New York State harbors numerous abandoned hospitals and asylums, each carrying its own unsettling history and spooky narratives. Among these, a standout with a particularly haunting past and present is the Smallpox Hospital on Roosevelt Island.
The Renwick Smallpox Hospital
Situated on Roosevelt Island in Manhattan, New York City, the Smallpox Hospital, originally designed by architect James Renwick Jr., first opened its doors in 1856. Alongside the hospital, the island housed prisons, hospitals, and a mental asylum.
The primary purpose of the hospital was to accommodate and treat individuals afflicted with smallpox, a disease often linked with poverty and marginalized communities. Eventually abandoned, in 1972, it gained the distinction of becoming New York City’s “only landmarked ruin.
A History Shrouded in Haunting Tales
The hospital’s history is fraught with stories of suffering and death, given the lethality of smallpox during its time. Constructed using ‘chain gang’ prison labor, the formidable Gothic Revival structure contributes to the eerie atmosphere.
Roosevelt Island, home not only to the Smallpox Hospital but also to prisons, hospitals, and a mental asylum, has given rise to numerous tales of hauntings and paranormal activities, solidifying its status as one of the creepiest places in the state.
Other Spine-Chilling Hospitals in New York
While the Smallpox Hospital stands out, New York boasts several other abandoned hospitals and asylums, each with its own chilling histories. The Buffalo Psychiatric Center, now transformed into a luxury hotel, treated mental illness patients until the early 1970s and is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of former soldiers and mental patients who met violent and unnatural ends.
Likewise, the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Hospital, sprawling over 800 acres with more than eighty buildings, is said to be haunted by the spirits of former mental patients subjected to inhumane and experimental medical procedures.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly one of the creepiest places in New York State, the Smallpox Hospital on Roosevelt Island, with its chilling history and eerie ambiance, stands as a haunting reminder of the suffering endured by smallpox-afflicted individuals and the harsh realities of medical treatment in that era. Today, it remains a chilling landmark, a testament to a bygone era.
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