Marist Heritage Project · Items · Marist Archives and Special Collections Exhibits and Collections

The Ponce de Leon

Built in 1888, the Ponce de Leon now houses Flagler College, founded in 1968. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is acclaimed as one of the finest examples of Spanish Renaissance Architecture in America

The Ponce de Leon Hotel

The Ponce de Leon Hotel in Saint Augustine Florida was the first major work of Carrï¿½re & Hastings after they broke away from McKim, Mead and White.

Townhouse at 690 Park Avenue

Harry Payne Bingham owned the townhouse at 690 Park Avenue, just opposite Hunter College The townhouse now serves as the Italian Consulate.

The corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street

Oliver Payne purchased and gave the Stetson townhouse on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street currently occupied by Bulgari, to his favorite sister, Flora Payne Whitney. This cross street is now the most expensive rental for retail space in New York City. Bergdoff-Goodman, Bulgari and Tiffany occupy three of the corners; new construction is in progress on the fourth

Temple Emmanuel

Temple Emmanuel now occupies the space along Fifth Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets once occupied by the townhouse of John Jacob Astor. The townhouse was designed by Carrï¿½re & Hastings

Oliver Payne gave Payne Whitney the land along Fifth Avenue near 79th street for his own residence. The building was designed by McKim,

Oliver Payne gave Payne Whitney the land along Fifth Avenue near 79th street for his own residence. The building was designed by McKim, Mead and White. Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company designed the grand staircase. Click on photo for more details.

This place houses the delegation from Serbia and Montenegro.

The tiny townhouse between the Ryan and Payne sites gives a glimpse of what they may have looked like. This now houses the delegation from Serbia and Montenegro. Note police kiosk on sidewalk. Payne paid $1,528.98 to the Park Department for the land occupied by the projecting bay of his house on Fifth Avenue.

Fifth Avenue between 66th and 67th Streets

Fifth Avenue between 66th and 67th Streets. Apartment building at the right stands on the site of Oliver Payne's townhouse built around 1903. Building at left stands on site of Thomas Fortune Ryan's townhouse built around the same time. Real estate values dictated demolition of these townhouses. Fortune Ryan was a partner with William Clifford Whitney in the construction of the NYC subway and elevated train systems

Frick town home

About the same time Carrï¿½re and Hastings designed Payne's estate, they built the Frick town home,( now the Frick Collection Museum) at 70th street and Fifth Avenue as well as the New York Public Library The similarity of architectural touches is evident. The gallery (photo at far right) was added afterward as a separate project.

The Parish

In 2002 Transfiguration Parish celebrated its 175th anniversary. The parish was founded by Father Felix Varela, a Cuban-born priest who became vicar general of the archdiocese, to serve the wave of Irish immigra nts arriving in New York. In 1853 the parish moved to the Mott Street building, built 201 years ago as an Episcopal church and later used as a Lutheran church. The church, majestic in scope, is crammed into a small space along Mott Street where its architectural features are hard to envision. These pictures were taken 17 November 2002 by Rich Foy as a service was being held for fallen firefighters from the Sept 11 bombing of the World Trade Center. The area is now considered Chinatown for most modern New Yorkers.

Intersection of Baxter and Worth

The only link with the five points slum is the street sign indicating the intersection of Baxter and Worth. The latter street was extended through the five points around the turn of the 19th century

The five points intersection

The five points intersection in 2001 gives no evidence of what the slum looked like one hundred fifty years ago. It is surrounded by government buildings and a small park

View from Perrine's Bridge

View from Perrine's Bridge of the Wallkill River looking towards the site of Dashville Falls, which were used by the sons of Archibald Russell to power their factories. The falls have disappeared into a dam used by Central Hudson to generate electricity

Perrine's Bridge

Perrine's Bridge is the second oldest wooden bridges in the state. It is located in Dashville, just west of Esopus, and can be glimpsed from the northbound lanes of the New York Thruway.

Sacred Heart R. C. Church

The land for Sacred Heart R. C. Church in Esopus was donated by Robert Livingston Pell, who also contributed to its construction

U. Peter Weitze and children

U. Peter Weitze and children standing on the porch of their new home overlooking the Hudson River. Their home is built on the same level as the main buildings on the Payne estate.

