Who We Are
The Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority is a municipal board with governing authority. Created in 1988 by an act of the Alabama State Legislature, its mission is the revitalization of the Daniel Pratt Historic District. HPRA projects have included development of Heritage Park, another of Prattville’s little gems in the downtown area, the addition of planters throughout the downtown area for seasonal flowers, and placement of historical markers in the district.
Most recently, HPRA purchased the Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory and is working diligently to preserve and envision re-adaptive uses for the historic landmark.
Most recently, HPRA purchased the Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory and is working diligently to preserve and envision re-adaptive uses for the historic landmark.
Notable Projects
In addition to our most recent Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory project, you may have also noticed the following:
• Heritage Park
• Pratt Cemetery
• Prattville Associated Grocers
• Several benches in downtown Prattville
• Pratt Cemetery
• Prattville Associated Grocers
• Several benches in downtown Prattville
History
All because of a creek...
Born in Temple, NH in 1799, Daniel Pratt came from humble beginnings. Pratt was born the fourth of six children to a yeoman farmer and raised in a rigid Congregationalist household. At age 16 he began an apprenticeship under a family friend who was an architect. By age 20 he was released from his apprenticeship and traveled to Savannah, Georgia to work on his own.
Pratt lived fourteen years in Georgia, most of which was spent honing his skills as an architect and a builder. However, shortly after his marriage in 1827 to Ester Ticknor, he met another New Englander who had moved south, Samuel Griswold. Griswold manufactured cotton gins and Pratt immediately began working with him as the manager of his factory. Within a year Griswold had asked Pratt to become a partner with him in the business. Pratt jumped at the opportunity and thus his passion was born.
Pratt was convinced that he and Griswold could grow their business by following the westward expansion. He tried convincing Griswold to leave Georgia with him and move west, but Griswold feared uprisings from the Native Creeks. Undaunted, Pratt left Georgia with his family and materials to construct 50 gins. Pratt initially planned to set up his operation in Montgomery but when he arrived, the materials and lumber he had contracted for were not ready. Because of this, he ventured across the Alabama River to a place in Elmore County six miles west of Wetumpka where he leased Elmore's Mill on Mortar Creek. It was here Pratt constructed the 50 cotton gins using the materials he brought from Georgia. The gins worked well and sold easily. After a year, Pratt moved to McNeill Mill where he had a 5 year lease, leasing water power for $125/year. Within five years of this, for $21,000, he bought 2,060 acres of land that is today our town of Prattville, the birthplace of industry in Alabama. The property was to be paid for in four installments between 1836 and 1838. The first two installments were payable in cotton gins while the second two were to be paid in cash. Therefore, Pratt also founded Daniel Pratt Gin Company and established the building many still fondly refer to as “the gin shop.”
The town of Prattville grew exponentially, and Pratt provided homes and churches for its residents, almost all of whom he employed. As the cotton gin manufacturing brought him more capital he expanded his production to include “cloth, tin, carriages, wagons, windows, and door sashes.”1 By the 1850’s, his company manufactured gins for a global market and became the world’s largest gin factory. Pratt also invested in areas north of Birmingham, developing Alabama’s natural resources and becoming a major part of the growth of that area. The town currently named Pratt City is named for him.
After Pratt’s death in 1873, his nephew and great-nephew ran the gin until 1899, when it was sold to Continental Gin Company. That name later changed to Continental Eagle Company, but the mission remained the same. The company manufactured gins until 2009. In 2011, the company put the Prattville property up for sale. After several changing of hands, the Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority purchased the property in 2014 with plans for re-purposing the property.
Pratt lived fourteen years in Georgia, most of which was spent honing his skills as an architect and a builder. However, shortly after his marriage in 1827 to Ester Ticknor, he met another New Englander who had moved south, Samuel Griswold. Griswold manufactured cotton gins and Pratt immediately began working with him as the manager of his factory. Within a year Griswold had asked Pratt to become a partner with him in the business. Pratt jumped at the opportunity and thus his passion was born.
Pratt was convinced that he and Griswold could grow their business by following the westward expansion. He tried convincing Griswold to leave Georgia with him and move west, but Griswold feared uprisings from the Native Creeks. Undaunted, Pratt left Georgia with his family and materials to construct 50 gins. Pratt initially planned to set up his operation in Montgomery but when he arrived, the materials and lumber he had contracted for were not ready. Because of this, he ventured across the Alabama River to a place in Elmore County six miles west of Wetumpka where he leased Elmore's Mill on Mortar Creek. It was here Pratt constructed the 50 cotton gins using the materials he brought from Georgia. The gins worked well and sold easily. After a year, Pratt moved to McNeill Mill where he had a 5 year lease, leasing water power for $125/year. Within five years of this, for $21,000, he bought 2,060 acres of land that is today our town of Prattville, the birthplace of industry in Alabama. The property was to be paid for in four installments between 1836 and 1838. The first two installments were payable in cotton gins while the second two were to be paid in cash. Therefore, Pratt also founded Daniel Pratt Gin Company and established the building many still fondly refer to as “the gin shop.”
The town of Prattville grew exponentially, and Pratt provided homes and churches for its residents, almost all of whom he employed. As the cotton gin manufacturing brought him more capital he expanded his production to include “cloth, tin, carriages, wagons, windows, and door sashes.”1 By the 1850’s, his company manufactured gins for a global market and became the world’s largest gin factory. Pratt also invested in areas north of Birmingham, developing Alabama’s natural resources and becoming a major part of the growth of that area. The town currently named Pratt City is named for him.
After Pratt’s death in 1873, his nephew and great-nephew ran the gin until 1899, when it was sold to Continental Gin Company. That name later changed to Continental Eagle Company, but the mission remained the same. The company manufactured gins until 2009. In 2011, the company put the Prattville property up for sale. After several changing of hands, the Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority purchased the property in 2014 with plans for re-purposing the property.