Résumé

Principal, Arthur B. Pracna, Mill Builder, Everett, WA, c. 1910. In 1910, Pracna had an office in Room #201 of the Powers Building in Everett. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Everett, Washington, City Directory, 1910, p. 334.)

Principal, Arthur B. Pracna, Architect, Seattle, WA, c. 1916-1929. Pracna had his office in Room #303 of the Post-Intelligencer Building from at least 1916 until 1918. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1916, p. 1276 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1918, p. 1312.) In 1925, Pracna leased office space in Room #612 of the Thompson Building in Seattle. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1925, p. 1149.) Four years later, he occupied Room #707 of the same building. (R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1929, p. 1482.)

Personal

Born in Minnesota, Arthur Pracna migrated west c. 1906 to work in the booming lumber business in the Pacific Northwest. Minnesota, too, had had a lucrative timber industry during the late 19th century, but large operators there were beginning to pull up stakes in the Midwest and move to the untapped forests of the Washington and Oregon. The Cloughs, settling in Everett, were others from MN that moved to WA at about this time to get in on the timber opportunities out west.

From at least 1916-1930, Pracna lived with his family in Seattle, WA, at 1623 10th Avenue West. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1916, p. 1276 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1929, p. 1482.) According to the 1920 US Census, four people lived in the Pracna House, including his wife, Belle, son, Frank, and Belle's 83-year-old mother, Mary Marzolf (born c. 1837 in Germany). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1927; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 144, accessed 10/03/2018.)

Frank, Sr., Belle and Frank, Jr., remained in the same house at 1623 10th Avenue West in 1930. According to the US Census of that year, the house was owned by the Pracnas, and had an estimated value of $7,000. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0078; FHL microfilm: 2342230, accessed 10/03/2018.)

Pracna passed away at age 70 in Seattle, WA. He was buried at the Wright Crematory and Columbarium in Seattle.

Parents

His father was Frank G. Pracna (born 06/10/1847 in Bohemia-d. 06/14/1926 in San Jose, CA), his mother, Rosa Libal (or Lebal, born c. 1853 in Bohemia-d. 08/13/1909 in Santa Clara, CA). Frank and Rosa had five children, Frank Godfrey Pracna, Jr. (born c. 1872 in IL–1938), Nora (perhaps named Julia) Pracna Hamilton (born c. 1876 in IL), Arthur, Edward Samuel Pracna (born c.1880 in MN–1931), and George P. Pracna (born c. 1874 in IL-died before 1926).

The Pracnas lived in IL before Arthur was born, and moved to MN, between 1876 and 1878. In 1880, Frank, Sr., was a saloon keeper in Rushford, MN, while Rosa managed the family and household.

Spouse

He married Marie Belle Marzolf (born c. 1880 in Canada).She wed Arthur Pracna on 06/28/1912 in Snohomish, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Reference Number: nwsnomc5600, accessed 10/03/2018.)

Children

She and Arthur had one son, Frank Henry Pracna (born 04/19/1913 in Vancouver, BC, Canada-d. 05/01/1998.) Frank attended Queen Anne High School c. 1930.

• Rushford, MN (Architect's Birth)
  Rushford, MN

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• Seattle, WA (Architect's Death)
  Seattle, WA

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