Book Will Benefit City Arts Council By Marty Roney, Montgomery Advertiser PRATTVILLE -- Calling all Autauga County history buffs: Those yellowed pictures in the family Bible and your granddaddy's tall tales could wind up in print. Prattville's Creative and Performing Arts Council has commissioned a coffee table book as a fundraising project. "Artesian Wells..Cotton Bales.. & Southern Tales" is expected to be published by late summer. The title stems from the Fountain City's artesian wells and its founder, Daniel Pratt. Pratt built an industrial empire, which included a cotton gin mill and textile operations, on the banks of Autauga Creek. Bob Gambacurta, a longtime television news anchor, writer and political consultant, is writing the book. "We are going to tell Prattville's story from mill town to boom town," he said. "The first several chapters will deal with early Prattville and Autauga County history, the importance of Pratt's early industrial efforts. It will lead up to the present with the tremendous growth the area has seen and how Prattville is becoming a regional retail trade center." The publisher is seeking local contributions, either memorable stories or vintage photos. Along with raising money for the city's arts programs, the book will be used to promote Prattville's growth and economic development. "I'm very excited about this project," said Mayor Jim Byard. "It will serve as a stunningly beautiful way for us to showcase the best of our community." Prattville has an interesting story to tell. Pratt was a New England Yankee who followed King Cotton into the South. He founded the city that bears his name in 1839, making it one of the rare industrialized areas in a region known for its agricultural economic base. "I can't wait to read the book. I'll get one of the first copies," said Terri Little, a Prattville native. "I'm going to get such a kick out of reading about people and places I know." Plans are to publish the book in time for the Navistar LPGA Classic, set for Sept 24-30 at Capitol Hill. The cost will be $35 per copy. To contribute photos or stories contact DiDi Henry, Prattville Events Director at didihenry@prattville.com or call 334-358-0297.

Not sure if anyone realizes this but Daniel Pratt was an architect and built many of the old homes in Macon, Ga. "Henry DeBardeleben came to Jefferson County with Daniel Pratt who had estabished his cotton gin and te town of Prattville long before the coming of the War Between the States. DeBardelebern was born in 1841 in Autauga County, Al, when he was 10 years old his father died and his mother carried the family to Montgomery. As time passed Daniel Pratt became Henry's guardian and Henry lived with the Pratt family in Prattville. Henry married Daniel Ptratts daughter, Ellen in 1862.Henry DeBardeleben was the heir of Daniel Pratt's iron & coal business, and the Oxmoor Furnaces on Red Mountain became his, he left the cotton gin and him and 2 others organized the Pratt Mining Company, the first big coal company in the state of Alabama. The men were Colonel James Sloss, DeBardeleben, and P.H. Aldrich (This name is my cousins ancestor)" Info source - "Things Remembered" 'Stories about Western Jefferson County, Alabama' by James H. Walker, of Attala who recently passed away. delilah evans ----- Original Message ----- From: "caroline" <carolineh@knology.net> To: "ALAUTAUGA" <ALAUTAUG-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:40 AM Subject: [ALAUTAUG] Prattville vintage photos and stories needed | Book Will Benefit City Arts Council | | By Marty Roney, Montgomery Advertiser | | PRATTVILLE -- Calling all Autauga County history buffs: Those yellowed | pictures in the family Bible and your granddaddy's tall tales could wind up | in print. | | Prattville's Creative and Performing Arts Council has commissioned a coffee | table book as a fundraising project. "Artesian Wells..Cotton Bales.. & | Southern Tales" is expected to be published by late summer. | | The title stems from the Fountain City's artesian wells and its founder, | Daniel Pratt. Pratt built an industrial empire, which included a cotton gin | mill and textile operations, on the banks of Autauga Creek. | | Bob Gambacurta, a longtime television news anchor, writer and political | consultant, is writing the book. | | "We are going to tell Prattville's story from mill town to boom town," he | said. "The first several chapters will deal with early Prattville and | Autauga County history, the importance of Pratt's early industrial efforts. | It will lead up to the present with the tremendous growth the area has seen | and how Prattville is becoming a regional retail trade center." | | The publisher is seeking local contributions, either memorable stories or | vintage photos. | | Along with raising money for the city's arts programs, the book will be used | to promote Prattville's growth and economic development. | | "I'm very excited about this project," said Mayor Jim Byard. "It will serve | as a stunningly beautiful way for us to showcase the best of our community." | | Prattville has an interesting story to tell. Pratt was a New England Yankee | who followed King Cotton into the South. He founded the city that bears his | name in 1839, making it one of the rare industrialized areas in a region | known for its agricultural economic base. | | "I can't wait to read the book. I'll get one of the first copies," said | Terri Little, a Prattville native. "I'm going to get such a kick out of | reading about people and places I know." | Plans are to publish the book in time for the Navistar LPGA Classic, set for | Sept 24-30 at Capitol Hill. The cost will be $35 per copy. | | To contribute photos or stories contact DiDi Henry, Prattville Events | Director at didihenry@prattville.com or call 334-358-0297. | | | | ------------------------------- | To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ALAUTAUG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message |

I have some old photos but don't really know where they are in Prattville. I know one is when my grandfather, Lanier Dunn, who was a deputy helped raid a still. I would be happy to contribute if someone can identify the pictures. Should I post them online somewhere or what. Sandi Luss -----Original Message----- From: alautaug-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:alautaug-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of caroline Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:41 AM To: ALAUTAUGA Subject: [ALAUTAUG] Prattville vintage photos and stories needed Book Will Benefit City Arts Council By Marty Roney, Montgomery Advertiser PRATTVILLE -- Calling all Autauga County history buffs: Those yellowed pictures in the family Bible and your granddaddy's tall tales could wind up in print. Prattville's Creative and Performing Arts Council has commissioned a coffee table book as a fundraising project. "Artesian Wells..Cotton Bales.. & Southern Tales" is expected to be published by late summer. The title stems from the Fountain City's artesian wells and its founder, Daniel Pratt. Pratt built an industrial empire, which included a cotton gin mill and textile operations, on the banks of Autauga Creek. Bob Gambacurta, a longtime television news anchor, writer and political consultant, is writing the book. "We are going to tell Prattville's story from mill town to boom town," he said. "The first several chapters will deal with early Prattville and Autauga County history, the importance of Pratt's early industrial efforts. It will lead up to the present with the tremendous growth the area has seen and how Prattville is becoming a regional retail trade center." The publisher is seeking local contributions, either memorable stories or vintage photos. Along with raising money for the city's arts programs, the book will be used to promote Prattville's growth and economic development. "I'm very excited about this project," said Mayor Jim Byard. "It will serve as a stunningly beautiful way for us to showcase the best of our community." Prattville has an interesting story to tell. Pratt was a New England Yankee who followed King Cotton into the South. He founded the city that bears his name in 1839, making it one of the rare industrialized areas in a region known for its agricultural economic base. "I can't wait to read the book. I'll get one of the first copies," said Terri Little, a Prattville native. "I'm going to get such a kick out of reading about people and places I know." Plans are to publish the book in time for the Navistar LPGA Classic, set for Sept 24-30 at Capitol Hill. The cost will be $35 per copy. To contribute photos or stories contact DiDi Henry, Prattville Events Director at didihenry@prattville.com or call 334-358-0297. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ALAUTAUG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message