The Riordan School
what might have been ...
Brother Joseph JR Belanger researched the Riordan School, one of
the possible sites for Marist Preparatory when the Brothers were looking for a
site near Poughkeepsie to move the Juniorate off campus. His essay follows
Raymond C. Riordan School, Highland, NY
Raymond C. Riordan was Superintendent of the Interlaken School in
Rolling Prairie, Indiana. He is written up in Who's Who in America, v.19
[1936-1937].
In November 1912 he wrote an essay on the Craftman Farms in
Highland in which he mentions a certain Gustav Stickley who wants a
school in Highland. There already was a Gustav Stickley School for
Citizenship in New Jersey, which Ray Riordan wrote about in November
1912.
Raymond C. Riordan opened a Raycroft School of Life for Boys in
Highland in September 1912 on some 150 acres.
The Craftman Farms School for Citizenship opened 15 June 1913. It
actually started receiving boys 9-14 years old in October 1912 and aimed at
recruiting about 50. The Craftman Farms bordered Chodikee [pron.
Shatikee?] Lake on the west side. It probably is the same as the Raycroft
School.
On 17 March 1914 Ella Chambers Riordan and Raymond C.
Riordan founded the Raymond C. Riordan School. The school still existed
in June 1940. Ray Riordan died probably in 1940. His brother, J. Allen
Riordan becomes President in 1940. Students came from New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, and Virginia. A James Skakel from
Greenwich CT is listed as graduating [in 1940?].
The property was put up for sale in Fall 1941 and on 26 February
1942 the Marist Brothers in Poughkeepsie received permission from their
General Administration in Europe to purchase the property. However, on
March 20 the Catholic Chancery in NYC refused permission and suggested
the Brothers look into two other properties, the Jacob Ruppert Estate in
Staatsburg NY, now Linwood, and the Payne Estate in Esopus NY. On
June 26 Cardinal Spellman approved the purchase of 200 acres of the
Payne Estate between 9W and the Hudson River, and the Brothers
occupied the mansion on July 10. The Riordan "School in the Hills" had
beautiful classrooms and residences all built with logs. The Payne Estate
had much more solid buildings made of stone.
Later in 1942 a NYC lawyer, Joseph Resnick, purchased the Riordan
property as a camp for nearly 200 boys.



The property was purchased by New York State in October 1957
[from Resnick?] and became the Highland Training School for delinquents.
It closed in June 1976. At that time part of the property was sold to the
town of Lloyd and to the Cabrini Center.
Today [2004] it is a Jewish camp for boys and girls. More
information is needed for the years 1976 to 2004.
To get there, take 299 West to New Paltz off 9W about one mile and
turn right on North Chodikee Lake Road. Follow this road to its dead end.
Chodikee Lake coers about 100 acres. On the East side is now the Hotel
Chodikee, and on the West side is the Jewish camp for boys and girls.
most recent revision: 19 April 2004
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