From: Ann Boutwell
The Autauga County Heritage Association (ACHA) is pleased to announce that the Daniel Pratt/Continental Gin Company Preservation Project (DP/CGC) has been honored by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission with an Alabama Bicentennial Legacy Award.
The honor recognizes outstanding projects by communities and organizations that were part of the commemoration of the statehood anniversary. The DP/CGC Preservation Project is a volunteer effort of the ACHA to preserve the significantly historical archival collection from the original Daniel Pratt Gin Company and its successor company, Continental Gin Company. The collection, made up of engineering drawings, photos, ledgers, patents, machinery manuals, advertising, artwork, export files, contracts, maps and deeds, as well as machinery, signage, and patterns made by the company, covers nearly 180 years of history. Daniel Pratt founded the company in 1833 which became the world’s largest cotton gin factory shipping cotton gins internationally, wherever cotton was grown.
The group of volunteers has worked for over four years cleaning, organizing and cataloging the collection into museum software and the work continues. In the future, ACHA hopes to make the collection accessible to the public by establishing an interpretive center to tell the story of Daniel Pratt and Southern Industrialization.
“Communities invested time and resources in an amazing range of projects,” noted Alabama Bicentennial Commission chairman Sen. Arthur Orr. “Our successful bicentennial celebration owes a real debt to their efforts, especially for projects that will be important to the state, its communities and its citizens for a long time to come.”
Awards were given in two categories: commendations for outstanding bicentennial programs and projects and legacy awards for projects of exceptional and lasting impact. Forty-one commendations and 21 legacy awards were given, representing more than 40 municipalities in 35 counties.
Projects ranged from celebration events to city murals to preservation and restoration of sites and structures. Many projects were locally focused while some were regional or even statewide. Many are especially notable for their long-term relevance and impact.
The awards represented every region of the state and ranged from small towns to major metros, including Birmingham, Montgomery and Huntsville.
Each winning project will receive a bronze plaque noting the name of the project and its award. The plaques will be a public reminder of the achievements of Alabama communities during the bicentennial commemoration.
For more information about the Alabama Bicentennial Legacy Awards and the bicentennial commemoration, visit www.ALABAMA200.org or call 334-242-4537.
