Saturday, February 11, 2012

Let's take a trip to North Brother Island

From the Kingston Lounge:

Of all the forgotten and mysterious places in the Five Boroughs of New York City, few have histories as rich and interesting as that of North Brother Island. Situated in the Hell Gate, a particularly treacherous stretch of the East River, North Brother was home to the quarantine hospital that housed Typhoid Mary, was the final destination of the General Slocum during its tragic final voyage, and was the site of an experimental drug treatment program which failed due to corruption. Riverside Hospital, the name of the facility on the island throughout its various incarnations, treated everything from smallpox and leprosy to venereal disease and heroin addiction; after the Second World War, it housed soldiers who were studying under the GI bill. The entirety of the island has been abandoned since 1963; over a dozen buildings remain, in various states of disrepair.

2 comments:

Joe said...

How old are these photos ?
The reason I ask is you can longer get near those islands without being detected by the equipment at LGA airport.
As soon as you go near it or stop moving the police show up in minutes via helicopter and boat, impound your boat, camera then take you for questioning followed by an arrest with trespass charges.
I stopped and anchored 15 yards off N Brother last summer to have sunset cocktails.
A police boat with rocket like motors showed up in under 2 minutes and broke my balls, counted my life jackets, lights, full inspection then said "not here" "go behind City Island" NOW GET MOVIN !"

Anonymous said...

I think you have a better chance in a small kayak or rowboat.