Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory, Prattville

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1 A publication of the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation Winter 2015 Photo by Mark Kent Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory produces new dreams Contributing Writer Peggy Hair Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation Prattville s iconic landmark building, the Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory, has a new lease on life and is a dream-in-themaking for local preservationists. Built in 1848 to house early Alabama industrialist Daniel Pratt, the historic complex housed Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory, Prattville plants for manufacturing cotton gins, spinning cotton, milling sashes and doors and casting metal products. Today, the complex includes 40 acres with five historic masonry structures, a mill site and pond. Situated on the Autauga Creek fall line, the gin factory led the world in the production of cotton gins turning out more than 1,500 annually for southern planters and customers in foreign countries. From 1988 the Continental Gin Company, which became the Continental Eagle Company, occupied the historic Pratt complex. In 2009, the Continental Eagle moved its Prattville operations overseas putting the complex on the market. A public auction in early January of this year saw ownership of the complex transferred to the Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority Continued on page 2

2 FROM THE PRESIDENT S DESK What will be the legacy of Alabama s bicentennial? Anniversaries are occasions that bring with them a variety of emotions from joy to sorrow. No matter the emotion, they nonetheless offer the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of an occasion and its impact on the present. Since 2010, there has been a statewide initiative that has encouraged such reflection and it is called Becoming Alabama. This effort began as a means to plan and promote commemorative activities to observe three major periods in Alabama history the bicentennial of the Creek War of 1812, which was pivotal in the formation of the state; the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, which began with decisions made in Montgomery when it served as the capital of a newly formed Confederate government, and the ongoing 50th anniversaries of major events in the civil rights movement. This year Selma, Ala., will have the eyes of the world turn its way with the commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery March and the anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Rumors have it that as many as four U.S. presidents might be there to mark the occasion. How often does that happen? With these events and activities, our State is heading towards yet another significant milestone the celebration of its bicentennial in Individuals charged with p l a n n i n g commemorative programming must face a myriad of decisions. Inevitably, the significance of place comes to the forefront of the decision-making process. Is the actual location of the event significant? Does the building, bridge, battlefield still exist and is it relevant to the marking of the anniversary? For this reason, anniversaries of the magnitude faced by the state of Alabama are an opportunity for preservationists of all kinds to enter into conversations with others about why places matter. These conversations have started, but they will have the chance to be shared through the efforts of the Bicentennial Commission. That is why it is important that local organizations and individuals come to the third annual Preservation Roundtable on Feb. 6 in Montgomery (see back cover) to learn more about how to get involved, network with others with similar issues and set preservation priorities. After all, how different would the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March look if Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory continued... (HPRA) for a purchase price of $1.7M. Looking to the future by preserving the past, the HPRA envisions re-adaptive uses for the gin factory and mill sites uses that will serve modern Prattville while telling the story of the city s heritage. An adjacent walking trail along the Autauga Creek and factory complex is among only a few of the amenities the City of Prattville offers its citizens. More will follow as the historic Pratt complex is developed 2 P Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma S A L A B A M A Photo by Robin McDonald N Dr. Tina N. Jones tnj@uwa.edu the Edmund Pettus Bridge no longer spanned the Alabama River? Isn t there something amazing about literally being able to step into the past, walk through to the present and towards the future? and preserved. Dreams are coming true in Prattville due to the foresightedness of city leaders, diligence of the Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority and advocacy of the Autauga County Heritage Association. The Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory and complex will continue to serve the current and future generations of local citizens and visitors. THE ALABAMA TRUSTEE Published by the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation Station 45, Livingston, AL Telephone: (205) alabamatrust@uwa.edu BOARD OF DIRECTORS TINA NAREMORE JONES President Livingston RHONDA DAVIS 1st Vice President Mobile BEN THOMPSON 2nd Vice President/Finance Birmingham ASHLEY DUMAS 3rd Vice President/Membership Greensboro WILLIAM THARPE Secretary Vestavia Hills PEGGY HAYWOOD HAIR Past President Birmingham DIRECTORS LEE ANDERSON Birmingham ELIZABETH BROWN Montgomery MELISSA HAMILTON Thomasville COOPER HOLMES Marion RALPH LIVERMAN Eutaw NANCY LUTCHENDORF Talladega ROBERT J. (BO) OSBORN, JR. Florence MICHAEL PANHORST Auburn/Montgomery STEPHANIE ROGERS Monroeville JAMES ROTCH Birmingham/Fort Payne JANSEN TIDMORE Dothan DOROTHY WALKER Montgomery DIRECTORS EMERITI BARBARA ADKINS Harpersville ALICE BOWSHER Birmingham HANNAH BROWN Tuscaloosa MILLER CHILDERS Selma BO GRISHAM Birmingham WILL PONDER Dadevile GARLAND COOK SMITH Camden/Birmingham GWYNDOLYN TURNER Demopolis JOHN WHITE Huntsville STAFF MONICA NEWMAN MOORE Member Services Livingston GENA DOGGETT ROBBINS Media Services York ADVISOR, NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION SAMUEL H. FRAZIER Birmingham/Mooresville

