Riverside Isolation Hospital
The Riverside Isolation Hospital moved into NYC's North Brother Island in 1885. Before this, it operated on Roosevelt Island since the 1850's. Smallpox was the hospitals only scope of disease treatment during its early years of activity. Eventually, it broadened its scope to all quarantinable diseases. A TB pavilion was the most recent building constructed on the island in 1943. Upon its opening, it was almost immediately abandoned. The hospital closed as an isolation hospital shortly after the death of Typhoid Mary on the grounds of the hospital.
After WWII, the complex housed veterans and their families. This was during a housing shortage in NYC and most of the people living on the island were students and local colleges. The last known use for the buildings on North Brother Island was in the form of a drug rehabilitation facility. The facility became controversial when it was discovered that drug addicts were basically being locked in a room and forced to go through withdraw. Widespread corruption by staff and patient complaint caused this facility to close in the 1960's. The buildings have sat in disrepair since.
Read MoreAfter WWII, the complex housed veterans and their families. This was during a housing shortage in NYC and most of the people living on the island were students and local colleges. The last known use for the buildings on North Brother Island was in the form of a drug rehabilitation facility. The facility became controversial when it was discovered that drug addicts were basically being locked in a room and forced to go through withdraw. Widespread corruption by staff and patient complaint caused this facility to close in the 1960's. The buildings have sat in disrepair since.
