Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA - HOME



Henry Merrill Pratt

To understand the great impact and influence of Henry Merrill Pratt’s life in Columbus, we need to understand his great contribution to Columbus, MS society. Pratt was a man with many passions such as sports, hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor activities. He was also a very devoted Christian who came from a very wealthy family. Also, to understand how he was able to influence the society in Columbus, it is important to understand his ancestors and his descendants. In addition, it is fascinating to learn through his life all the connections he and his family had and has with the YMCA, local churches, and local businesses. It is a like a huge puzzle that shows many faces of Columbus, and the YMCA has a deep connection with the Pratt Family who donated a very generous fortune to this institution.

Henry Merrill Pratt’s great-uncle Daniel Pratt (July 20, 1799 – May 13, 1873) was a very important person in his life because Daniel was the family member who took care of Henry’s father, Merrill, when his father, who was Daniel’s brother, died. It was a turning point moment for Merrill and his descendants. Daniel Pratt was originally from Temple, New Hampshire. Daniel Pratt worked in Georgia for many years as an architect, and later moving to Alabama to expand the cotton gin business. He founded Prattville, Alabama, being very important to the industrialization of the state of Alabama. His father, Edward Pratt, was a yeoman farmer who had moved to New Hampshire from Reading, Massachusetts. Daniel Pratt was the fourth of six children all of whom were brought up under strict religious discipline and were obliged to work on their family's small New England farm. His wife, Ester Ticknor, was originally from Connecticut. She met Daniel Pratt in Georgia. They got married in September 6, 1827 (Find a Grave 2003). They had two children. They adopted Daniel’s nephew, Merrill Edward Pratt when he was 10 years old due the death of his father Edward who died while operating the cotton gin business in 1899. Merrill married Julia Adelaide Smith (1843-1932). Henry Pratt was one of their children. Prior to the Civil War, Pratt was an ardent member of the Whig Party which pushed for the expansion of industry, state aid to railroads, and other forms of internal improvements. (Lewis 2007)

In 1854, Daniel Pratt founded a pro-Whig newspaper, the Southern Statesman. He was also politically involved on the local level serving for many years as Prattville's intendant with powers similar to that of mayor with the great fortune he amassed from his cotton-gin business, Pratt invested in and actively promoted the development of Alabama's vast untapped mineral resources. In the early 1870s, Pratt began purchasing thousands of acres of land in north Alabama. Pratt also began to entrust more and more of his business interests, including a new railroad venture, the South and North Alabama Railroad, to his ward and eventual son-in-law, Henry F. DeBardeleben, whom daughter Ellen had married on February 4, 1863. Daniel Pratt died on May 13, 1873 (Lewis 2007). Merrill Edward Pratt’s was the son of Edward Pratt (1797–1838) and Dorcas Pevey Sheldon (1800–1884). His father, Edward Pratt died when Merrill was 10-11 years old. He was 41 years old. After his death, Merrill was taken care by his uncle Daniel Pratt. Daniel Pratt did not adopt the young Merrill as his son, but he took care of him and made sure to divide his estate between his daughter Ellen and ‘adopted son’ Merrill Pratt (Find a Grave 2006). Merrill Edward Pratt’s was the son of Edward Pratt (1797–1838) and Dorcas Pevey Sheldon (1800–1884) (Lewis 2007).

Henry Merrill Pratt was born in Prattville, Alabama March 20, 1877. He was the son of Julia Adelaide Smith Pratt and Merrill Edward Pratt. He was educated in the Prattville Schools and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1896. In 1893 he played on the first football team at the University of Alabama. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He married Lilla Young Franklin of Columbus, MS on April 26, 1905. and Pratt had 2 daughters, Merrill (Millard F. Thomas) and Lilla (William I. Rosamond, 1911-2009) (Find a Grave 2006).

Pratt was an athlete in his younger days. He was a member of the first football team of the University of Alabama in 1892. He was also the vice president of the first Columbus National Bank. He was the only Columbus citizen who won the Commercial Dispatch Loving Cup twice for his outstanding contributions to the Columbus community in 1927 and 25 years later in 1952. He was also a leader in the Farm Bureau and county fair activities.

Henry Pratt became involved in many community activities. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He was a founder and charter member of the Rotary Club. He was instrumental in starting the Lowndes County Fair Association. Pratt was a very successful farmer and active in the Farm Bureau. He served on the board of the United Way, the Salvation Army, and was chairman of the Board of the Lowndes County Library. All of this demonstrates that Pratt was very involved in the local community (Find a Grave 2006).

