Talk:Prescott Farm

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.

• 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

• 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--

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

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

• Newport seems to be known for their colonial buildings

• Aquidneck Island farm, it seems

• "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:

• 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)

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)