BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS OWNER
Top Photo: Tommy Newton talks about Daniel Pratt’s faithfulness as Mayor Bill Gillespie and Kea Calame, Sr. Vice President of Asset Management for Envolve Communities, look on. All three spoke during the ceremony prior to officially breaking ground. Photo by Sarah Stephens
The official groundbreaking for The Mill Apartments of Prattville took place Friday with over 100 people in attendance. Officials, partners, and members of the community marked the importance of the Daniel Pratt Gin Factory Complex beginning a new, residential journey.
“We are so excited to be here today. That is an understatement,” Kea Calame, Sr. Vice President of Asset Management for Envolve Communities, said in her address to attendees. The massive preservation and redevelopment of Daniel Pratt’s buildings has already begun. Officials said it is hoped the project will be complete by the middle of 2023.
Envolve Communities is the developer behind the apartments. The work is being done by Whaley Construction, and the architect firm is Chambless King.
“When we first began this journey with the HPRA (Historic Preservation Redevelopment Authority), we knew this project was special. It turned out to be beyond special. The passion of this community for this project just blew us away,” she said.
Calame said that preserving the buildings of Pratt’s complex is so important. The property directly represents an industry that meant so much to so many over the years, impacted countless lives, and provided for families—making preservation that much more critical.
“This project is not just another apartment complex, but very special,” Calame said.
Calame said when this journey began seven years ago, everyone knew there would be challenges in restoring and reconstructing buildings that date back to the mid-1800s.
“But the most special thing about this piece of real estate also turned out to be the most complicated. Dealing with environmental hurdles proved to be brutal. But one thing remained with all team members involved – perseverance. And here we are today.”
Calame said, “We have been so blessed to be part of this journey to bring this building and this site back to life.”
She praised many organizations and individuals for their assistance throughout the process.
“Our partners, the HPRA and the City of Prattville, thank you for trusting us with this special site and sticking with us when challenges arose. It is a pleasure to be your partner and your teammate.”
Calame said she is not usually without words, but she couldn’t say enough about former HPRA Chairman Tom Newton and current Chairman Matt Holtzcher.
“They have sat in almost every meeting and showed a love for this site like no other. The love you have for these buildings and your community is absolutely amazing.”
To the city of Prattville, she said Mayor Gillespie and everyone at the city has been right by their side and ready to assist when every issue arose.
Calame praised the construction team, saying, “Who knew when we started this endeavor that we would have to endure a pandemic and a construction project unlike anything we have ever seen?”
As a “real estate junkie,” she said great projects like this are few and far between. “There are many days and nights I would drive around or stay awake wondering how we would face the next challenge. But behind the scenes, there were so many involved—and without them, we would not be standing here today.”
Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie said, “Wow! What a day. The transformation that has (already) happened is just absolutely unbelievable. It has been a long time coming. Daniel Pratt rests in the Daniel Pratt Cemetery (on the hill) above us. As he looks down, I think he would be very proud of everything that has happened here. Daniel Pratt could have imagined this property in so many ways. I don’t know if it ever would have been this residential complex that we are talking about today. Lord, did he set the stage for us all! He brought so much to this community. He was a Godly man, a man of invention. He was also a man who accepted change. That change is something that Prattville has accepted in so many different ways. Some of the challenges we have had, I think, are preconditions to get us where we are here today.”
Gillespie said the buildings within the complex have significant historical value—not only to Prattville, but to the entire state. Prattville was the birthplace of industry in Alabama and a huge force across the country.
“I have heard so many here talk about the loss we had in the Daniel Pratt homesite. I really wish we had not, but the value of this building and construction might not have been as valuable.”
As a native of Prattville, Gillespie said that growing up, the Mill was a part of everyday life.
“I remember the whistle so many times growing up. This area… it has changed so much. This type of project takes partnership, dedication, and unwavering commitment. Hurdle after hurdle has not been without blood, sweat, and tears.”
Gillespie thanked many, and in particular, Tommy Newton’s diligence and hard work on this project.
“This is Prattville,” Gillespie said raising his hands toward the buildings. “If we had lost this, it would have been something I don’t know we could have ever gotten over. We need to thank HPC. At one time, the previous owners were looking to salvage the bricks and the wood.”
Through the work of many individuals and agencies, that did not come to pass.
Tommy Newton then shared stories and history concerning Daniel Pratt, his Gin Company, and Continental Eagle.
“In the late 1950s, Continental was about to close. They had an office in Birmingham and an office here. There were people like Harvey Clark and others that got together and convinced them to close the Birmingham operation. In order to do that, they had to move production down here. They had to take the Pratt house, and it was a lot of angst and anger. In the end, as hard as it is to say, it was the right thing to do. Because we are still here and these buildings are still here.”
Newton said trying to thank everyone who has played a role would probably be impossible.
He thanked Chief Thompson with the Prattville Police and Chief Brown with the Prattville Fire Department and their employees.
“They helped us keep maybe thousands, but certainly hundreds of [unauthorized individuals off the premises]… thank you.”
“Who would have thought we would have to build a levee? The flood map changed right in the middle (of this project), and we had to build a levee. Prices went up on materials, buildings deteriorated, but no one ran away from the project.”
Newton recognized former Continental employee and Prattville historian Tommy Brown, saying he has a passion for the buildings. “I don’t think it would have been saved had it not been for Tommy working in the background quietly. I call it leadership from behind.”
Don Kuykendall, who has passed away, took thousands of pictures over the years and did tours through the buildings.
Newton finished with a poignant story of Prattville’s founder, Daniel Pratt.
“We all know pretty much the history of these buildings. But the interesting thing I found is Daniel Pratt. As a Presbyterian, we believe, as most of you do, in the providence of God. So here God taps this young man in New Hampshire. He brings him to Georgia to learn how to build. Then brings him here, up Autauga Creek. In 1835, (Daniel Pratt) bought about 2,000 acres. The first thing he did was not build a factory. The first thing he did was build churches.
“Not just one church. We are standing on the site right here of the Methodist Church, the same church that is (today) right up the street two blocks away. It was the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Daniel Pratt was a Methodist. But he didn’t stop there. He put the Presbyterian church here. He built the Baptist Church which was on what is Tom Miller’s property today. He built two other churches. He knew that a new town was going to need and would not survive without the faith of its citizens.
“He could have said ‘This is my land, my factory, my church, and this is where you are going to go.’ He didn’t do that. He gave everybody freedom of choice. We are standing on the shoulders of Daniel Pratt. It is a remarkable thing. The early founders were men of great faith. (Daniel Pratt) was a Sunday School teacher. If someone did not show up to work, even with his busy schedule, Daniel Pratt would leave his office to see if there was a problem.”
Newton ended his talk with a prayer, inviting the attendees to join in.
For more about The Mill project, visit their new website at themillatprattville.com.
From the Website: The 127 units of modern, urban living include approximately 60 unique floor plans consisting of 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom, and 3-Bedroom apartments. These are housed within the former Daniel Pratt cotton gin complex (1848), consisting of five historic masonry structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the original building architectural components have been incorporated into the loft designs including exposed brick walls, wooden support beams, and oversized windows that maximize the one-of-a-kind views and natural light.
See many more photos below of the official groundbreaking ceremony.