Henry was also a man with many other virtues. He was twice honored for his meritorious service to the community. He was a Director of the First Columbus National Bank and a Vice President. He worked with Frank Phillips to find the Columbus YMCA and was chairman of the fund-raising committee for the building. He was a member of the YMCA Board of Directors. He served as vice president of The Y board for about 25 years. (during the time that the late Frank P. Philips was president. Pratt assumed the presidency after the passing of Frank Philips. He also became a chairman until his death. The Y seemed a natural fit for Pratt’s interests. Because of his philanthropy, faith, and passion for sports, he was a found member and a driving force behind the creation of The Y in Columbus. (Find a Grave 2003)

In 1926 Phillips and Pratt gave the land to the YMCA for Camp Henry Pratt, and in 1953 they gave the land for Sims Scott Park and the Columbus, MS YMCA branch that would be for African Americans. Pratt was very passionate in establishing an activities program to the negro community. Before he died he said that the only regret he had in life was not to been able to construct the planned YMCA branch in Columbus for African Americans during his lifetime. It seems that he was interested in at least creating separated facilities for African Americans. What his specific racial views was is unknown. Several members of the present board promised him that the branch would be constructed in a near future. (The Commercial Dispatch, November 1994).

Henry Pratt and the YMCA

Pratt’s involvement with The Y fits with many of his interests. “He was a football player who was over six feet tall, which was very tall for that time. He loved sports and fishing.” Said proudly his grandson Bill Rosamond (Rosamond 2018). It is not clear why and how he bought the land for Camp Pratt. His grandson Bill Rosamond believes that he may have traded the land with local Indians for another piece of land that he had. (Rosamond 2018). Apparently, Henry loved Camp Pratt because it was the perfect place for him to go fishing. (Rosamond 2018) Camp Pratt started before the YMCA building was built at the downtown. Camp Pratt activities started in the late 1920s or early 1930s. They had clubs there for junior high and high school students. During that time, it was very important to be part of one of these clubs. It was a good way to communicate, have fellowship, and make friends with other people. The dressing rooms were very important at the YMCA because many businesses started there when people were changing their clothes and started a conversation. “You don’t go to talk with anybody on the streets about business or anything, but you would talk…” (Hendrix 2018). He also felt the need to help Frank Philips to build the YMCA. Pratt was a member of the First Baptist Church in Columbus. Other than his personal faith in God, the fact that he loved sports, and that he was a very wealthy and philanthropic person, it is not clear why he decided to invest his money, properties, and time to build the YMCA in Columbus. It is also not clear if Pratt was a close friend with Frank Philips or not.

Frank Philips and Sim Scott:

“Henry Pratt and the Negro YMCA Branch”

(November 1, 1964 - Commercial Dispatch Staff Joan Popernik)

20th street north, across from Hunt High School – Sim Scott Park land

Before the construction was done, the African Americans did their activities in a rented building on 10th Avenue North. The new branch had about 4,000 thousand square feet of floor space. It housed a large library which was under the supervision of the Lowndes County Library System. The facility also had a large lobby in its interior with various types of equipment for indoor activities and a spacious club room that could be divided in two rooms by accordion curtain. The branch also had locker rooms, a snack bar, and a full time executive secretary for the negro YMCA. His name was Charles Houston, a recent graduate from Rust College. The planning and construction of the Negro YMCA branch included: J.E. (Shag) Goolsby, C.L. Mitchell, Dr. A.E. Brown, Arch Hardin, Morris A. (Chick) Reece and Will Love. The YMCA branch was a participating agency of the Columbus – Lowndes Community Fund. The new building was designed by William L. Rosamond, architect, of Columbus.

Sim Scott was an African American employee of the Merrill and Henry Pratt families. Scott was a cook for Henry Pratt’s parents who lived in Prattville, Alabama. The Pratt’s owned large tracts of land and a factory for the manufacture of cotton gins. Scott went to Memphis to work for Henry Pratt as a cook after Pratt got married. The Pratts later moved to Columbus, MS into the ante-bellum home called Franklin Square, which had been an ancestral home for Pratt’s family, the Franklins. When Scott died, his daughter, Amy, came to work for the Henry Pratts. A fountain in the Sim Scott Park was named for Amy Scott.

Franklin Square

The historic home was built in 1835 and was one of the earliest brick homes in Columbus. Sidney Franklin, was a dentist in New York. After a plague killed his wife and children, Henry moved to Columbus with his new wife, and he built the house called Franklin Square, named after a business that they also had in New York. The school next door is Franklin Academy, the first free public school in Mississippi. Despite having the same name, the school is not related to the Franklin family. After Sidney Franklin moved to Columbus he stopped working as a dentist and started to work as a cotton gin business farmer. Henry and his wife Lilla lived in Memphis for about three years. After they had their first child, they moved back to Columbus. They moved into his wife’s parents house, Franklin Square, to live with them, and they lived their whole lives in the house (Rosamond 2018).

