history & heritage
PRESCOTT
HERITAGE
a place to preserve
The Early Years
Strategically Built On The Confluence of Two Riverways
Historic Walking Tour
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LEARN PRESCOTT HISTORY
A PLACE TO CONNECT – THEN & NOW
History of the Clock Towers in Prescott
1887: With Prescott growing rapidly the first modern brick school is built on Elm Street. A local teacher, Roxanne Bailey donates the money to purchase the first tower clock in Prescott; it is installed in a tower on the new school.
1924: A new addition is added to the 1887 school.
1935: On December 8th the Prescott School burns to the ground. Despite the combined efforts of the Prescott and Hastings fire departments, the fire is too intense to save the 1887 school – they put their efforts into saving the new addition. At 3:00 am the bell rang for the last time. At 3:20 am the clock and bell fell into the ruins of the school. After keeping time faithfully for 48 years the first tower clock in Prescott is destroyed.
1937: The clock and bell were sorely missed by the people of Prescott. Although mechanical clocks were no longer in fashion the community wanted the new clock to be identical to the clock destroyed in the fire. $2,100 was raised to purchase a new clock and bell. The 1924 addition is repaired and a new addition is constructed on the north side of the school with a clock tower erected in the middle. The new clock worked well until the 1960’s. The plywood faces started deteriorating and the clock no longer worked consistently.
1977: The Prescott Bicentennial Committee finances repairs of the clock and tower, repairs are mostly temporary. By the 1980’s the clock has stopped functioning completely. The bell and hammer were removed due to weight restrictions on the school roof.
2002: The steel tower and clockworks are removed due to water leakage at the base of the tower. The clock and bell are given to the Prescott Historical Society. Restoration is started on the Seth Thomas clock in the fall.
2004: The Seth Thomas clock is fully restored and functional. The Prescott Historical Society starts fundraising to construct the new tower. The Prescott clock was built by the Seth Thomas Company of Connecticut 1937. This was the second Seth Thomas tower clock installed in Prescott – the first clock was destroyed in the 1937 fire. The last mechanical clock of this style build by Seth Thomas was number 3232, ours is number 3176. They only produced 44 more clocks of this style before the Second World War halted production and ended the era of large mechanical tower clocks.
Our Founder: Philander Prescott
Philander Prescott, for whom the town of Prescott was named, recorded the following information for his journal “…towards Spring (1839) I had one offer from the officers (of Fort Snelling) to go down to the St. Croix and take charge of a claim they had taken up for a town site. They agreed to furnish me with $1,000 to build a house and store with, and give me 1/8 of all the land and buildings. I had nothing to do, so I accepted their offer and went to work.”
A trading post had already been established at the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers the previous year. By 1840, when the first St. Croix County Board was elected, it granted Philander a license to establish a ferry across the St. Croix River at or near its mouth. This led to the beginning of the present town.
By the early 1850’s, Philander had sold his claim in Prescott to two speculators named Copp and Maxson who continued to develop the Prescott community.
Philander was born in 1801 in Phelpstown, New York. His father, who was a local physician, died when Philander was 10, leaving his mother with 6 children. When she too died, Philander went west at the age of 18 eventually arriving at Fort Snelling.
While working at the Fort, he met his future wife Mary who was the daughter of a Sioux Indian Chief. Philander and Mary married and had 9 children. They lived in the Fort Snelling area, along the shores of Lake Calhoun, where he was superintendent of farming; and in Richfield where he established a mill in 1854.
He was in demand by government officials as an interpreter for conference and treaty negotiations. On August 18, 1862, during the Indian uprising, while he was employed at the Lower Agency in Redwood County, he was ambushed and killed. Mary and the children were taken prisoners but later escaped. She lived 5 more years, dying in 1867. Both are buried in the Layman’s Cemetery in Minneapolis at Cedar Avenue and Lake Street.
The Confluence of Rivers
Prescott’s story begins at the rivers. In the early days, nearly all travel and trade moved along the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, making Prescott’s location a natural crossroads. The city quickly grew into a hub for river shipping, steamboat travel, and milling. Immigrants arrived by steamboat before heading inland to settle in Minnesota and Wisconsin. To the north, vast stands of white pine were logged and floated down the St. Croix River—more than 209 million board feet of lumber in 1896 alone. Warehouses lined the riverbanks, stocked with food and supplies, while hotels welcomed a steady flow of travelers. With restaurants, banks, and new homes springing up, Prescott became a thriving river town shaped by the movement of people, goods, and water.
As railroads replaced river travel and the great pine forests were logged, Prescott gradually slowed. By 1930, the once-bustling river hub had become a quiet town of about 750 residents, settling into a gentler rhythm along the water.
Prescott Emerges as a River Destination
Today, Prescott has rediscovered its strength and the quaint river town boasts a population of 4,333 as of the 2020 census. It is a unique city, known for its warmth, friendliness, and quiet charm. The area’s natural beauty has long inspired visitors—so much so that poet William Cullen Bryant once wrote, “This area ought to be visited by every poet and painter in the land.” Standing in Freedom Park, where the muddy waters of the Mississippi meet the blue waters of the St. Croix, it’s easy to see why.
Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy boating and canoeing north along the St. Croix River toward Afton, Hudson, and Stillwater. Beauty surrounds the city year-round, but many say its finest display comes in the fall, when hillsides blaze with color, apples ripen in the valley, and winter slowly settles over the St. Croix River Valley.
Downtown Prescott invites visitors to linger. Unique shops sit alongside restaurants offering everything from casual meals to home-style favorites and fine dining. A riverside picnic area provides front-row seats to passing trains, boats, barges, ducks, and geese—and with a bit of luck, you may spot a bald eagle soaring overhead.
Water recreation remains central to life in Prescott. A public dock offers easy access to downtown, while a nearby public boat launch includes convenient parking and is just a short walk away. Two public beaches welcome swimmers, and the St. Croix River—designated a National Scenic Waterway and administered by the National Park Service—adds to the area’s enduring appeal.
Each September, the community comes together for Prescott Daze, a lively festival featuring a parade, children’s games, athletic and card tournaments, arts and crafts, and plenty of food.
Visit Prescott and discover beautiful scenery, welcoming people, and memorable experiences.
The Welcome & Heritage Center
The Welcome & Heritage Center, located in downtown Prescott, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is currently home to the Prescott Historical Society, and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce. Built in 1885, it housed the H.S. Miller and the Bank and Prescott’s first newspaper. The Visitors’ Center offers information on the area’s attractions and accommodations. The History Room features exhibits highlighting local heritage.
Pierce County Historical Society
The Pierce County Historical Association (PCHA) is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization begun in 1941. We are affiliated with the Wisconsin Historical Society and belong to the Wisconsin Council for Local History. We strive to preserve Pierce County’s heritage by promoting the study, appreciation, and interpretation of the county’s history and related local and regional histories.
TRIP INSPIRATION
Prescott naturally encourages visitors to build itineraries that change with the seasons—and to keep coming back for what’s next.