NEWBURGH – Mount Saint Mary College has closed on the sale of the Desmond Estate, officially transferring the 26-acre property to the Town of Newburgh.
The town plans to continue using the estate for educational programming, and as parkland.
“Mount Saint Mary College applauds the town’s efforts and we are grateful to see the Desmond Estate in capable, caring hands,” said Jason Adsit, president of Mount Saint Mary College.
Alice Curtis Desmond bequeathed her Balmville estate to the Mount in the early ’90s. The college hosted enrichment programming for adults at the estate for nearly 30 years before pausing the program in March of 2020, due to COVID-19.
College officials said though it remains in good financial standing, the Mount decided to sell the Desmond Estate due to the extra strain of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapidly changing landscape of college operations.
Once the pandemic has subsided and it is safe to do so, plans are in place to relocate the Mount’s enrichment programming – including courses in the arts, sciences, hobbies, fitness, and more – to the main Mount campus. By relocating this programming to the main campus, Mount Saint Mary College will create more opportunities for continuing education for people who have not been able to take advantage of the offerings at the Desmond Estate in the past, school officials said.
“Desmond has brought the joy of lifelong learning to adults in our community for years, and we are proud of the broad range of enrichment courses that we have been able to offer at the estate,” said Dr. Adsit. “We remain committed to offering this programming to the Newburgh community. The Desmond name will live on in a friendly environment on campus that will provide even more resources and educational opportunities for adult learners.”
