History Located southwest of Harmony Road and County Road 9, the Benjamin Preston Farm is perhaps Fort Collins' best preserved historic farm complex. A 1994 survey of all agricultural resources in the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area identified the Preston Farm as (among Fort Collins) most significant agricultural related resources, and concluded that it should be one of the city's highest priorities for preservation. The farm complex is a local landmark and has been determined to be individually eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1877, Benjamin Preston and his wife Hessie established their homestead in the Harmony agricultural district. While operating one of the region's most profitable sheep and alfalfa farms, Preston was also deeply involved in local and state politics and in civic affairs. He served in the Colorado State Senate, was a county commissioner, and was president of both the Fort Collins Sheep Feeders Association and the Fort Collins Beet Growers Association. The Preston Farm was owned continuously by the Preston family for more than 100 years, until it was sold in 1986. Historically significant structures on the property include the farmhouse, an excellent example of Victorian Eclectic Architecture notable for its unique roofline, with intersecting hip and gable roofs and corner turret; an (exceptionally significant) one-of-a-kind grain elevator; a blacksmith/machine shop; and a host of smaller outbuildings--chicken house, coal house, cistern, ice house, smokehouse, pump house, hog house and turkey house--all built circa 1900. Fort Collins was once nearly all farmlands. During the last forty years an astounding number of agricultural buildings have been removed, with only a small percentage remaining. In 120 years, Harmony has gone from a large farming district to a mostly urban-industrial area. The Preston Farm complex is a tangible reminder of Fort Collins once extensive agrarian roots. Preservation The Preston Farm has been on Historic Fort Collins' "Watch List" since 1993. For many years, HFCDC worked with developers and the city of Fort Collins to ensure that any development of the farm property would include preservation of the historic buildings. In 1997, the Preston Farm was listed as one of Colorado's Most Endangered Historic Places by Colorado Preservation, Inc., bringing statewide attention to the plight of this important local landmark. We were also successful in getting the Preston Farm listed as a Save America's Treasures project by the White House and the National Trust for Historic Preservation - one of only 17 Colorado projects, and 372 projects nationwide, to receive that distinction. A model of the Preston Farm grain elevator was displayed in the White House during the 1999 holiday season. With the purchase of the farm by preservation-minded buyers Dave and Patty Lawser in 1999, HFCDC sprung into action to rehabilitate and find new uses for the farm's historic buildings. In January, 1999, HFCDC was awarded a grant from the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society, which was matched with funds from the city of Fort Collins, to conduct a thorough architectural assessment of the historic structures on the Preston Farm, and to develop a general master plan for the property. During this planning phase, HFCDC held two volunteer workdays to complete emergency repairs on the grain elevator and chicken coop and to clean up the site. In February, 2000, Historic Fort Collins received a major grant of $300,000 from the State Historical Fund to complete rehabilitation of the farmhouse and exterior rehabilitation of nine outbuildings. This 2-year grant is being matched by $100,000 from Dave and Patty Lawser, and $40,000 raised by HFCDC. HFCDC selected Winter, Kramer and Jessup of Boulder as architects for the project. Plans for rehabilitation of the farmhouse for office use have been completed, and construction is scheduled to begin in February, 2001. HFCDC also received a $5000 grant from the City of Fort Collins Landmark Rehabilitation Grant Program to complete emergency exterior repair work on the Preston Farm grain elevator. Doors, windows and broken siding have been repaired and replaced, and roof work and painting will be completed in February, 2001. The Future The Preston Farm Master Plan calls for a combination of commercial and interpretive use for the farm's nine outbuildings, and a park-like setting for the farm itself, with paths connecting the farm buildings and connecting the farm to the surrounding development. The plan envisions the Farm as an oasis in the heavily developed Harmony Corridor, something like an "Old Town" for south Fort Collins. HFCDC continues to seek community input on appropriate uses for the Preston Farm and its nine outbuildings. --Mary Humstone, Board Member, HFCDC
Get Involved! · Join the Preston Farm Oversight Committee - help
us develop a vision for future use of the Preston Farm
Thanks Many organizations and individuals have already contributed
time, materials and funds to help save the Preston Farm. Historic
Fort Collins extends special thanks to: |
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