Hard to believe it's been two weeks since April vacation. I took a mini field trip to Aquidneck Island to check out some local historical sites.
Prescott Farm is maintained by the Newport Historical Society and consists of several buildings saved from demolition that were moved to the site and preserved, including the landmark windmill.
The one building original to the farm, the Nichols-Overing House, is a private residence so the picture at top was taken from afar. This is the house that British General Richard Prescott used as one of his headquarters, and from which he was captured by RI Patriots led by William Barton in 1777. I'm not sure why the farm was renamed after the 'bad guy'.
From there I went to another part of the island to see the memorial to the remarkable Anne Hutchinson, founder of Portsmouth RI. I recently finished a biography about this woman who refused to back down or remain silent about her beliefs. Her friend and fellow exile Mary Dyer is also commemorated.
A plaque inscribed with the Portsmouth Compact is also in the little Founders Brook Park. It was the first New World document to "establish a Colony independent of every other... and the organization of a regular government was their initial step. That their object was to lay the foundation of a Christian state, where all who bore the name might worship God according to the dictates of conscience, untrammelled by written articles of faith, and unawed by the civil power, is proved by their declarations and by their subsequent conduct." (Samuel Arnold) Like their contemporary Roger Williams, though they considered their religion the be all and end all, they believed all people should be allowed to worship, or not, as they saw fit.
I then enjoyed lunch at Evelyn's Drive-In on Nanaquaket Pond. I've always wanted to stop here but only was in the neighborhood when stuffed from dinner at my sister's. I love a good clam shack.
I love a good clam shack. Also, a good clam cake shack.
Posted by: Leslie Weeden | May 09, 2016 at 10:57 AM
Oh, that food looks delicious!! What interesting history, and very interesting that they were so welcoming to all: religious or not. Glad to see women being recognised as well. I like a good windmill!!
Posted by: 2paw | May 14, 2016 at 08:19 AM