Pratt Institute - Prattonia Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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no prototype. Mr. Pratt’s project was ridiculed by his friends who tried to dissuade him, but his purpose was inflexible, and so, on October 17, 1887 (it was hoped to open on Mr. Pratt’s birthday, Oct. 2), Pratt Institute opened its doors with a Drawing Class of twelve students. Yet Mr. Pratt’s benefactions were not nar- rowed to the single object of his chief aim. In addition to his generous bestowals on religious and educational institutions here and elsewhere, his altruism found concrete expression in the building of the Astral Apartments which were opened in 1888 in Greenpoint near his refinery, inspired by the George Peabody homes for working people in London. On October 2, 1889, (Founder’s Day) The Thrift came into being in a tiny brick structure to the north of the Main Building, to inculcate the habit of saving and to encourage the possession of homes through wise lending—an enterprise which has led thousands into ways of happiness and security. Adelphi Academy, which had been a private school taking its name from the street of its first location, was equipped with a new building

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impetus, and, in the course of events, Charles Pratt Co. made known “Pratt’s Astral Oil” with the reassuring slogan and guaranty “It will not explode.” In the quickly succeeding era of assured wealth and prosperity, Charles Pratt was never unmindful of the hardships and sacrifices which had been his early portion, and in planning his benefactions it was natural that he should apply his fortune to “helping the other fellow.” He visualized a school which should teach me- chanic trades and the useful arts to those who were earnest of purpose, but of limited means, a school which should meet the needs of his fellow-men as he, himself, had met and over- come them. Mr. Pratt had learned that educa- tion in its deepest sense meant experience. He had abounding faith in young people, and de- sired to give them experience in doing things leading to a life-work through a school for occupational training. And thus Pratt Institute shaped itself in the imagination of Charles Pratt. It was the child of his brain, following no precedent, imitating

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as a gift of Charles Pratt in 1889. The stately edifice of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in the immediate vicinity was largely made possible by Mr. Pratt’s liberality in 1886, the year before the Institute began. These conspicuous neighborhood manifesta- tions of Mr. Pratt’s concern for the welfare of his fellow citizens were indicative of his breadth of view in philanthropy. But his heart was cen- tered upon his cherished conception of a new type of school which should do for the youth of tomorrow what had been denied his own youth of yesterday.