In
1908, as Sallie Pratt's house was being completed a block from downtown Hemphill,
she "prayed a hedge" around the imposing structure and asked God to safeguard
her home from man's destruction -- much in the Biblical fashion of Job 1:10.
Today, more than a few Hemphill townspeople are convinced Sallie's prayers
95 years ago have protected her house from the wrecker's ball and will lead to
its eventual restoration.
Sallie's home was built for her by husband,
George Edward Pratt, who had followed his father's footsteps in the general mercantile
business at Hemphill and Bronson. The house was furnished by quality furniture
shipped to Hemphill. Sallie's bed was so elegant that it was reportedly used in
a scene from the film, "Gone With the Wind."
Sallie's religious faith
earned her a reputation as a healer and her skills were sought by people throughout
East Texas.
But as the Pratt descendants scattered, Sallie's house fell
into disrepair. When daughter Louise Pratt Neal died in 1993, repairs and maintenance
ended. The proud old house looked as if it might fall down. Turkey vultures perched
on its roof like sinister messengers of doom.
For a while, it appeared
the house was indeed destined for destruction, despite Sallie's prayers, but the
First Baptist Church -- where the Pratts had been members -- bought the home and
its land to expand the church.
When Hemphill historians created the Sabine
County Historical Foundation for the purpose of saving Sallie's home, the church
deeded the structure to the Foundation if it would be moved to another site. Ironically,
the new site was on land once owned by the Pratts.
Today,
Sallie's spirit is still at work.
When it appeared the Foundation could
not reach its goal of $150,000 to move the home to the new site, the National
Trust for Historic Preservation showed up unexpectedly with a loan of $50,000,
telling Foundation officials only that "you have friends in high places."
Austin attorney Larry McNeil, who grew up in East Texas, learned of the home's
plight on a visit to nearby San
Augustine. Explaining that the home "touched my heart," McNeil offered to
provide the Foundation with pro bono legal help. He also gave a personal gift.
An anonymous donor gave $20,000 for the restoration, soon contributed another
$5,000, and later gave $50,000 more -- all because she felt she "was led to give."
The Summerlee Foundation of Dallas showed up with a $25,000 grant.
Other
donors have given smaller amounts, artists have donated paintings and drawings
of the house to be sold for the restoration effort, and outsiders have popped
into Hemphill with unsolicited gifts.
Mary Ann McDaniel and Donna Alexander,
two of the restoration proponents, are convinced Sallie's spirit is directing
the Pratt house restoration and its eventual use as a community building and museum.
"I can't explain it, but from the very beginning, I have felt this strange conviction
to save this house," said Mary Ann.
Somewhere in Heaven, Sallie Pratt
must be smiling.
All
Things Historical
August
10, 2003 column
A syndicated column in over 40 East Texas newspapers
Published
with permission
Bob Bowman is the author of nearly 30 books on East Texas
history and folklore and a former president of the East Texas Historical Association
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