Bechestate.xml
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Part of Marist College History: The Bech Estate
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9/8/21, 12:19 PM
The Bech Estate
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/MHP/bechestate/bechestate.html
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The Bech Property
In the mid-1800s Edward Bech, a Danish immigrant, purchased 65 acres of
land along the Hudson River which he named the Rosenlund Estate. The
grounds were developed circa 1865, during a period when major tracts of
Hudson River land were being purchased by wealthy businessmen for country
estates. Bech was a partner in the Poughkeepsie Iron Works Company, a
thriving riverfront industry that prospered with the advent of the Delaware
and Hudson Canal and Railroad. He was also a partner in the Cunard
Steamship Company and from 1842 to 1858 was the first Danish Consul in
New York.
A friend and fellow countryman of Bech's, Detlef Lienau,
was a prominent architect. Bech commissioned Lienau to
design a main house of stone as well as several out
buildings for his estate. The European-educated Lienau
had come to New York in 1848 and established himself
as one of America's leading architects. His design of the
first example of the French Second Empire style in New
York and the introduction to America of the mansard
roof typified by the French chateau were among his
many achievements. He also was a co-founder of the
American Institute of Architects and actively
participated in its formative years.
Due to Bech's death in 1873, Lienau's design for the
main house was never executed; however, Greystone, St. Peter's, and the
Gate House survive as the few remaining examples of Gothic Revival Estate
architecture along the Hudson River. All three buildings have been listed on
the National Historic Register.
In 1905 the Marist Brothers purchased the McPherson Estate just north of the
Bech property and established St. Ann's Hermitage. In 1908 the Marist
Brothers acquired the Rosenlund Estate, joining the two properties to form
the core of the present Marist College campus.
Home
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Marist College
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Library Home Page
last updated on June 10, 2004
9/8/21, 12:53 PM
Acknowledgment Page
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/MHP/acknowledgment.html
1/2
Project Directors
Dr. Brian Henry Desilets
Dr. Linus Richard Foy
John Patrick Noone
From the beginning, Marist Heritage has been a collaborative effort.
We appreciate the contributions of the Marist Brothers and the Marists All
community, who by supplying information and personal memories, have given vitality,
scope and depth to this project
Under the guidance and direction of Dr. Brian Henry Desilets, the initial web pages
were designed and created by the following Marist College students: Michele van
Brero (Hermitage, St. Peter's, Kieran Gate House, Greystone, Marist Brothers
Builders, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel).....Tage Haun (Bech Homestead, Marian,
Donnelly).....Fang Fang Xu (Boat House, Byrne House, Kirk House).....Courtney Gutt
(Bech Family History).....Vij lyer (Cemetery).....Rahkee Chopra (Fontaine Hall).
All the final Marist Heritage web pages were either created, revised, rewritten
and/or reshaped by John Patrick Noone, who is solely responsible for any errors
contained therein.
We thank Richard Branigan for proofreading the Marist Heritage web pages.
We recognize the contributions of our consultants: John Ansley for his input on the
format and contents of the various web pages. Also Victor VanCarpels for his
frequent consultations and guidance in the graphics included in this CD. His
patience and dedication while working with us made the overall results more
professional.
We are grateful to Barbara McMullen for the use of the Ecommerce facility at Marist
College.
We are indebted to the McCann Foundation which provided the funds necessary to make
this project a reality.
John Patrick Noone, editor
November 15, 2002
*this page is printer ready
Home
|
Marist College
|
Library Home Page
The Bech Estate
Acknowledgment Page
The Bech Estate
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/MHP/bechestate/bechestate.html
1/2
The Bech Property
In the mid-1800s Edward Bech, a Danish immigrant, purchased 65 acres of
land along the Hudson River which he named the Rosenlund Estate. The
grounds were developed circa 1865, during a period when major tracts of
Hudson River land were being purchased by wealthy businessmen for country
estates. Bech was a partner in the Poughkeepsie Iron Works Company, a
thriving riverfront industry that prospered with the advent of the Delaware
and Hudson Canal and Railroad. He was also a partner in the Cunard
Steamship Company and from 1842 to 1858 was the first Danish Consul in
New York.
A friend and fellow countryman of Bech's, Detlef Lienau,
was a prominent architect. Bech commissioned Lienau to
design a main house of stone as well as several out
buildings for his estate. The European-educated Lienau
had come to New York in 1848 and established himself
as one of America's leading architects. His design of the
first example of the French Second Empire style in New
York and the introduction to America of the mansard
roof typified by the French chateau were among his
many achievements. He also was a co-founder of the
American Institute of Architects and actively
participated in its formative years.
Due to Bech's death in 1873, Lienau's design for the
main house was never executed; however, Greystone, St. Peter's, and the
Gate House survive as the few remaining examples of Gothic Revival Estate
architecture along the Hudson River. All three buildings have been listed on
the National Historic Register.
In 1905 the Marist Brothers purchased the McPherson Estate just north of the
Bech property and established St. Ann's Hermitage. In 1908 the Marist
Brothers acquired the Rosenlund Estate, joining the two properties to form
the core of the present Marist College campus.
Home
|
Marist College
|
Library Home Page
last updated on June 10, 2004
9/8/21, 12:53 PM
Acknowledgment Page
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/MHP/acknowledgment.html
1/2
Project Directors
Dr. Brian Henry Desilets
Dr. Linus Richard Foy
John Patrick Noone
From the beginning, Marist Heritage has been a collaborative effort.
We appreciate the contributions of the Marist Brothers and the Marists All
community, who by supplying information and personal memories, have given vitality,
scope and depth to this project
Under the guidance and direction of Dr. Brian Henry Desilets, the initial web pages
were designed and created by the following Marist College students: Michele van
Brero (Hermitage, St. Peter's, Kieran Gate House, Greystone, Marist Brothers
Builders, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel).....Tage Haun (Bech Homestead, Marian,
Donnelly).....Fang Fang Xu (Boat House, Byrne House, Kirk House).....Courtney Gutt
(Bech Family History).....Vij lyer (Cemetery).....Rahkee Chopra (Fontaine Hall).
All the final Marist Heritage web pages were either created, revised, rewritten
and/or reshaped by John Patrick Noone, who is solely responsible for any errors
contained therein.
We thank Richard Branigan for proofreading the Marist Heritage web pages.
We recognize the contributions of our consultants: John Ansley for his input on the
format and contents of the various web pages. Also Victor VanCarpels for his
frequent consultations and guidance in the graphics included in this CD. His
patience and dedication while working with us made the overall results more
professional.
We are grateful to Barbara McMullen for the use of the Ecommerce facility at Marist
College.
We are indebted to the McCann Foundation which provided the funds necessary to make
this project a reality.
John Patrick Noone, editor
November 15, 2002
*this page is printer ready
Home
|
Marist College
|
Library Home Page
The Bech Estate
Acknowledgment Page