3 The Alabama Trust extends appreication to those who have shared their homes, knowledge and enthusiasm for preservation. Fall Preservation Lyceum Dee and Jason Bennett Jeffrey Benton Cynthia and Mike Davis Eufaula-Barber County Chamber of Commerce Eufaula Heritage Association Eufaula Historic Preservation Commission Eufaula-Randolph Neighborhood Association Historic Chattahooche Commission Dee and Don Kellogg Jennifer Langdale Jim Martin Main Street Eufaula Mary Ellen and Bruce Mathias Zoe Powell Betsy and Doug Purcell Save North Eufaula Avenue Coalition Ann Smith Mary and Doug Winkleblack Historic Powell School Focus for HUD Loan The Birmingham City Council approved an application for a $3.7 million. Housing and Urban Development loan on behalf of Integral Development LLC. To renovate the 1888 school building into new apartments, the corporation has received state and federal historic tax credits, for a total development cost of $6 million. In 2011, the school was severely damaged by a major fire. Birmingham Powell School, Birmingham Mayor William Bell is credited with saving the building by requesting the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation (ATHP) use insurance proceeds, foundations and loans from local preservationists to stabilize the structure, remove debris, install a new roof and identify a private developer. Alabama Trust local volunteers who spearheaded the effort were attorney Samuel H. Frazier and former Operation New Birmingham CEO Michael Calvert. Leading Alabama Preservationist receives award Bob Gamble Preservation Icon Graphic Design Randy Johnson Historic Powell School Samuel H. Frazier Michael Calvert Save North Eufaula Avenue Eufaula Heritage Association National Trust for Historic Preservation Save North Eufaula Avenue Coalition Southern Environmental Law Center Social Media David Walker The Samuel Eichold Award recognizes the long term efforts of historic preservation leaders at the local and state levels. Named for Dr. Samuel Eichold, a physician and early leader in the restoration of the Oakleigh Garden District, this year s award goes to recentlyretired Alabama Historical Commission Senior Architectural Historian Robert Gamble. Through his research, writing, 2015 Lyceum information available Want to keep current on the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation s 2015 Lyceum schedule? Follow us on Facebook at Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation for upto-date information on fututre spring, summer and winter Lyceum s. advocacy, and prompt responsiveness to interested parties and groups around the state, Gamble has significantly enhanced the visibility of historic preservation issues. Bob Gamble 3

4 PRESERVATION IN THE FIELD PLACES IN PERIL For more than 20 years, Alabama s annual Places in Peril program highlighted the most at-risk historic places within the state. Previously joint program of the Alabama Historic Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, the PIP program begins the new 2015 year under the sole auspices of the Alabama Trust. Published annually, the PIP listing of imperiled historic sites by no means covers all those places endanger, nor does it include the successes of local preservationists in Saved Ware-Farley-Hood House, Montgomery protecting Alabama s heritage. To promote and strengthen the preservation of Alabama s historic places and to keep you up-to-date of such events around the state, we invite contributions from the field, from you, about those historic places Saved, Endangered and Lost in your area. When saved, these and other historic places are really Places of Promise places that promise to future generations a demonstrative understanding of the culture and character of Alabama. Contributing Writer Carole King, Curator Old Alabama Town Originally, the Ware-Farley- Hood House (circa 1850) was one of the great Italianate villas that dominated the heights above antebellum Montgomery. Architectural historian Robert Gamble notes that In the mid nineteenth century, Montgomery was graced by one of the most outstanding assemblages of Italianate style architecture in the South. With its spreading porches, tall windows, and broad over-hanging eaves, the style was especially suitable for the south climate, rapidly replacing more classical designs Built by local doctor James A. Ware, the Ware-Farley-Hood House has served as a residence, school and office during its long history. In 1855, it became the home of banker James Farley. In 1905, Samuel Starke acquired it for Starke s School for Girls. In 1909, Horace Hood, editor of the Alabama Journal, purchased the house immediately deeding it to his wife, Susan Brame Hood, who relocated the house, removed the Italianate elements and added a columned facade. In 1956, the Old South Insurance Ware-Farley-Hood House, Montgomery Ware-Farley- Hood House, Montgomery Moving Day Ware-Farley-Hood House, Montgomery Original Facade Present Day Company purchased the House for its offices. The Retirement Systems of Alabama, in turn, purchased the property in the late 1980s for a parking deck. To preserve the historic structure, the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery took ownership of the house and moved it to its present location in Old Alabama Town in During the ensuing years and under the stewardship of the Landmarks Foundation, historic architects and craftsmen restored the house based on a photograph from a Starke School for Girls catalog. Exterior work included re-installing the house s fretwork adorned porches and replacing the cupola and back service wing. Restoration also included the central hall, handsome a front-run staircase and magnificent double parlors leading into a dining room that extends across the rear of the house. Access to the cupola and its view of the river is by stairs from the second floor. In 2014, the Ware-Farley- Hood House, the last of these handsome Italianate villas in Montgomery, opened to the public as a special events venue. 4

