, 1990

The House of David Base Ball Team
Hawkins, Bertolino, 1999

The Crown of Thorns,
House of David Victory
and Legal Troubles Reviewed
Francis Thorpe, 1929

JULY 16 -- 1:30 PM -- What You've Heard About the House of David "AIN'T NECESSARILY SO"

Clare Adkin entitled his history of the House of David, "BROTHER BENJAMIN" and wrote his compelling account in view of putting to rest the years of irresponsible journalism that did more to obscure the House of David than to report a factual and balance account. A sarcastic Press of the 1920s created a "King Ben", which was one of Clare's targets to correct.

Join House of David scholar, Clare Adkin and Ron Taylor, colony archivist and historian as they illuminate the true roots of the House of David and put to rest many false reports that have circulated for over 60 years.

The lecture will also incorporate a detailed account of the lineage of the Christian-Israelite theology, dating back to the 1650s in England, another area of great misrepresentation by the greater portion of published accounts concerning the House of David.

The program will start at 1:30 PM. Reservations are to meet at the museum at 1:00 PM. Last year the program lasted until after 4:00 PM with all of the materials exhibited and the many questions fielded and answered.

RESERVATIONS ARE SUGGESTED as seating is limited to 50. A pre-payment of $5.00 per person will confirm your reservation. Reservations/further information: (269) 925-1601

THERE WILL NO GUIDED WALKING TOUR
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON JULY 16

AUGUST 15 thru 20 -- Visit our booth at the Berrien County Youth Fair

AUGUST 17 -- 6:30 PM -- The House of David Echoes Base Ball Team will play the Blossomtime Royals.

SE parking lot off Shawnee Road.

AUGUST 27 -- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM -- Resort Furnishings & Collectibles Sale: Cash-n-Carry ... No Refunds ... No Returns

THREE BUILDINGS FULL of everything including the kitchen sink: Another new year of new finds around the colony grounds that are dispensable and also collectible, being a colony-made or one-of-a-kind. Resort linens, auto interests, post cards, literature, furnishings, medical tools, old used tools, pictures, old magazines, art work, table-top marble, dishware, newsprints, jewelry, old soda tin advertising signs, books, old doors, windows, sinks cabinets, wardrobes and so much more.

SEPTEMBER 24 -- 12:00 NOON -- Art Exhibit Opening

Art showing by colony artist in residence, Richard Parker and colony member, Ron Taylor.

LOCATION: 1204 E. Britain Avenue at Eastman Avenue (colony entrance)

Richard Parker's work is well-known in the area in a diverse range of media, from wood burning to watercolor, drawings and paintings.

Ron Taylor will exhibit a selection of art works ranging from pastels to pencil drawings using dance and figures and portraiture as primary motifs.

The art exhibit will continue through September 25 from 1-5 PM, and September 26-28 by appointment.

SEPTEMBER 24 -- 1:00 PM -- "The Divinity School of Art Address" Presentation.

Presentation will be given by Ron Taylor, BFA, San Francisco Art Institute, 1973 based upon the "limited edition" publication (2008), of the same title. Tracing the author's journey from art school to the City of David. How art school training supported interests in religious studies: coming to understand through drawing the human body as the image and likeness of God, as described in Genesis.

SEPTEMBER 25 -- 12:00 Noon -- "Welcome Back to 1934" Vegetarian Luncheon

On our summer season's Closing Day, we will host our only historic meal presentation for 2011.

Reservations with Pre-Payment
are required to secure your seats.

The meal will feature a common menu from our collectible 1934 vegetarian cookbook with fruits and vegetables in season and the famous colony product for over 60 years, the "mock steak deluxe" sandwich. The meal is $14.50 which will include a free pass to the museum that opens at 1 PM. The guided walking tour from the museum at 1:30 PM is an additional $4.00. It is suggested to also reserve space on the walking tour, which is also open to the general public on a first-come-first-serve basis. You may call for further information at (269) 925-1601; Monday-Friday; 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

We look forward to seeing you soon.  Please call for further information:

(269) 925-1601 Monday-Friday; 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

Mary's City of David Tours

Using an aerial from 1937, the picture captures the first seven years labor in the earliest and most desperate hours of the Great Depression, in which most of the "City of David" was built under Sister Mary Purnell's direction. This serves today as both the nucleus of the 300-plus acre Christian-Israelite community and the entire tour area of significant historic sites that help tell this fascinating story of faithful perseverance and spirited resilience yielding the most amazing chapter of all the 100+ years in America.

1. Museum and Gift shop. Arrival and departure points.
    
2. Bethany where is given the slide presentation on the English roots to the present day, covering 3 ½ centuries. Print shop is also at this location.
    
3. Going through the Garage Bldg. (1930) with its active mechanic shop and 1930s tools. Shop rules that have worked for 100 years: "if you make a mess, clean it up"; "if you don't know how to operate, leave it alone"; " if you open it, close it."
    
4. Walking over to the Carpenter shop, with its vintage tools and today's sawdust.
    
5. Cannery and Powerhouse with the 1934 Fair Banks Morris Electrical generating plant. A lesson in self-sufficiency of a family in common faith. Common sense ...
    
6. Greenhouse Agriculture bldg. A lesson in recycling from the "have-tos" of 1935.
    
7. Mary's House, a walk through the yard of this structure that served as a makeshift headquarters in 1930, as well as a hotel and basement restaurant.
    
8. Shiloh gardens tell their intimate story of the new 1930 Administration and plantations of over 50 years in garden.
    
9. "Gate of Prayer" Synagogue, 1938 (not in this 1937 photo) where the "Welcome Back To 1934" vegetarian luncheons are held in this quaintly restored building.
    
10. Eastman Springs nature trails that are on 54 acres of woodland serenity. 1-½ miles of trails and bridges that wind through spring fed ravines that attracted Native American populations for over 4,000 years. The Silver Queen Spring (1883) is on the walk for a cooler on a warm summer day.
     
11. Colonel Harry and Elizabeth Eastman Field (1890s) today is the home field for the "vintage" House of David Echoes Baseball Club, playing pre-Civil War rules and members of the 120-plus Baseball Association in America.

General Public Museum Hours:
Saturdays & Sundays: 1-5 PM, June 4^th - September 25^th

If you have not visited the colony in several years, or have not yet visited, we strongly recommend that you take some quality time with friends and family this summer and come out for an afternoon to view an historic "vintage" base ball game, hike the 1 ½ miles trails through the serene and lovely Eastman Springs, visit the museum and see 355 years of history, get on board for the 1:30 PM tour each Saturday and Sunday to discover the amazing history of southwest Michigan's most renown historic site and "living history", and come to see the unique, one-of-a-kind gift shop next door to the museum; you won't find this inventory anywhere else in Michigan, America or the world.

Please refer back to this page for up-dates and further information, or call (269) 925-1601, Monday-Friday 1:00 - 5:00 PM.