C. F. Nelson Pratt
Encyclopedia
Charles Forest Nelson Pratt (February 4, 1891 – November 5, 1968) was a Republican
politician from Saugus, Massachusetts
.
. A graduate of Saugus High School
, Northeastern University, and Boston University School of Law
, During World War I
he was a conscientious objector
and was working at the A. E. Little shoe company. Pratt was elected to the Saugus School Board in 1916. Three years later he was voted to the Board of Selectmen where he would later serve as chairman.
In 1925, he made headlines for his plan to arm 100 hand-picked citizens in order to deter bandits from operating in Saugus.
From 1927-1935, Pratt was a member the Massachusetts House of Representatives
. Despite being a Republican, he supported president Franklin D. Roosevelt
's New Deal
and represented the National Shoe Workers during their 1933 strike. He was a member of the Banks and Banking and Counties commissions.
During Pratt's tenure in the Massachusetts House, each district was representatived by the top three vote-getters in the general election. His co-representatives were Tony A. Garofano (1927-35), Fred A. Hutchinson (1927-33), James E. McElroy (1933-35)
After his career in the state legislature, Pratt was as a member of the Saugus Board of Selectmen and Essex County
Commissioner. He would be the last Republican to served as County Commissioner until Kevin Leach in 1991.
Pratt ran three times for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district
seat. He lost the nomination in 1937 and the general election in 1936 and 1941. He also lost the nomination for the 6th congressional district
seat to William H. Bates
in 1950.
Pratt was a member of the Freemasons
and the Odd Fellows
.
He died on November 5, 1968 in Saugus, Massachusetts
.
and Route 1
was dedicated the C. F. Nelson Pratt intersection in his memory. The intersection has since been replaced by an overpass also dedicated to Pratt.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
.
Biography
He was born on February 4, 1891 in Saugus, MassachusettsSaugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
. A graduate of Saugus High School
Saugus High School (Massachusetts)
Saugus High School is an American public secondary school located in Saugus, Massachusetts.-Facilities:The current Saugus High campus opened in September 1955. The single-story structure includes a cafeteria, auditorium, offices, classrooms, and a gymnasium....
, Northeastern University, and Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
, During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
and was working at the A. E. Little shoe company. Pratt was elected to the Saugus School Board in 1916. Three years later he was voted to the Board of Selectmen where he would later serve as chairman.
In 1925, he made headlines for his plan to arm 100 hand-picked citizens in order to deter bandits from operating in Saugus.
From 1927-1935, Pratt was a member the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
. Despite being a Republican, he supported president Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
and represented the National Shoe Workers during their 1933 strike. He was a member of the Banks and Banking and Counties commissions.
During Pratt's tenure in the Massachusetts House, each district was representatived by the top three vote-getters in the general election. His co-representatives were Tony A. Garofano (1927-35), Fred A. Hutchinson (1927-33), James E. McElroy (1933-35)
After his career in the state legislature, Pratt was as a member of the Saugus Board of Selectmen and Essex County
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
Commissioner. He would be the last Republican to served as County Commissioner until Kevin Leach in 1991.
Pratt ran three times for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district
Massachusetts's 7th congressional district
Massachusetts's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in eastern Massachusetts, including several suburbs north and west of Boston. It is currently represented by Edward J...
seat. He lost the nomination in 1937 and the general election in 1936 and 1941. He also lost the nomination for the 6th congressional district
Massachusetts's 6th congressional district
Massachusetts's 6th congressional district is in northeastern Massachusetts. It contains most of Essex County, including the North Shore and Cape Ann. It is currently represented by John F...
seat to William H. Bates
William H. Bates
For William Horatio Bates, the alternative eye therapist, see William Bates . For the United States Navy submarine, see .William Henry Bates was a member of the United States House of Representatives notable for his staunch support of the United States Navy.Born in Salem, Massachusetts, he...
in 1950.
Pratt was a member of the Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and the Odd Fellows
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows , also known as the Three Link Fraternity, is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were...
.
He died on November 5, 1968 in Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
.
Legacy
On June 16, 1961, the intersection of the Lynn Fells ParkwayLynn Fells Parkway
Lynn Fells Parkway is a DCR parkway running from the end of Fellsway East in Stoneham, Massachusetts, USA through Melrose and ending in Saugus at US Route 1...
and Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in Massachusetts
In the U.S. state of Massachusetts, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway through Boston. The portion of US 1 south of Boston is also known as the Boston-Providence Turnpike, and portions north of the city are known as the Northeast Expressway and the Newburyport Turnpike.-Route...
was dedicated the C. F. Nelson Pratt intersection in his memory. The intersection has since been replaced by an overpass also dedicated to Pratt.