5 Pastime Theatre Complex, Winfield Contributor, Mary Hyche Board of Directors, Theatre Pastime Theatre (circa 1938) is one of several historic theatres in the state experiencing a renewal of life due to local preservation volunteers, an active Main Street program and a foresighted city government. Originally a movie theatre with a stage for vaudeville performances, the Pastime closed in In 1999, it became the first project of Winfield s Main Street efforts. U. S. Congressman Robert Aderholt helped secure a Save America s Treasures grant to fund renovations. Phase 1 of the reclamation included a roof, floors, walls, ceiling, electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning. Layers of paint on the front of the building were stripped to the original yellowglazed brick and attention was given to the original art Pastime Theatre Post- Restoration 2015 Pastime Theatre Pre-Restoration 1999 deco details of the building. Nine original seats were left untouched in the balcony. Stateof-the-art sound system, stage lighting, seats, and curtains were installed. A wooden marquee was constructed complete with theatre lights. The Pastime reopened in 2002 as a movie and live performance space. During the last decade, the Pastime Theatre has evolved into an expanded performance venue with the purchase and extensive renovations of the adjacent 1928 building. The building, originally a Ford dealership, was the site where T-model cars were shipped by railroad in kits and brought to the building for assembled. The Pastime Theatre Complex, which includes the former Ford dealership, now offers dinner theatre further enhancing its role as a vibrant, current attraction on Winfield s main street. Ashland Place Entrance, Mobile Contributor Benjamin P. Cummings, AIA Cummings Architecture Corp. Credit for the restoration of the formal entrance to Mobile s Ashland Place Historic District in July 2014 is due to the efforts of community volunteers and support from the City of Mobile. The entrance announces a neighborhood graced by buildings dating to the early 20th century covering a variety of historical architectural styles ranging from late Victorian to the Craftsman. Restoration included the replacement of rotting wood, removal of peeling paint and application of new paint in the original historic colors. Encroaching landscape elements, trees, shrubs Ashland Place Entrance, Mobile Ashland Place Entrance, Mobile Pre-Restoration, 2013 Postcard, Original Entrance Ashland Place Entrance, Mobile Post-Restoration, 2014 and vines, were trimmed to highlight the historic architecture of the gateway. The naming of the Ashland Place neighborhood is attributed to its history as the former site for Ashland, a Greek Revival-style antebellum house and the home of best-selling, Southern author of the 19th century, Augusta Evans Wilson ( ). The house itself burned in The Ashland Place Historic District, which encompasses 400 acres and 93 contributing buildings was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in June Restoration of the historic Ashland Place Entrance enriches the interpretation of the history of Mobile and adds to the historic fabric of the city and neighborhood. 5

