The Prentiss Club is available for purchase from the Historic Natchez Foundation. The building requires substantial investment and rehabilitation.

Built in 1905 in the Second Renaissance Revival Style, the Prentiss Club is one of the city's most architecturally and historically significant buildings. It was built for the city’s most prestigious men’s club with its founding members being almost equally divided between Jewish and gentile. The architect for the building was Francis J. MacDonnell of the New Orleans firm of Soule and MacDonnell. Throughout its life, the building has served a variety of uses. Built as a private club, it has been a restaurant, nightclub, event venue, Masonic lodge, and a luxurious private residence when interior designer and antiques dealer Buzz Harper lived in the building and decorated it in his signature ornate style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Considered a total loss after a 2018 fire by its insurers, the owners donated the 12,000 square foot building to the Historic Natchez Foundation. The Foundation rebuilt the roof, restored the exterior, and cleaned out and stabilized the interior of the building. It stands ready to be repurposed and would be an excellent candidate for historic tax credits. Federal and state tax credits can recoup 45% of the project cost and the Historic Natchez Foundation will complete the tax credit applications for the new owner.

Potential purchasers can contact the Historic Natchez Foundation at 601-442-2500 and hnf@natchez.org for more information and to schedule a tour. Real estate agents are welcome. Proposals for rehabilitation should include: a bid amount not less than $80,000; a proposed use for the property; proposed timeline for completing the rehabilitation; and proof of financial ability to complete the rehabilitation. The rehabilitation will be completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and the transfer of title will include a rehabilitation agreement between the new owner and the Historic Natchez Foundation that includes benchmarks for construction.

At a meeting on May 19, 1903, chaired by President Israel N. Moses, members of the Prentiss Club voted to build a new club house on the southeast corner of Jefferson and North Pearl Streets at an estimated cost of $25,000. The club then incorporated in June and sold stock to finance construction.

The Prentiss Club solicited architectural plans for its new headquarters and received as many as nine submissions before narrowing the choice to Francis J. MacDonnell (sometimes referenced as McDonald or MacDonald) of the New Orleans firm Soulé and MacDonnell. The firm chose to render the building in the Second Renaissance Revival style, which was popular for private men’s clubs in the Northeast and were still revising the plans as late as March 1904. The club finally awarded the construction contract on May 7 to the Natchez firm of Stietenroth (William) and Dowda (Charles J.) with a scheduled completion date of December 1, 1904.

Construction was completed in May 1905 and the Prentiss Club held a lavish ball on May 23 as a grand opening. The newspaper described the building in great detail. In the basement was a bowling alley, shooting range, and kitchen with a dumbwaiter to the upper stories. The main floor had a parlor, library, ladies parlor, office, and large billiard hall. On the second floor was the grand banquet hall; three small rooms, one each for cards, checkers, and chess; and the grandest ballroom in Natchez with an orchestra balcony and glazed doors opening onto a balcony and balconettes.

In 1928, the Prentiss Club sold its fine headquarters to a local Masonic lodge and disbanded. In 1973, Deposit Guaranty National Bank acquired the Prentiss Club from the Masonic lodge and soon targeted it for demolition. Local preservationists, who would later become staff and members of the newly organized Historic Natchez Foundation, launched a successful grass roots effort to save the building.

Considered a total loss by its insurers, the owners donated it to the Historic Natchez Foundation, which has stepped forward to restore the exterior of the building and to buy it more time. It has housed an exclusive club, a Masonic lodge, a restaurant, a bar, and special events venue. It will survive to contribute to the city’s economy through new uses, and it will have more stories to tell—stories that will reflect today’s inclusive Natchez and not the exclusivity of the past.

Because of its listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the Prentiss Club is eligible to receive historic tax credits for income producing rehabilitation projects. This joint state and federal tax program includes up to a 45% dollar-for-dollar reduction on income taxes.* Project guidelines include adhering to the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.

*The Historic Natchez Foundation will provide assistance in any projects pursuing historic tax credits.