BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top photo: Director Jordan Scott stands beside a beautiful standing music box that is part of the museum’s treasures.
For Jordan Scott, of Deatsville, being named the director of the Prattaugan Museum in Prattville is a dream come true.
As a child, Jordan was surrounded by history, while growing up on multi-generational family land. She studied at Huntingdon College, primarily English literature and obtained a minor in history.
It was another job opportunity that landed her the role at the Prattaugan Museum, which became official about three weeks ago.
She said she originally applied for the director of the Buena Vista mansion in Prattville and through that she learned of the position open at the museum. For her, it was a perfect fit.
She has spent the past few weeks immersing herself in history, obtaining a lot of knowledge from the many volunteers at the museum as well as visitors.
“(The volunteers and visitors) have been absolutely wonderful, and they have so much knowledge to share,” Jordan said. She hopes to focus on that knowledge in the future, perhaps sharing stories from both the volunteers and other area residents.
The ideas are swirling in her head, she admits. She wants to put the museum in the center of the community, increase visitors, and be an easily recognizable part of the historic downtown Prattville community.
A bright idea Jordan has recently launched is the Daniel Pratt Rock Scavenger Hunt, which began last week. The first winner has already been named, but there are many more decorative rocks to be hidden. New clues are first posted on the Prattaugan Museum Facebook page, so give them a like or follow to get the clues! Very nice prizes are available to the hunters who find the treasure. But an added bonus is searchers must know (or learn) a little history to correctly deduce where the rocks may be hidden.
The idea for the scavenger hunt is special to Jordan, as it was a big part of her birthday celebrations as a child. Her mother would create scavenger hunts for her children, which would force them to think logically about the clues to obtain their presents.
It is wildly popular downtown already. In fact, as I was about to walk into the museum, I noticed groups of people scanning the ground throughout downtown and was approached by one of them asking if I had any idea about the latest clue. That is good stuff.
Jordan walked me through the building touching on some of her favorite pieces so far. She said her favorite is an old doll she has named Christine that sits on a couch in one of the rooms downstairs.
There is also a very large standing music box. Many portraits of Daniel Pratt and his family can be found, as well as extensive information about the founding of Prattville.
I have visited the museum in the past, but it was refreshing to see so many items that were new to me. Upstairs is off limits to the general public, but it houses many wonderful pieces of history. Those pieces are exchanged and moved on a regular basis to keep the displays fresh.
If you are interested in genealogy, the Prattaugan Museum is a great place to immerse yourself, Jordan said. There are groups that regularly visit the archives of the museum, and she wants to continue encouraging those visits.
Hours for the Museum are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Saturdays from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no admission for the museum.
The museum is located at 102 East Main Street in Prattville.
Interesting things are not just within the walls, but also on the grounds. The artesian well at the back of the property has daily and frequent visitors, who fill up water jugs from the free-flowing water.
There is also a grape arbor, which contains original vines found on the grounds of Daniel Pratt’s former home that once sat on the hill overlooking his business creations.
From her office window, Jordan loves to watch the activity of downtown, and reflect on what Daniel Pratt would think of his city today. As history continues to be made, she wants to continue to collect the memories and the pieces that are special to the community and the county as a whole.
The museum building is itself historical, dating back to the 1848. It was donated to the City of Prattville in 1995. Visit the museum for more history on that, but it is quite interesting.
In fact, I can close this with a simple suggestion. Visit the museum. Even if you have been before, chances are excellent you will see something new, or hear a story from one of the volunteers that is new to you. Most importantly, ask for Jordan and let her passion for history invigorate you to increase your knowledge as well.
“I meet a lot of people that are from this area, but never knew about the museum,” Jordan said. She has a laser focus to correct that by getting out the word on the amazing treasures to be found within the walls.
More about the Museum:
Also known as the McWilliams-Smith-Rice House, the original home was built in 1848.
In 1995 Charles Rice and Mary Wood Rice Waite donated the home to the city to be operated as a museum by the Autauga County Heritage Association. The home is classified as a one-and-a-half story Greek revival style home.
The museum contains a variety of artifacts related to the history of Autauga County – a county older than the state.
It was the first meeting place for the formation of the Prattville Dragoons unit in 1861 at the beginning of the War Between the States.
The museum is available for tours and field trips!
For more information about the museum, you can visit the website at www.autaugahistory.org and on social media.
Facebook pages: Autauga County Heritage Association, Prattaugan Museum and Pratt History
Instagram: @autaugahistory
@prattauganmuseum
You Tube: Autauga County Heritage Association.
