DiverseCITY highlights the beautiful mosaic that is New York, one neighborhood at a time. The monthly series features a bit of history, shares community issues of concern, and profiles businesses that are unique to their neighborhood. Hosted by Zyphus Lebrun (Study With the Best, Independent Sources), the show hopes to familiarize New Yorkers with their neighboring communities.
... One of the most famous cases associated with the hospital was the journalism of young female reporter Nellie Bly, who in 1887 entered the hospital under the guise of insanity under assignment from Joseph Pulitzer. She wrote, "From the moment I entered the insane ward on the Island, I made no attempt to keep up the assumed role of insanity. I talked and acted just as I do in ordinary life. Yet strange to say, the more sanely I talked and acted, the crazier I was thought to be by all...." Now trapped, Bly was tormented with rotted food, cruel attendants, and cramped and diseased conditions. After talking with other patients she became convinced many were as sane as she was, writing
What, excepting torture, would produce insanity quicker than this treatment? Here is a class of women sent to be cured. I would like the expert physicians who are condemning me for my action, which has proven their ability, to take a perfectly sane and healthy woman, shut her up and make her sit from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on straight-back benches, do not allow her to talk or move during these hours, give her no reading and let her know nothing of the world or its doings, give her bad food and harsh treatment, and see how long it will take to make her insane. Two months would make her a mental and physical wreck.
She was held in the Asylum for ten days before she was finally released with the help of Pulitzer.
Her report, later published in the book Ten Days in a Mad-House, resulted in not only embarrassment for the Institution but a grand jury investigation into the conditions and the question of how so many "professionals" had been fooled. The end result was a $1,000,000 increase in the budget of the Department of Public Charities and Corrections as well as their recommendation of changes proposed by Nellie. Ultimately, this report brought about the end of the Asylum Blackwell's Island....
The Lunatic Asylum is now Roosevelt Island's Octagon luxury rental building.
On a mission to expose the deplorable conditions and mistreatment of patients at the notorious Women’s Lunatic Asylum, investigative reporter Nellie Bly (Christina Ricci) feigns mental illness in order to be institutionalized to report from the inside. The movie delivers an intense and fictionalized account of actual events surrounding Nellie's stay beginning after Nellie has undergone treatment, leaving her with no recollection of how she came to the asylum or her real identity....
What actually happened to Nellie Bly 🕵️♀️ on the real Blackwell's Island? Find out, and watch @ChristinaRicci tell her story in Escaping The Madhouse: #TheNellieBlyStory 📰 premiering Saturday, January 19th at 8/7c. pic.twitter.com/OWF8GBfmuR
Women's History Month/Nellie Bly Flyer Image From RIOC
Received the following information from RIOC and the Roosevelt Island Historical Society concerning the celebration of Women's History Month on Roosevelt Island.
... Around the World in 72 Days is an acclaimed biography of Nellie Bly, a daring investigative reporter. The movie presents her initial fame in revealing conditions in the 19th century New York City Lunatic Asylum (later known as Metropolitan Hospital and now the site of The Octagon). The film also focuses on her effort in 1887 to travel around the world in an attempt to beat the schedule of Jules Verne’s 1873 novel, Around the World in 80 Days.
Sponsored by The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), in partnership with The Roosevelt Island Historical Society, the film will be introduced by Leah Potter, who works at the American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning at the CUNY Graduate Center, and is a specialist on Bly’s work and life.
“RIOC is delighted to celebrate the achievements of women by presenting a series of films that are both educational and entertaining,” said Stephen H. Shane, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. “After the movie, we invite guests to visit The Octagon, 888 Main Street, to learn more about the New York City Lunatic Asylum (later known as Metropolitan Hospital), where Bly began her New York reporting career.”
Around the World in 72 Days will be shown FREE on Saturday, March 28 at 2:00 p.m. at RIVAA Gallery at 527 Main Street; all are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
Earlier this month, A Midwife’s Tale was shown as the first in the two-part series....
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