6 Endangered North Eufaula Avenue/Seth Lore-Irvinton Historic District The Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation (ATHP), on behalf of its membership, specifically those members residing in the City of Eufuala s Seth Lore-Irwinton Historic District, participated as a plaintiff with the City of Eufaula, Eufaula Heritage Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to block highway development that will imperil the historic streetscape of North Eufaula Avenue. A suit was filed in federal district court in early December. In late December, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued a 22-page opinion denying the request for a temporary restraining order. and referring the suit to state court. On Jan. 5, on behalf of plaintiffs, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed an additional brief in support of a preliminary injunction. On Jan. 13, the City of Eufaula accepted a pending settlement offer from ALDOT. The state will give Eufaula $100,000 for three years. Lost Pearsall House, Tuscumbia A freak October 2014 windstorm claimed Tuscumbia s 188-year old Jeremiah Pearsall House. One of the landmarks featured on the Alabama Trust s driving tour of Tuscumbia last May during the Alabama Preservation Conference, the house was partially destroyed when a giant pecan tree uprooted by the storm smashed through its entire east side, from second floor to basement. The historic house was subsequently razed. While outside architectural measurements were made shortly before demolition, the early 19th-century interior was never formally documented. A key structure in Tuscumbia s National Register Historic District, the Pearsall House was traditionally dated to It was among the best preserved of only a dozen or so structures remaining from the first decade of Alabama s statehood, when Tuscumbia and nearby Florence, together with Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, were the largest towns in northern Alabama. 6 North Eufaula Avenue & Parkway, Spring 2014 North Eufaula Avenue Demolotion Jan. 7, 2015 Historic Shorter Mansion in Background Pearsall House, Tuscumbia Post-Storm, October 2014 Photo by Robin McDonald The Alabama Department of Transportation has started construction to convert the historic two-lane North Eufaula Avenue into a four-lane highway. To follow the progress of this ongoing story, visit the Eufaula Heritage Association website at www. eufaulapilgrimage.com. The Eufaula Heritage Association was formed in 1965 to prevent the loss and destruction of the town s historic treasures. The SELC is a regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC s team of nearly 60 legal and policy experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use. For more information, visit The house was Tuscumbia s most intact example of a Federal-period I house. Period mantelpieces and trim graced the interior. Notable, too, was the raised brick basement which originally contained service areas and a dining room. The entrance portico and window immediately above dated from the mid- 20th century, the generously-scaled windows to either side preserved their original twelve-over-twelve sashing. The house s destruction is a major landmark loss to Tuscumbia and the Quad Cities-Shoals Area. Ironically the Pearsall family plantation home, Locust Lodge, a few miles northeast of Tuscumbia, fell victim to another storm in the early 1900s. The Pearsall House is the second pioneer-period dwelling in the Tennessee Valley to have been lost to violent weather in recent years. The April 2011 tornadoes which struck the area leveled the circa 1818 Dr. William Murphey House near Decatur as it was undergoing restoration.

7 Alabama Historic Redevelopment Tax Credits (AHRTC) Alabama tax credits for the redevelopment of historic buildings are approved by the Alabama Historical Commission. Applications for review and awards may be submitted on an on-going bases. The total annual tax Redmont Hotel (Birmingham) 951 Government Street Building (Mobile) Jefferson Davis Apartments (Montgomery) Fort McClellan Barracks (Anniston) Brown Marx Building (Birmingham) Norton-Cochrane Fitts Residence (Tuscaloosa) First National Bank of Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa) Edwards Brothers Furniture Company Building (Mobile) Cain Furniture Company (Birmingham) Powell School (Birmingham) Florentine Building (Birmingham) Pizitz Building (Birmingham) Grove Court (Montgomery) Thomas Jefferson Hotel (Birmingham) Tuscaloosa VA Building #33 (Tuscaloosa) Davis House (Huntsville) Avondale Fire Station #10 (Birmingham) Hunter House (Mobile) credit allocation per year is $20M for commercial and non-commercial structures. Passed into law in 2013, renewal of the tax credit bill will come before the 2015 Alabama legislative session. Since then, 35 historic Tax Credits Awarded/Reserved, in order of award/reservation redevelopment projects across Alabama have been allocated historic tax credits totaling approximately $55.1M. The total remaining tax credits available for projects in the 2015 year is $4.9M. Adams Motor Company Building (Mobile) Dr. Goldsby King s Sanitarium/King Memorial Hospital (Selma) Carson Place (Tuscaloosa) Empire Building (Birmingham) First Federal Savings and Loan Building (Birmingham) Empire Parking Garage (Birmingham) Temerson Building (Tuscaloosa) Dortch-Hunter Residence (Mobile) Age Building (Birmingham) Drish House (Tuscaloosa) Anniston Hardware Company Building (Anniston) Turner-Todd Motor Company Building (Mobile) Mack Truck Garage Building (Birmingham) Admiral Semmes Hotel (Mobile) Bell Building (Montgomery) Howell School (Dothan) Freeny Building (Mobile) C.L. Ruth & Sons Building (Montgomery) Avondale Fire Station #10, Birmingham Howell School, Dothan Jefferson Davis Apartments, Montgomery For information about the Alabama Historic Redevelopment Tax Credit program, contact program director Jennifer Bailey at Jennifer.Bailey@preserveala.org or or visit, 7

8 ALABAMA TRUST for HISTORIC PRESERVATION Station 45 Livingston, AL NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID LIVINGSTON AL PERMIT NO. 7 Return Service Requested (205) alabamatrust@uwa.edu Scan QR Code for Preservation Summit for the Alabama Bicentennial Registration Information PRESERVATION ROUNDTABLE & LUNCHEON for Alabama Preservation and History Affiliates and Organizations Topic Preservation Summit for the Alabama Bicentennial When Friday, February 6, :00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Where Alabama Department of Archives and History 624 Washington Avenue, Montgomery Keynote Dr. Carrol Van West, Tennessee Civil War Sequicentennial Commission Sponsors Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation Alabama Bicentennial Commission Alabama Department of Archives and History Registration Deadline Monday, February 2, 2015 For program and registration information, visit Complimentary Lunch