Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving Day Hero Of Roosevelt (Welfare) Island - Prison Chef Delays Release To Serve Thanksgiving Dinner To 1500 Inmates In 1930


It's not quite the Pilgrims and Indians at Plymouth Rock, but Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares a Thanksgiving  story from Roosevelt Island's past when it was known as Welfare Island and housed a penitentiary. Click on the image above to enlarge and read the story. From Ms. Berdy:
Thanksgiving on the island comes in many ways. Here is a story of 1,500 persons who had dinner in November, 1930, just 80 years ago this week.

Thanksgiving wishes to everyone.
I asked Ms. Berdy for the source of the article and she adds:
The New York Times  November 28, 1930.  I have a paper copy of it in my archives and thought it would be nice for people to read!!!
Roosevelt Island 360 posted about the first Thanksgiving for Roosevelt Island pilgrims in 1975.

UPDATE 1:15 PM - Eater has the Ultimate NYC Thanksgiving Dining and Shopping Guide.

1 comments :

Dan Chen said...

This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing this story with all of us!