New Properties - Barrytown and East Garden

Even before the English students left, Rev. Moon announced plans for similar conferences of 120 people each next summer and spring. Already, Belvedere is overcrowded, so the family has been looking around for places nearby in which to expand. Therefore it was providential that a property was discovered for sale in Barrytown, New York, about an hour and a Half’s drive from Tarrytown.

Father speaks at a picnic on Christian Brothers’ Training School grounds, Barrytown, New York.

The property was once a Christian Brother’s training center, and is a large school and dormitory located on a 255-acre estate facing the Hudson River. The school was erected in 1930 by the Christian Brothers, a Catholic monastic order, and flourished between 1931 and 1968. The high school connected with the center contained a boarding school for up to 180, and the complex housed 300 at its peak, including 96 cells for novices.

In 1968 the high school was closed for lack of funds, and in 1969 the retired brothers were moved to other communities to live out their retirement, and the building was closed.

The main building is four stories, and has a large central chapel, classrooms, dormitories, a general kitchen, two dining rooms, and two inside gymnasiums. The property also contains two ball fields, tennis and handball courts, a swimming pool, and three other small houses. Our church is negotiating the contract now, and the American family is working hard to raise the down payment.

“Exquisite Acres” mansion

While the Barrytown project was going on, another estate near Belvedere was purchased called “Exquisite Acres.” The estate is 26 acres, has a large stone 35-room mansion, gatehouse and caretakers’ cottage, and a vegetable and fruit garden.

The property is in a secluded location about a ten-minute walk from Belvedere, and has.an even more beautiful view of the Hudson. Most of the original furnishings of the house were also purchased by our church at auction.

Master bedroom, Exquisite Acres

After purchase, True Father renamed Exquisite Acres “East Garden”