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The mysterious
castle-like structure at the south end of
Roosevelt Island is the famous Renwick
Ruin, named for celebrated nineteenth
century architect, James Renwick, Jr. (Mr.
Renwick is principally known for his design
of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue
in Manhattan). Initially completed in 1856,
the structure was first conceived as a
smallpox hospital. In 1875 it was converted
to City Hospital and a nursing school
residence. This facility, abandoned nearly
fifty years ago, is now floodlit at night.
At the time of its construction, smallpox
was an epidemic responsible for one in every
hundred deaths in New York City. Because of
the highly contagious nature of the disease,
the island setting was considered ideal.
When the city transferred patients with
contagious diseases to North Brother Island
in the last quarter of the 19th century, the
Smallpox Hospital became a nurses residence.
It was abandoned in the 1950's. Today it is
New York City's only landmarked ruin. |
2010 - Roosevelt
Island Operating Corporation.