Press Release:
Contact:
J. Scott Stephens
Planning & Development Director
o 334.595.0501
c 334.296-6240
November 3, 2023
In March of 2023, the U.S. Department of the Interior awarded the City of Prattville $72,541.00 through the Historic Preservation Fund Grant for research and survey of underrepresented communities and the preparation of at least one National Register nomination related to the survey.
The City of Prattville’s Planning and Development Department project team partnered with One Community United Outreach organization and Prattville’s First Missionary Baptist Church (FMBC) to explore FMBC’s eligibility for National Register inclusion as a historic locale, as it was utilized in 1967 for a civil rights demonstration led by Stokely Carmichael. Also, a survey was conducted of a minority-built and owned mid-20th century Ranch house neighborhood in Prattville near FMBC.
Additionally, two antebellum-era plantation sites located in Auburn and owned by Auburn University are in position to be re-submitted as National Register nominations. Sunny Slope and Pebble Hill hold significant ties to that period’s enslaved laborers as well as the large enslaved descendent community in the neighboring area.
The stakeholders’ efforts of identifying eligible areas that reflect rich African American history and completing the nomination process for inclusion on the Nation Register reflect unwavering support of inclusivity and working together to preserve and promote our historical assets. These efforts will keep telling the story of our communities and providing cultural infrastructure for the betterment of all citizens.
Work completed through this grant is supported in part by the Historic Preservation Fund of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
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