It could not have been easy to be an inmate—as it was called in the 19th century—on Blackwell’s Island.
The thin strip of land in the East River, bought by the city in 1828, was were New York brought its undesirables: criminals biding their time in the Penitentiary, sick people sent to the Hospital for Incurables, Lunatic Asylum, or the Small-Pox Hospital, the homeless and disorderly sentenced to the Workhouse.
I’m not sure where these circa-1896 photos were taken, but based on the age and appearance of the diners (and the information provided by the Museum of the City of New York in the caption), they may give us a glimpse into the Almshouse.
There were actually two Almshouses, one for men, one for women. “None but the aged and infirm, who are destitute, are admitted,” wrote James D. McCabe in 1872’s Lights and Shadows of New York Life. “Each newcomer is bathed immediately upon his or her arrival, and clad in the plain but comfortable garments provided by the establishment.”
Staff determined how much and what kind of work each newcomer could do, McCabe wrote. In 1870, 1,114 people lived there, he added—these are probably some of them.
[Top photo: MCNY 93.1.1.4918; second photo: MCNY 93.1.1.4917]
Tags: Almshouse New York City, Blackwell's Island 1800s, Blackwell's Island NYC, history of the poor in NYC, Lunatic Asylum Blackwell's Island, the old and sick in NYC
Ephemeral New York 
September 26, 2016 at 5:26 am |
Lord have mercy! Man’s inhumanity to man! Things are better! Fascinating post! Thank you so much!!!
September 26, 2016 at 5:40 am |
They’re a rough couple of photos to look at….
September 26, 2016 at 5:45 am |
Yes. I was “not asked back” to 4 schools in the early 60’s. in Pasadena California…….a hundred years earlier…..I might have ended up here!
Yikes!
September 26, 2016 at 5:51 am |
Your presentation contains the line:
“1,114 people lived there…”
This is incorrect.
These pitifuls did not LIVE there;
They merely EXISTED there till God proved more merciful…
September 26, 2016 at 5:56 am |
I guess you are right. However…technically….they lived there. It is tragic beyond.
September 26, 2016 at 7:55 pm |
I think they were workhouses for the aged and infirm. The word “Dickensian” comes to mind. A step up from dying in the gutter. Today, in this compassionate state, we have Social Security. And the kindness of strangers.
September 26, 2016 at 8:12 pm |
Hi everybody….These folks needed food, water and shelter…the basic needs of existance. beyond this, these folks probably did much more than is depicted here. My parents couldn’t afford a 10 cent Sunday paper, but we did have our own house, my dad built before he got heart problems. I am thankful for my quality of life to date.
September 28, 2016 at 12:38 pm |
Interesting – the sign in the back of the men’s quarters “When you fail, try again”
April 30, 2018 at 6:58 am |
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November 25, 2019 at 8:13 am |
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