The church of St. Jean Baptist is connected to Esopus in at least three ways: the vaulting work was done by Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company, we we believe was the subcontractor for the grand staircase ceilings of the large rooms in the Esopus Mansion; the principal donor was Thomas Fortune Ryan, who partnered in several ventures with William Clifford Whitney and August Belmont; and the Marist Brothers taught from 1892 until 1956 at Saint Jean's and later at Saint Ann's Academy, directly across the street from this church.

Guastavino Construction specialized in vault construction using layers of tile. It probably was a subcontractor on the Esopus mansion. Among its existing buildings is Church of St. Jean Baptist at 76th & Lexington, pictured at right, financed via gift of Thomas Fortune Ryan; Church of St. Vincent Ferrer at 68th & Lexington; chapel of Saint Paul on the Columbia University campus.

Richard Foy

10 February 2004

Photograph