Addie McCluskey
Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville City Council voted to postpone the naming of 124 West Main Street and the adjacent outdoor venue after citizens raised concerns during the council’s meeting, Oct. 7, 2025, about the history of Esther Pratt.
On Oct. 1, 2025, the City of Prattville announced the naming of the former Hancock Whitney Bank building as “Esther’s” and its adjacent outdoor venue as “The Lyric at Esther’s” to honor Esther Pratt (1803-1875), who was the wife and partner of founder Daniel Pratt.
“Naming it after Esther Pratt is an insult to a particular group of people because she was a slave owner,” said Ell White II, a Prattville resident. “I hope y’all vote no and change it to a name that we will be proud to use here in Prattville.”
After citizens’ comments regarding the council’s agenda, Mayor Bill Gillespie approached the podium for his report. In the report, he explained that council approval for naming a city facility is a traditional formality and not a legal requirement, as it is broadly determined by state statute. He also said he did not intend to bypass any processes or the council’s authority, acknowledging that a proper naming process is needed in Prattville.
“While we cannot change the past and we should not forget the past, we just need to remember that we cannot use today’s values to judge someone else,” said Gillespie. “There’s been a lot of things that Esther Pratt has done for this community, and I hope that we can all understand and realize that and be able to enjoy this area.”
Gillespie urged councilors to approve the names of each location and reminded everyone to save the date for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Lyric at Esther’s on Friday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m.
When it was time to vote on Resolutions 10 and 11 regarding the names of 124 W. Main Street and its adjacent outdoor venue, District 2 Councilor Marcus Jackson made a motion to hold the votes until the first council meeting in November, allowing citizens and councilors time to provide additional input on the names.
“The naming of public facilities is not a mere formality,” said Jackson. “It is a meaningful act that reflects the shared identities, values, and history of our community.”
District 6 Councilor Robert Strichik was absent from the meeting. District 1 Councilor Russ Sanders voted against Jackson’s motion to hold Resolution 10 but voted in favor of holding Resolution 11.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, the Prattville City Council will once again vote on the naming of each location.
For more information, visit https://prattvilleal.gov/city-council/.
