At one time, a quarantine hospital separating infected individuals from the general public, the island hid away one of the most infamous carriers of typhoid fever, Typhoid Mary. Join me as I venture onto the island to see what remains.

One of a pair of small islands located in the East River between the mainland Bronx and Rikers Island. The Dutch West India Company claimed both islands in 1614. By the late 1600s, the islands were owned by the British, who occupied the area. In 1695 the government granted both islands to, James Graham, who did not develop the islands due to the currents in the East River being too strong. The islands were consolidated into New York City in 1898.

The northern island was uninhabited until 1885, though a lighthouse was constructed in 1869. In the mid-1880s, the Riverside Hospital moved there from Blackwell’s Island (now known as Roosevelt Island). Riverside was founded in the 1850s as a Smallpox hospital to treat and isolate victims of the disease. Eventually, Riverside expanded into other quarantinable conditions, including typhoid and tuberculosis. During the polio epidemic of 1916, Riverside treated numerous patients.

Built alongside the waterfront gantry, the oldest building was constructed in 1885, and the last to be built was the Tuberculosis Pavillion, which opened in 1943. Only a decade later, it was considered obsolete with the introduction of and use of the tuberculosis vaccine.

One of Riverside's most infamous patients was Mary Mallon, known as Typhoid Mary; she was confined to the island for over two decades until she died there in November of 1938. She was considered a public menace due to her contagious illness. Experts estimated that she had infected at least 122 people, leaving five dead from the disease.

Following World War II, the island housed war veterans who were students at local colleges and their families. After the housing shortage following WWII was on the decline, the island once again sat abanded until the 1950s when a center opened to treat adolescent drug addicts. The facility claimed it was the first to offer treatment, rehabilitation, and education facilities to young drug offenders. Heroin addicts were confined to this facility and locked in a room until they were clean. Many of them believed they were being held against their will. Staff corruption and cost of mataining the aging buildings forced the facility to close for good in 1963.

Since the closure, various uses have been considered, from the sale of the island, housing for the homeless, or an extension of Rikers Island (which may end up shutting down soon). Ultimately the island serves as a sanctuary for several species of bird.

I can not stress this enough; the East River current is not for the inexperienced. There were many hazards on the island, many buildings were in disrepair, and in several spots, there were open holes in the ground. I do not recommend anyone visit the island. This is not for the inexperienced explorer. If you make the trip, you make it at your own risk. Until next time explorers, stay safe.