Prescott

The first settlement was on the east side of the unfinished railroad tracks in 1868. Until the railroad was completed the next year, everyone drove to Afton (30 miles) for supplies. The original platt was recorded June 1870. Every year the question of cattle running loose came up to be recorded. A blacksmith shop was run by Mr. Ervin a Civil War Veteran and uncle of Clarence Kline. he married widow Mrs. Fackler who had five children and they helped to shape the future of Prescott.

The first school was built in 1870 and after several changes 10 people graduated in 1892. A brick building was built for $16,000 in 1914 & is still used today. By 1925, over 20 rural school combined into Prescott Consolidated Schools. The arch on the school grounds was presented to the school by the class of 1926. The class gathered all the stones from fields and roadsides in the area. The class paid all the bills for cement, wiring, light bulbs and whatever was needed. An addition was made to the building in 1925, adding a gymnasium (now the lunch room). For $60,000, the present gym was added in 1952. Reorganization in 1961 required an addition to be built west of the building and included shop classes, k, 1st & 2nd grades. Today the buildings are used for preschool through 6th grade.

1899 water was put in Prescott, but the pipe rusted out in 1914 and the system was abandoned. In 1956 a $46,000 band was approved for a water system and was finished in 1960.

1901 a meeting was held by the First National Bank of Prescott to erect a building. October 1969 the bank had both vault doors ruined when it was robbed. The doors were repaired after the robbery and the bank was remodeled to include a new front on the building, central air and heating.

1902 saw a bad train accident; 1965 was a fourteen car derailment; and a sixteen car derailment in 1967.

1903 Thurman Chapman from Prescott was at Drake University & broke the world's record in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 12 feet (1 1/2 past world record) & in the same meet he tied the state record in the high hurdles of 120 yard in 16.5 seconds.

For more information see the Adams County History Book.

Adams County         Carbon         Corning         Nodaway         Prescott