Marist’s South Gate: The History Behind the Carvings
On the arch next to the entrance to campus, six historical figures carved into medallions can be seen from Route 9. Source: Jamie Goodman
When visitors arrive at the South Gate of Marist College, the main entrance to campus, they are met with two columns and an intricate archway. The archway offers the first glimpse of campus, framing the stadium and residence halls that sit behind it.
However, the archway is more than just an architectural feat. It is home to a number of carved medallions that each depict an influential historical figure with a close connection to either Marist College or the Hudson River Valley. From Henry Hudson to the Roosevelt and Champagnat Hall namesakes, there’s a story behind each face.
Edward Bech
Edward Bech was a Danish-born industrialist who started the Poughkeepsie Iron Company. In 1908, soon after the Marist Brothers purchased their first plot of land, they expanded the property and acquired additional land from Bech. Bech hired architect Detlef Lienau to design his property, which consists of the buildings we know today: Kieren Gatehouse, St. Peter’s, and Greystone. Also, the road that runs from the South Gate entrance to the library is known as “Evard Bech Drive'' (with the original spelling of Edvard).
Daniel Nitham
Daniel Nitham was the last chief of the Wappinger tribe, a group primarily based along the Hudson River in Dutchess County. The Wappinger tribe played a very important role in the history of Poughkeepsie, and the name Poughkeepsie is even derived from the Wappinger language, meaning “reed-covered lodge by the little water place.” John Ansley, director of the Marist College Archives, said, “Nitham died fighting for the American side during the Revolutionary War, so this medallion pays tribute to Nitham and all of the Hudson Valley’s indigenous peoples.”
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt
The 32nd U.S. President, Franklin Roosevelt, and political figure and human rights activist, Eleanor Roosevelt, are depicted together in a medallion to the far right of the entrance. Marist has a close relationship to the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park. “We are one of the few colleges in the country that has that kind of connection with the Presidential Library,” Ansley said.
Carved into Marist College's South Gate Entrance are 11 faces depicting historical figures who had a great influence on either the college or the Hudson Valley as a whole. Source: Jamie Goodman
Frederic Edwin Church
Frederic Edwin Church was an American landscape painter during the 19th century Romantic art movement. He was a primary figure in the Hudson River School of painters, alongside Thomas Cole. “Because of our direct connection to the river, Frederic Church was deemed to be a very important individual to represent on the gates,” Ansley explained.
George Washington
The nation's first president, George Washington, is associated with the Hudson Valley due to the region’s role in the Revolutionary War. Many key battles were fought in the Hudson River region, and Washington had headquarters in Newburgh. During the revolution, Washington spent about a third of his time in the area, so a great deal of his days as a general were spent not too far from Marist’s campus.
Henry Hudson
English explorer and navigator Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River in 1609. Soon after, he laid claim to the river valley, despite the east bank of the river being home to the Wappinger tribe for centuries. During that journey, he would pass what is now the Marist campus.
John Flack Winslow
John Flack Winslow was a 19th century industrialist and president of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He helped finance the construction of the Union Navy’s warship, the USS Monitor, that helped defeat the Confederate ship, the CSS Virginia, during the famous Battle of Hampton Roads. Winslow’s connection to Marist involves his purchase of a parcel of land that is now the northern part of today’s campus. The section of road that runs from the North End of campus to the James A. Cannavino Library is also aptly named “John Winslow Drive.”
Marcellin Champagnat
Marcellin Champagnat was a 19th century priest who founded the Marist Brothers. The order was first created to prevent illiteracy and bring about spirituality in Post-Revolutionary France. Today, the Marist Brothers focuses on educating young people. Champagnat’s followers eventually dispersed throughout the world, and one group of brothers established themselves in Poughkeepsie — starting what is now Marist. Champagnat’s legacy remains strong on Marist’s campus, as his name marks the largest first-year residence hall.
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth, the 19th century abolitionist and women’s rights activist, is another individual who has a close connection to the Hudson River Valley. While she was born in Ulster County, she spent most of her life in Dutchess County. She was enslaved for about 28 years, but after gaining freedom, fought for equal rights for women. She eventually became one of America’s leading voices against slavery.
St. Ann
In 1905, the Marist Brothers purchased their first piece of land and named the property “Saint Ann’s Hermitage.” Today, this land forms a central part of the Marist College campus. “The naming of St. Ann's goes back to Brother Zepheriny,” Ansley said. “He founded St. Ann’s Academy on 76th Street and Lexington Avenue in midtown Manhattan. More importantly, Brother Zepheriny called the new property St. Ann’s Hermitage in memory of St. Marcellin Champagnat’s Hermitage in France.”
Next time you’re entering or exiting campus from the South Gate, take a closer look at the archway, and see if you can make out each of the eleven figures who have important historical roots in the Hudson Valley.
References
https://www.maristbr.com/about-us
https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/History/A-Brief-History-of-Dutchess-County.htm