Town of the Week, August 1, 1998

Take a visit to Benton Harbor, Michigan; listen in.

Benton Harbor, Michigan

Twin towns look out from a high bluff over Lake Michigan's blue waters, while beachcombers below search for coral and driftwood under an azure sky. One of these lucky towns is Benton Harbor, a port town in the heart of southwestern Michigan's fruit belt.

Along with St. Joseph, this combined area has a population of 70 thousand, and is home to more than 350 industries. These include the world headquarters of the Whirlpool Corporation.

Summer here means recreation, with swimming, boating, game fishing, family camping, hiking and biking along and near Lake Michigan. A favorite destination is the Sarett Nature Center on the Paw Paw River, which is home to many great horned owls.

The arts flourish in these Twin Cities as well, especially on the campus of Lake Michigan College, in the Mendel Center for the Performing Arts. There's great theatre as well, with the Twin Cities Players producing works on stage for more than 65 years. An impressive gathering of outdoor sculpture can be found at the Krasl Art Center in nearby St. Joseph.

A look at Benton Harbor's past is found in a visit to the Josephine Morton Memorial House. The town's Point O'Woods country Club has played host to the Western Amateur Golf Tournament for more than a quarter-century, while many residents spend their Labor Day enjoying the Tri-State Regatta & Harvest Festival. Why not join them in our Town of the Week, Benton Harbor, Michigan.

. . . about 1836, as a result of the bustling fruit business, Benton Harbor became a lake port. In 1923, the first Blossomtime Festival was held to celebrate the area's bountiful fruits. It has become a major event in the community; Blossomtime queens ride beautiful floats, high school bands march, and many more participate in the spectacular parade, traditionally scheduled for the first weekend in May. . . . In 1905, a band of 85 Australians arrived in Benton Harbor, led by Benjamin Purnell. He proclaimed that they were the nucleus of the 12 lost tribes of Israel. Purnell founded the House of David, a religious colony that gave Benton Harbor world-wide fame. At its peak in the colorful 1920's, the House of David amusement park drew thousands of tourists, and the colony's baseball team became internationally famous. In 1927, Purnell died and the House of David began to decline. . . . on the UFO front, on March 6, 1967, Jerome Wolanin and his wife spotted one round saucer or oval-shaped object with pulsating lights around bottom rim -- don't take our word for it, head over to the paranormal primer and see for yourself.

Benton Harbor homepage Michigan Lake to Lake B&B Assoc. Michigan Travel Companion Michigan Internet Superstation Michigan Culture Links State Travel Links

Statehood: January 26, 1837 (26th state) Motto: "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you" Bird: Robin Red Breast Fish: Brook trout Tree: Tulip poplar Flower: Apple Blossom Tree: White pine Insect: Dragonfly Stone: Petoskey Stone Song: "Michigan, My Michigan"

Info for "Didja Know?" and "Fun Facts" compiled from the Michigan-via-INET pages.