Lilla Pratt Rosamond and Merrill Pratt Thomas

Lilla Rosamond was born in Memphis, TN on January 9, 1911, the daughter of Henry Merrill Pratt and Lilla Young Franklin Pratt. Lilla married William Irby Rosamond, Jr. in 1939 and lived briefly in Memphis, TN before returning to Columbus to live permanently. She was involved for many years in civic activities serving as president of the Society of Historic Preservation, the Columbus Pilgrimage Association, and the Columbus Garden Club. She was a Life Member of Columbus Junior Auxiliary and she was also a Life Member of the Columbus YMCA. Two of her favorite pastimes were meeting weekly with her Wednesday afternoon sewing club and her membership, for over 50 years, in the Lowndes County Chowder and Marching Society. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames. Lilla was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Lilla, husband, Bill, and sister, Merrill, who died at the age of 100 in March of 2008.” (Find a Grave 2010 and Memorial Funeral 2009).

It is important to remember that Camp Pratt was started by Henry Pratt and his daughters have given money and land to improve and sustain the camp when it was part of the YMCA. Merrill Thomas, Pratt’s daughter gave $50,000 to make improvements in 1996 and previously Thomas and her sister Lilla Rosamond have given land to enlarge Camp Pratt. The Pratt family has been a very giving family especially when it concerns the Columbus YMCA and Camp Pratt. Unfortunately, the Camp Pratt is not part of the Y.M.C.A. anymore. (The Commercial Dispatch, November 1994).

In conclusion, the life of Pratt Family especially Henry Merrill Pratt is an example of a very successful and dedicated family who gave back to their community. Henry Pratt dedicated a huge part of his life and fortune to the YMCA of Columbus. It is evident that his passion was passed to the next generations where both of his daughters generously donated support for the YMCA and to Camp Pratt. His grandson Bill Rosamond has also contributed to this project giving his time to share about his grandfather’s legacy. The Pratt Family will always have their mark on Columbus’s history and a big part of this history can be found at the YMCA in Columbus, MS. Henry Pratt also teaches through his life that hard work, a life lived with passion, and faith in God can change the world around us.

The author would like to thank Bill Rosamond, son of Lilla Pratt Rosamond and grandson of Henry Merrill Pratt who opened the doors of his house to talk about his beloved grandfather. I am also thankful to Perry Hendrix for sharing his time.

Appendix 1: Newspaper Articles

“Commission to Man Sim Scott”

By George Hazard – Dispatch Staff Writer

08/30/85

The board of the Frank P. Phillips YMCA voted in March to close its Sim Scott branch on North 20th Street BECAUSE of declining use and continuing expense. They ran the Branch until August 31. The YMCA board wanted to sell the branch to the recreation commission. But a citizen group, Concerned Citizens for Sim Scott YMCA, had wanted the facility to remain a YMCA branch.

“Blacks fight the closing of Mississippi Y

By Rolland Wilkerson from the Commercial Appeal

Columbus Mississippi Bureau

08/22/85

The plans to close the Sim Scott YMCA branch in a predominant black neighborhood caused protests from blacks who want to keep the center open. “If they close this, it will be a sad comment on the state of race in our community”. Carl Lee

Lee also said that “even if the city did assume control of the branch, the black citizens group would be dissatisfied because they want more than a pool and basketball. They want programs that go way beyond activities. We want it to stay part of the YMCA.”

Charles Brewer was the program director of the Sim Scott at the time.

“Officials to Study Sim Scott YMCA”

By George Hazard – Dispatch Staff Writer

08/23/85

One of the problems to keep running the Sim Scott YMCA is the downturn in participation or declining of membership to keep the program running properly. The Y board chairman Jim Woods said that the participation at that facility had especially declined after nearby Hunt School changed from a high school to a junior high school in 1970 and after the 1983 retirement of Roschell Lee, who was a devoted worker who did a fantastic job.

Appendix 2: Pictures

Image 1: Daniel Pratt, 1799-1873, Autauga County Heritage Museum.

Daniel Pratt

BIRTH: 20 Jul 1799

Temple, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA

DEATH: 13 May 1873 (aged 73)

Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, USA

BURIAL: Pratt Family Cemetery

Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, USA

MEMORIAL ID: 7302789

Prattville

BIRTH: 1828

New Hampshire, USA

DEATH: 23 Nov 1889 (aged 60–61)

Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, USA

BURIAL: Oak Hill Cemetery

Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, USA

PLOT: 907

MEMORIAL ID: 13448547

BIRTH: 20 May 1877

Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, USA

DEATH: 29 Mar 1960 (aged 82)

Mississippi, USA

BURIAL: Friendship Cemetery

Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, USA

PLOT Lot 437

MEMORIAL ID: 13374809

Pictures of the Sim Scott former Y.M.C.A.

