About Us

Prescott Farm has been owned by the Prescott family for over 200 years.  The farm was established by Colonel Dudley Prescott of the 10th Regiment New Hampshire Militia.  Colonel Prescott served in the Revolutionary War at the age of 19 and due to his war service was able to acquire land grants in 1796 and 1797.  Prescott Farm, originally comprised of 700 acres, was bounded on one side by Paugus Bay and included three small islands, one of which is known today as Christmas Island. 

In 1804, Colonel Prescott gave the farm to his son Horatio Gates Prescott, who in turn sold it to his first cousin, Samuel Washington Prescott of Gilford, NH.  Samuel Prescott’s son and namesake built the current farmhouse and barn in the 1880′s.  Samuel Washington Prescott, Jr. was not only a farmer, but was known locally as a master builder and engineer.  He helped design many farmhouses and barns in the surrounding villages and was the engineer in charge of building the first iron bridge across the Weirs Channel in Laconia.

Eventually Samuel Washington Prescott, Jr.’s four sons split the property among themselves and ran the working part of the farm as Prescott Farm Company which they incorporated in 1916.  The youngest son, Samuel Jenness Prescott, a successful building contractor in Washington, D.C., was elected president of the Company and in 1925 he bought the homestead and surrounding 160 acres from the Company.  He gave this property to his daughter, Helen Prescott Pardoe and it is her son and grandchildren that are the current owners.   Prescott Farm ceased to be an active farm in the 1950’s.

In 1997, the Pardoe family established a private operating foundation/not-for-profit organization, Prescott Conservancy, Inc. (PCI) and gifted 160 acres of farmland to it.  The following year, PCI entered into a management partnership with the NH Audubon Society to offer environmental education programs on the property and in 2005, built the energy-efficient Samuel P. Pardoe Building for classroom and office space.  On April 1, 2009 PCI, began operating the Center independently as Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (PFEEC). 

PFEEC offers environmental education for all ages throughout the year including  WildQuest camps, public programs, field trips, and long-term partnerships with local elementary schools. The farm is designated as an official New Hampshire Wildlife Viewing Area and offers  hiking on more than three miles of woodland, pond and field trails.  Visitors can also explore the three-story historic barn, beautiful heritage flower and vegetable gardens, and an old-fashioned maple sugar operation (during the month of March).  PFEEC  is supported by grants from the Samuel P. Pardoe Foundation (established in 1989 by Helen Pardoe’s son Samuel), program fees, memberships, and donations.