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Latest edition: 25 July 2010
Revised version 8.1

Marist Brothers in Esopus
The Esopus property holds a fascination for
anyone who has lived there or visited the
property when the Marist Brothers used it for
a juniorate, novitiate, college annex, retreat
house or summer camp program. Many
Brothers know parts of the property history.
This site is an attempt to collect most of the
known facts in a single location, and to
extend the history of the property and Oliver
Hazard Payne in several directions. My
thanks to Brothers Armand Lamagna, James
Shelton, Donald Nugent, Thomas Delaney,
Francis Klug and many others who have
added bits and pieces or pointed out
directions where information may be
found.
The Marist Brothers first looked at Esopus
properties in 1904. Their annals relate "On
the other side of the river there was another
beautiful spot not far from the Redemptorist
Fathers in Esopus, but besides the fact that
the means of communication with New York
were not as easy as in Poughkeepsie, the
Redemptorist Fathers could not guarantee us
religious services." Both the Pratt and
Neidlinger tracts were available around that
time
But the physical presence of Marist Brothers
officially began with the purchase of the river
area of the former Payne estate in 1942.
The 2010 donation by Raymond A Rich of the
'big house' or mansion to Marist College for
use as a leadership institute signals a new
phase of the history of this property.
For corrections, additions, suggestions, etc, contact
Richard Foy
26 Elm Street
Red Hook NY 12571-1148


Original design 2001
linusfoy29@gmail.com
cell: 914 329 4121