Margaret Arline Webb Pratt (1882–1966)

Follow the purple arrows on the signs as you walk

Margaret Arline Webb Pratt lived here in later life with her daughter, Edwina Pratt.

Everyone called her by her initials, M.A.W.—MAW Pratt.  It’s been said that she had her hand on the pulse of her community.  She was president of the Red Cross during World War I and the ensuing Spanish flu pandemic and played leadership roles at Massillon Public Library, Massillon Museum, St. Timothy’s Church, and local charitable institutions.

She is best remembered for her actions as president of Massillon’s Daughters of the American Revolution.  In 1930, she and 25 members of her organization embarked on a six-week cruise to Europe.  When they returned to New York’s harbor, it was dark, and Mrs. Pratt noticed the Statue of Liberty was barely visible as they sailed by.  She called a meeting of the DAR and the ship’s captain.  They resolved that the statue should be illuminated and recorded that in the ship’s log.  When she returned to Massillon, MAW Pratt worked with Massillon’s power company to initiate the lighting of Lady Liberty.

Posthumously, MAW Pratt was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.

Directions:Continue walking south, toward downtown, on historic Fourth Street, one block.  Cross Chestnut Street and stop on the opposite corner.  Turn to look diagonally across the intersection at the old-English style residence.