Haunting, Abandoned Island In New York City (PHOTOS)

Walter Benjamin once described progress as "one single catastrophe which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage" as the past is quickly erased by new ideas and infrastructure. But there are a few rare spots in New York City where you can glimpse the past freely. Like the long-abandoned Riverside Hospital on North Brother Island. Untouched since the 1963, the island was used as a hospital and quarantine spot, and is now a forgotten ghost town overrun by weeds and decay. Forgotten NY says that island is located "in the East River, east of Port Morris, Bronx and west of Rikers Island." Photographer Ian Ference documented the hauntingly beautiful site with these photos below (for more on the history of the space, visit his website).

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.

Check out the mysterious abandoned island below:

Photos courtesy of Ian Ference

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Comments

[george6090]

08:59 PM on 02/08/2011

Another example of great photography. Haunting yes. Reminds me of Ellis Island, the part that is in New Jersey, the refurbished visitor center is in NYC. You have to live here to figure that one out. Same architecture, same look on the inside especially the hospital portion of Ellis Island looks very similar, not in any where near the state of decay though.

[NegativeSpace]

02:03 AM on 02/09/2011

Actually, the entire north side of Ellis - including the abandoned Baggage and Dormitory building, belongs to NYC.

The isolation hospital on the south side of the island is in pretty good repair; at least, it's been stabilized. There's remarkably little water damage - the roofs have held up fairly well given the length of its abandonment, and were likely further repaired during stabilization, and the hospital complex on the whole is a prime candidate for rehab and preservation.

Not so much with North Brother Island; the TB hospital is still in very good condition, as is the maintenance building, but these buildings are among the least historic on the island, and there are much more important buildings in the boroughs that need immediate attention - because of the size of the island, the cost of running a ferry, etc, it's likely that it will be a bird sanctuary for the foreseeable future.

[holyghostie]

11:41 PM on 02/05/2011

Will the second avenue subway stop there?

[Kittenesque]

05:33 AM on 02/03/2011

Well now you have done it. Trump or NYU will lap it up now.

[pep1]

09:25 PM on 01/31/2011

This island is visible from Baretto Point Park in the South Bronx. I never knew it existed until I went there.

[Tunghoy]

08:15 PM on 01/28/2011

This is wicked cool. But probably also dangerous -- with so much of the place exposed to the elements for almost 50 years, the floor boards are probably not very strong.

[emmeaki]

08:44 PM on 01/26/2011

These pictures look just like the pictures of Detroit--and people still live in that city!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/26/detroit-decline_n_813696.html#218521

[johnnygoodwud]

10:35 AM on 01/24/2011

surprised no one has stripped those blue and yellow 'subway' tiles off the walls.

[GirlInNYC]

08:24 AM on 01/23/2011

Fix it and let the homeless stay there.

[phoenixx1]

05:02 PM on 01/25/2011

You go girl...my thoughts exactly! What a waste when so many have no home to go to.

[born 2b different]

08:34 AM on 01/30/2011

i don't think these are fixable. more like a tear-down.

[JacquelineMichaelWhatley]

11:49 PM on 01/22/2011

This place is probably swarming with paranormal activity!

[arleenophoto]

03:02 PM on 01/21/2011

so looking forward to shooting there.
arleenophotography.wordpress.com

[jthor]

10:15 AM on 01/23/2011

oh please, how shameless

[arleenophoto]

01:32 PM on 01/29/2011

and proud of it...

[born 2b different]

08:35 AM on 01/30/2011

nothing wrong with a little shameless self promotion.

[judiNJ]

12:34 PM on 01/21/2011

I had the great good fortune to explore Ellis Island years ago when it didn't look much better than this. It was fascinating and eerie. Now it is a spiffy museum but has lost that strange charm. I love these old buildings. Now I guess I will have to try to see if I can get out to that island and see it for myself.

[Pansey]

10:59 AM on 01/21/2011

Drive the back roads of Tennessee and you see similar housing.......occupied!

[phoenixx1]

05:03 PM on 01/25/2011

And in Detroit too!

[pray4words]

08:01 PM on 01/20/2011

the bricks from this building will be worth some serious dollars for they don't make them bricks like that anymore

[sdmcknight]

06:52 PM on 01/20/2011

If you like the pictures, you should read the photographer's blog post. Not only does he have a way with a camera, he has a tantalizing way of bringing the very rich history of the island to life. By far one of the very best blog posts I've ever read, on any topic. http://kingstonlounge.blogspot.com/

[anova9]

10:19 AM on 01/21/2011

Wonderful link, thanks!

[johnnygoodwud]

10:42 AM on 01/24/2011

thanks for the link. very interesting.

[BlackYowe]

04:25 PM on 01/20/2011

Looks allot like downtown Detroit.
http://www.forgottendetroit.com/

[KingofDetroit]

05:13 PM on 01/20/2011

You beat me to it.

[BlackYowe]

05:56 PM on 01/20/2011

It makes me so sad I love those old buildings.

[pray4words]

08:04 PM on 01/20/2011

I seen Gary, Indiana downtown areas had a few and some parts of Chicago, Illinois south side and parts of Dallas, Texas Southeast ...its a US problem and I bet no one in my opinion had not paid taxes on these properties

[BlackYowe]

01:57 AM on 01/21/2011

There is battle going on right now to save a couple in Buffalo.
http://buffalofilmfestival.com/filmfestivalhome/statlertowersfund.html