Talk:Prescott Farm

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[edit] Compiling information

I don't think the current text is factual. Here's what I'm getting via regular internet research.

Newport is located in Rhode Island, for the curious.

[1]

• New England buildings circa the 18th century
• 40 acres large
• Originally owned by Doris Duke
• Owned by the Newport Restoration Foundation
• Open to public and showcases buildings
• Was in danger of demolition
• Contains the Overing House (1730) and Potter House (c.1790) which are currently privately leased

[2]

• Original farm was called "Overing and Page Farm" in 1650 founded by Thomas and Edmund Nichols
• Restored in 1973
• 1654 the brothers moved to Newport (huh? then what's the Overing and Page Farm)?
• --More information about the brothers and their family--

[3]

• URI Master Gardener project simulates historical vegetable garden. Name of gardener is Susan Estabrook
  • No tomatoes! No peppers either.

[4]

• Address is: 2009 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842-7963
• Off route 114

[5]

• Newport seems to be known for their colonial buildings

[6]

• Aquidneck Island farm, it seems

[7]

• "4-story windmill (ca. 1811), British General Prescott’s Guard House, and a ca. 1715 country store."

— Ambush Commander^(Talk) 02:35, August 16, 2005 (UTC)

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More info! I missed two pages on the Newport Restoration Website:

[8]

• Description "gentle sloping land, good soil, fields lined with stonewalls, and areas of scrub trees and brush"
• Brook and two small ponds provide water.
• Has original structures and structures that were moved there
• Central is Overing Farmhouse
• Burial ground is resting place for Overing family
• Took part in American Revolution
  • General Prescott with 4000 men decides to stay here rather than Bannister House in Newport (Prescott was not well liked)
  • On the night of July 10, 1777, American Colonel William Barton led about thirty men on longboats from Tiverton to the brook's outlet.
  • They successfully abduct General Prescott and his aide. (one of the most successful raids)

[9] Wow, we could write sections on this! Eleven buildings, five on original foundations (so the other six where moved). Overing House is oldest.

• Sherman Mill (Windmill)
  • Smock style mill
  • Built in 1812
  • Four vanes for sails and two sets of stones
  • Restored in 1971, additional work in 1980s, new shaft in 1998
  • Built in Warren, Rhode Island, connected to a distillery
  • Then moved to Fall River, Massachusetts
  • Early 1870s, Robert Sherman moves it to Quaker Hill in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
  • Then moved to Lehigh Hill in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
  • Early 20th century becomes unoperational, begins detirorating
  • 1969, Newport Restoration Foundation buys it and moves it to Prescott
• Guard House (referred to as General Prescott's Guard house)
  • Small gambrel ("a gable roof with two slopes on each side and the lower slope being steeper") roofed building on edge of pond.
  • Prescott quartered his guards here, supposedly (oral tradition)
  • 1840, moved to rear of main house to replace an burned down ell
  • 1971, Newport Restoration Foundation moves it again, and shows "Pilgrim furniture" and "18th century frame on the unfinished second floor"
• Hicks House (Country Store)
  • c. 1715
  • Moved from Bristol Ferry Road in Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1970
  • Supposedly used by ferrymen between Portsmouth and Bristol, Rhode Island at Mt. Hope Bridge.
  • Simple, two rooms
  • Currently visitor center and displays oddments
• Sweet House
  • c. 1730
  • 1 1/2 story, broad gable-roofed
  • Moved from Middletown in 1970
  • Most woodwork preserved, displays rural island architecture
• Overing House
  • c. 1730
  • 3/4 house plan - Formal 17th century builders like symmetry with equal windows on both side but the Overing house is not balanced, more like 2nd period (1725-1750) house, with the scale inside out like Hunter House in Newport, Rhode Island.
  • "The main features are gambrel roof, interior chimney, high ceilings, excellent woodwork, and a comfortable stair hall."
  • In contrast to the Sweet House.
• Potter House
  • c. 1790
  • Oneco, Connecticut in late 18th century
  • Urgently moved to Prescott Farm because after being dismantled, it was deteriorating due to bad storage
  • Rebuilt out of context in 1984-85
  • Portrays Connecticut architecture like projecting gables
  • Frame and woodwork where intact

— Ambush Commander^(Talk) 15:56, August 16, 2005 (UTC)

Hi. Sorry I messed up. Thanks to everyone for being so nice! --Banana04131 17:42, 16 August 2005 (UTC)

It's okay. If you're looking for something to do, you can try adding in the new material to the encyclopedia article, and I can tell you how it went. — Ambush Commander^(Talk) 17:55, August 16, 2005 (UTC)