Prattville asks residents to weigh in on naming 124 West Main Esther's

Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. announced in an Oct. 1 news release that the renovated former Whitney Bank building at 124 West Main Street would be named “Esther’s” and the adjacent outdoor venue “The Lyric at Esther’s,” but the Prattville City Council voted Oct. 7 to hold the naming resolutions until Nov. 4 after weeks of public comment.

The city purchased the downtown property in 2021 for about $1.3 million; Montgomery Advertiser coverage and the city release described plans to convert the building into a multi-business incubator and “place of opportunity,” with the Lyric at Esther’s hosting performances and events to revive the downtown Lyric Theatre tradition where entertainers such as Hank Williams once performed. Mayor Gillespie framed the move as honoring local history: “Esther Ticknor Pratt’s story is one of quiet power and profound impact, and the legacy of the Lyric Theatre represents the heartbeat of our community’s cultural history. By naming this building and outdoor venue in her honor and in tribute to the Lyric, we recognize the enduring contributions of both Esther and our city’s artistic past.”

Public commenters and several councilors pushed back on the mayor’s unilateral announcement, telling the council they felt excluded from the process and concerned about historical context. Reverend Dr. L. White urged elected officials to “look at the whole community” and not to “just look at parts of the community,” saying the proposed selection had “reopened old wounds for some residents.” At the Oct. 7 meeting Councilor Jackson successfully moved to postpone both naming items to the Nov. 4 meeting to allow broader input.

When the council reconsidered the matter, reporting indicates the board voted Nov. 4 against using the names Gillespie’s office had put in place. The dispute over who holds naming power continued: on Dec. 2 the Prattville City Council passed an ordinance spelling out that naming and renaming municipally owned property requires council approval and giving the council authority to name city-owned buildings. The ordinance included an amendment that grandfathered some existing local names — including The Grove, North Highland Park, and Newton Park — but explicitly exempted 124 W. Main St. from grandfathering.

City officials have since moved into active outreach. Council President Michael Whaley told reporters he “expects the council to take up the matter in the future,” and “he also said he anticipated opening an online nomination process for Prattville citizens to suggest names for the building and venue.” The City of Prattville has solicited input via Instagram and the Special Events and administration team is leading local engagement on next steps.

Sources list an official dedication set for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in the mayor’s release, though the council’s Oct. 7 hold and subsequent Nov. 4 vote leave unresolved whether any ceremony constituted a final legal naming. One syndicated account rendered Esther’s middle name as “Tichnor,” while the city release and Montgomery Advertiser use the spelling “Ticknor” and list her dates as 1803–1875. With the Dec. 2 ordinance now vesting naming authority in the council and 124 W. Main St. expressly excluded from grandfathering, the final name remains subject to a council resolution after the public input process concludes.