Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America, April 5, 2024, History Channel, “The Cult of Antelope, Oregon”

In this episode of Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America, viewers are taken on a journey through forgotten ruins and hidden secrets across America. The episode explores three intriguing locations: the cult-occupied town of Antelope, Oregon; a battered cigar factory in Florida; and a junkyard palace in New Jersey.

The episode delves into the story of Antelope, a rural town in Oregon that became a battleground between the local community and an eccentric cult known as the Rajneesh Movement or the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. In the early 1980s, the Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, later known as Osho, and his chief lieutenant, Ma Anand Sheela, arrived in Antelope and set their sights on a nearby 64,000-acre ranch.

The commune attracted thousands of followers, promising a utopian society. However, tensions quickly escalated between the Rajneeshees and the residents of Antelope, the nearest town with a population of under 60. The Rajneeshees outnumbered the locals and took control of the town’s government, even voting to change the town’s name to “Rajneesh, Oregon.”

The episode uncovers the criminal activities of the cult, including the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack, where they contaminated salad bars in local restaurants with salmonella, sickening 751 people. The attack was an attempt to control the voting population of Wasco County, where the ranch was located. The episode also explores the cult’s attempted assassination plot and their aggressive stance towards critics.

The episode then turns its attention to a battered building in Florida, which played a significant role in the cigar trade. The focus is on the Balbin Brothers Cigar Factory, a three-story Romanesque Revival-style building constructed in 1904. The factory was occupied by Samuel I. Davis & Company until 1910, when it was damaged by a fire during a workers’ strike. In 1911, it was acquired by the Balbin brothers, immigrants from Asturias, Spain, who had previously operated in New York.

Under the Balbin brothers’ ownership, the factory expanded, and a water tower was added. They employed hundreds of workers and produced hand-rolled cigars under various labels, including Elisardo, El Matrimonio, and La Flor de Rousseau. However, by the 1930s, the factory faced challenges due to the Great Depression, competition from mechanized factories, and the rising popularity of cigarettes.

The building has had multiple owners and tenants over the years, including the DeSoto Brewing Company, Empire Mercantile Company, and clothing manufacturers. Today, it stands vacant, with plans for redevelopment into a boutique hotel.

The episode also explores the story of the Palace of Depression in Vineland, New Jersey. This curious creation was built by George Daynor, who claimed to have lost his fortune in the 1929 stock market crash. With just a few dollars left, he purchased a swampy junkyard and, inspired by a dream, used recycled materials to build a unique home. The palace featured towering spires, a circular shell-covered door, and a basement known as the Devil’s Den.

Daynor promoted the palace as a symbol of individual ingenuity during the Great Depression. He charged visitors a quarter for a tour, which included a visit to the basement where he claimed to keep the Jersey Devil. However, his false claim to the FBI about a kidnapping case led to his arrest and the palace’s eventual demolition.

Today, a volunteer-led restoration project is underway, with plans to rebuild the palace as a city park. Kevin Kirchner, the driving force behind the project, passed away in 2021, but his son, Kristian, is determined to complete the restoration. The new palace will feature recycled materials and donations, with the support of volunteers and the local community.

Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America airs on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 10:01 PM on the History Channel.