Stacy Horn, Author Of Damnation Island, Poor, Sick, Mad & Criminal In 19th Century NY Discusses History Of Roosevelt Island At NYPL Mid Manhattan Branch June 6 - Register Now For Free Tickets

Damnation Island is the title of a new book by author Stacy Horn about the history of our home here on Roosevelt Island. You can tell by the book's title that the story is of a Roosevelt Island before luxury condos, Cornell Tech and tourists coming to visit.

Ms Horn will be discussing the Roosevelt Island of Damnation Island with NY Times columnist Gina Bellafante at the NY Public Library Mid Manhattan branch (475 Fifth Avenue) on June 6.

On 6/6, @StacyHorn discusses this history of Roosevelt Island, where prisoners were once enlisted to care for the insane. New York Times columnist @GiniaNYT joins her in conversation. Free with registration: https://t.co/csA7NniZ0G pic.twitter.com/QAvqFV860Q

— NYPL Events (@NYPLEvents) May 23, 2018

According to the NYPL:

Damnation Island: Stacy Horn with Gina Bellafante

Wed. Jun 6, 2018 at 6:30pm EDT

An author evokes the forgotten ghosts of Roosevelt Island, a place where prisoners were enlisted to care for the insane.

The narrow island in the East River once contained a lunatic asylum, two prisons, an almshouse, and a number of hospitals. Designed to be state-of-the-art, both humane and efficient, Blackwell’s Island quickly became, in the words of Charles Dickens, “a lounging, listless madhouse.” Using city records, newspaper articles, and archival reports Stacy Horn brings the stories of the inhabitants back to life, and highlights the work of the period’s officials, reformers, and journalists.

FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED

Registration does not guarantee admission. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A stand by line will form thirty minutes before the program.

The Program Room opens at 6 PM.

To register.

Click here to buy your copy of Damnation Island or try your luck at winning a free copy of the book (thru May 31)

Would be great if Ms Horn gives a reading of Damnation Island right here on Roosevelt Island too!!!

UPDATE 8:45 PM - You can also purchase Damnation Island at the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) Visitors Center Kiosk at the Tram Plaza on Roosevelt Island.

Learn more about the history of Roosevelt Island from RIHS President Judy Berdy during this March 2018 lecture



to the Historic Districts Council.