The Weitze family house

The do-it-yourself pioneer trait has not disappeared. The Weitze family (with help from dad, Bob Richter) constructed this home on seven acres directly north of the Brothers' property. Bob gave parcels to each of his daughters, and transferred the remainder of his land along the Black Creek to Scenic Hudson for a nature preserve

The original water tower

The original water tower was located just outside the new English Village construction. It was dismantled and replaced with tanks within the new building.

Brother Lawrence Hanshumaker and David Kammer

Brother Lawrence Hanshumaker and David Kammer (both natives of Wheeling, West Virginia) passed through Esopus to view construction of the English Village in the summer of 1952.

Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge

Although not directly connected to the Payne estate, the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge is an important element in Ulster County history.

Potpourri

Brother Linus William Hall, first Master of Juniors in Esopus.

Sunset Lake 15

Martin Lang reading near the lake

Sunset Lake 14

Ruins of Rec Hall and Kitchen in February 2004

Sunset Lake 11

Painters at work

Sunset Lake 10

Kitchen Helper

Sunset Lake 9

Campers Lodgings

Sunset Lake 8

Garage

Sunset Lake 5

Administration building

Sunset Lake 4

Chapel

Sunset Lake 3

The lake in winter 2004

Sunset Lake 1

Sunset Lake is shallow. The campers could swim off the dock, but kept close to the dock to avoid meeting grass on the lake floor. Canoeing and fishing were favorite pastimes.

Burroughs Family Graves

Julian Burroughs, his wife, Emily MacKay, and their three children are buried in adjacent graves in Ascension Cemetery

Eight nuns from an Episcopal Convent are buried in the cemetery.

Eight nuns from an Episcopal Convent are buried in the cemetery. They were not connected with Holy Cross Monastery, but may have been from a convent located either in Kingston or in Vails Gate, near Newburgh.

View of Ascension Cemetery looking west from route 9W.

View of Ascension Cemetery looking west from route 9W. The cemetery extends about 200 feet beyond the last stones seen in the picture

Entrance to Ascension Cemetery. Note Payne barn buildings to the immediate south

Panoramic view of Ascenscion Cemetery viewed from route 9W

Views of Ascencion Church at 10th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City

Views of Ascencion Church at 10th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City. This was the church attended by Helen Russell's mother, who contributed heavily to the Ascension Church in West Park. The NYC church is now a historical landmark

Church of the Ascension viewed from route 9W

Church of the Ascension viewed from route 9W. Russell, Astor and Payne all donated

Ascension church

Ascension church was built in 1842 and faces directly towards Church of Saint James across the river in Hyde Park

The Brother Stephen Kappes gallery part 2

For the past two decades, Brother Stephen Kappes has been photographing the Esopus property when he visits, which is quite often. These pictures are displayed on the walls of the English Village, especially along the corridor of the red brick addition and the recreation room adjacent to the large gymnasium. Photos in other sections of this project reflect the historical aspect of the property. Brother Stephen's photos illustrate the beauty of the property.

Steel Plant

The Brother Stephen Kappes gallery part 1

For the past two decades, Brother Stephen Kappes has been photographing the Esopus property when he visits, which is quite often. These pictures are displayed on the walls of the English Village, especially along the corridor of the red brick addition and the recreation room adjacent to the large gymnasium. Photos in other sections of this project reflect the historical aspect of the property. Brother Stephen's photos illustrate the beauty of the property.

The ornate celtic cross

The ornate celtic cross may have been the gift of Oliver H Payne, as Emma's father, Andrew Gustav, died in 1913. I believe Payne also paid for the Andrew Mason Celtic Cross in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx NY. Click on the Celtic Cross to see the individual monuments.

Sale by Mary Quick of Brooklyn NY to Emma Larson of New York City

The first mention of Emma we can find in the Dutchess County records is the sale by Mary Quick of Brooklyn NY to Emma Larson of New York City on 11 September 1917 of 31 ± acres in Staatsburg, at the northern end of Hyde Park NY.

Emma C Larson and her family

Emma C Larson was a servant in the Oliver Payne households. Listed as a housekeeper, in many ways she was his confidante, upon whom he relied for advice and as an interface between himself and others. This portrait of Emma Christina Larson (center) and her sisters Jessie Larson and Jennie Larson Draminsky was taken around 1912. The little girl is Margaret Draminsky, Jennie's granddaughter.