Abandoned on the East River, Riverside Hospital whispers tales of both tragedy and healing. Riverside Hospital, once a beacon of hope, now stands in ruins, a stark reminder of New York City’s battle against contagious diseases. The hospital, originally built on Blackwell’s Island (now Roosevelt Island), moved to North Brother Island in 1885. Its mission was to quarantine and treat patients suffering from smallpox, typhoid, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases.
Riverside Hospital became a refuge during outbreaks, playing a crucial role in the city’s public health efforts. During the 1916 polio epidemic, it provided care for countless patients. The island also witnessed the tragic aftermath of the General Slocum steamship fire in 1904, when over 1,000 people perished, many washing ashore on the island’s shores.
Perhaps the most infamous resident of Riverside Hospital was Mary Mallon, better known as “Typhoid Mary.” Confined to the island for over two decades, she lived out her days within the hospital’s walls until her death in 1938. A cook by trade, Mallon was an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever, unknowingly spreading the disease to numerous individuals.
Following World War II, the island and its hospital buildings had a brief resurgence. They housed returning war veterans and their families who were attending local colleges under the GI Bill. A grocery store, cafeteria, library, and even a movie theater were added to accommodate the new residents. However, as the housing shortage eased, the island was once again deserted. In the 1950s, it became a treatment center for young drug addicts, a venture plagued by controversy and ultimately closed in 1963.
Today, Riverside Hospital stands abandoned, nature slowly reclaiming its territory. The buildings, in various states of disrepair, are off-limits to the public. North Brother Island, now a bird sanctuary, serves as a poignant reminder of New York City’s complex history, a place where stories of suffering and resilience intertwine. The crumbling walls of Riverside Hospital whisper the echoes of lives lived and lost, a silent testament to the city’s enduring spirit in the face of adversity.