Boom to Crash 1920-1939

In 1923 Franklin Academy and the Presbyterian Church burnt.

In 1924 the Franklin Academy and the Presbyterian Church was rebuilt. Wallace Cole donated a new town clock for the church, which still runs today. It cost him $500.

In 1925, electrical service came to Prattsburgh.

In 1925 the Prattsburgh Milk Plant was built and Augustus Jeanroy was the first manager.

In 1936 there were plans to clear the “Big Swamp” and drain it of approximately 700 acres of timbered lowlands. This allowed onions, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes to be grown and shipped by rail.

In 1938 a second bandstand was built.

In 1939 many potato farmers came to Prattsburgh from Maine, Connecticut and Long Island. They brought with them changes in growing potatoes. Their crops were so good, they built cold starage warehouses with the storing capacity of 355,000 bushels with estimate value of tehse buildings around $152,000. They were able to grow beautiful crops until the invasion of the nematode in 1970(s).