Ferdinand Castagna founded Gerace and Castagna Inc., a masonry contracting company, in 1922. Shortly thereafter the company became a general contractor, performing masonry and carpentry with its own construction crews while sub-contracting the balance of the general construction to other specialty contractors. Gerace and Castagna always maintained the overall management of its projects. Upon receiving his degree in 1950, as a Civil Engineer, Frank Castagna joined the company. Five years later, the company purchased property in Manhasset and began development of Americana Manhasset.1922