References

Find a Grave. 2003. “Henry Pratt.” Last modified March 28, 2003. Accessed June 28, 2018. .

Find a Grave. 2006. “Henry Merrill Pratt.” Last modified February 17, 2006. Accessed July 1, 2018. .

Find a Grave. 2006. “Merrill Edward Pratt.” Last modified February 26, 2006. Accessed July 1, 2018. .

Find a Grave. 2010. “Lilla Pratt Rosamond.” Last modified January 15, 2010. Accessed July 2, 2018. .

Hazard, George. 1985. “Officials to Study Sim Scott YMCA.” Commercial Dispatch (Columbus, MS). August 23.

Lewis, Herbert J. 2007. “Daniel Pratt.” Encyclopedia of Alabama. Accessed June 30, 2018. Last modified June 30, 2015. .

Memorial Funeral. 2009. “Lilla Pratt Rosamond.” Last modified January 13, 2009. Accessed July 1, 2018. .

Rosamond, Bill. 2018. Interview by author. Columbus, MS.

Popernik, Joan. 1964. “Henry Pratt and the African American YMCA Branch.” Commercial Dispatch (Columbus, MS). November 1.

-----------------------

Image 0: Pratt Family Coat of Arms, Autauga County Heritage Museum

Image 3: Pratt Gin Company Factory, Autauga Country

Heritage Museum.

Image 2: Daniel Pratt Gin Company, 1898,

Autauga County Heritage Museum.

Image 4: Plaque on statue in honor of Daniel Pratt, Downtown Prattville, AL, image taken by author.

Image 7: Pratt Gin Company Factory, Autauga Country Heritage Museum.

Image 8: Original Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory, Downtown Prattville, AL, image taken by author.

Image 6: Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pratt’s Grave, Family Cemetery, Prattville, AL, image taken by author.

Image 4: Plaque on statue in honor of Daniel Pratt, Downtown Prattville, AL, image taken by author.

Image 9: Merrill Edward Pratt, 1828-1889, Autauga County Heritage Museum.

Image 10: Merrill E Pratt and his family in Prattville. The young Henry Merrill Pratt indicated by the red arrow, private collection of Bill Rosamond.

Image 12: Merrill Pratt and Julia Pratt, Autauga County Heritage Museum.

Image 11: Merrill E Pratt and his family in Prattville. The young Henry Merrill Pratt indicated by the red arrow, Autauga County Heritage Museum.

Image 13: Henry Merrill Pratt, Autauga County Heritage Museum.

Image 13: Henry Pratt (indicated by red arrow) with his football mates, private collection of Bill Rosamond.

Image 14: Henry Pratt w Henry Pratt posing for a picture before/after hunting. He loved outdoor sports and activities such as fishing and hunting.

Image 15: Henry Pratt giving a trophy to a track runner who ran from Columbus to Tupelo one year before his passing, October 30, 1959, private collection of Bill Rosamond.

Image 16: Henry Merrill Pratt’s grave, Family Cemetery, Prattville, AL, image taken by author.

Image 17: (above) Newspaper clipping about the African-American YMCA in Columbus, MS. image taken by author.

Image 18: (left) Newspaper clipping about the African-American YMCA in Columbus, MS. image taken by author.

Image 19: (below) Newspaper clipping about the African-American YMCA in Columbus, MS. image taken by author.

Image 21: Sim Scott Community Center, the former Sim Scott YMCA, Columbus, MS, image taken by author.

Image 20: Sign for the Sim Scott Community Center, the former Sim Scott YMCA, Columbus, MS, image taken by author.

Image 23: Sign for the Sim Scott Community Center, the former Sim Scott YMCA, Columbus, MS, image taken by author.

Image 22: Sim Scott Community Center, the former Sim Scott YMCA, Columbus, MS, image taken by author.

Image 25: Monument for African-Americans of Lowndes County, MS at the Sim Scott Community Center, Columbus, MS, image taken by author.

Image 24: Sim Scott Community Center Park Sign, the former Sim Scott YMCA, Columbus, MS, image taken by author.

Image 28: Garden behind Franklin Square (top left), image taken by author. Sidney Franklin (top right), first owner of Franklin Square, home of the late Henry Merrill Pratt, Columbus, MS, July 2018, private collection of Bill Rosamond. Sign in from of Franklin Square (bottom left), image taken by author. Bill Rosamond, great grandson of Sidney Franklin and Grandson of Henry Merrill Pratt, current own of Franklin Square (bottom right), image taken by author.

Image 27: Lilla Pratt Rosamond (left), Merrill Pratt Thomas, private collection of Bill Rosamond.

Image 26: Franklin Square, home of the late Henry Merrill Pratt, Columbus, MS, July 2018, image taken by author.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download