Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Here's a story that caught my eye. The lowdown is that some people are unhappy with the police in
Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor and have been rioting as a result. I've actually been through there, on my way to minor league baseball in Michigan. Benton Harbor has a neat little place in baseball history.
Benton Harbor was home to the House of David movement. I'll admit to not knowing too much about their beliefs, but I do know that they had a barnstorming baseball squad, perhaps the most famous one in history. They were they guys with the beards who played the Pepper game. They played against Negro Leaguers, local semi-pros or whoever they could schedule. A visit from the House of David team was often the biggest thing going in three counties. There's a nice little museum devoted to the movement and team out in Benton Harbor, worth a visit if you get the chance.
My father has different memories of Benton Harbor. He never visited, could remember "Benton Harbor lunchboxes", in other words, Heathkits. These were "solder it yourself" electronics that were big in the '50s and '60s.
It's kind of amazing that a small city in Michigan could have so much Americana.
posted by David 4:41 PM
