S6: Blackwell Island: New York’s 19th Century Madhouse

Returning to the show is my notable guest author, Stacy Horn, who's here to discuss the mother of all asylums and the horrific things that occurred there!  Get her book Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th Century New York on Amazon.     About the book:  "Enthralling; it is well worth the trip.” --New York Journal of Books  Conceived as the most modern, humane incarceration facility the world had ever seen, New York's Blackwell's Island, the site of a lunatic asylum, two prisons, an almshouse, and several hospitals, quickly became, in the words of a visiting Charles Dickens, "a lounging, listless madhouse." Digging through city records, newspaper articles, and archival reports, Stacy Horn tells a gripping narrative through the voices of the island's inhabitants. We also hear from the era's officials, reformers, and journalists, including the celebrated undercover reporter Nellie Bly. And we follow the extraordinary Reverend William Glenney French as he ministers to Blackwell's residents, battles the bureaucratic mazes of the Department of Correction and a corrupt City Hall, testifies at salacious trials, and in his diary wonders about man's inhumanity to his fellow man. Damnation Island shows how far we've come in caring for the least fortunate and reminds us how much work still remains.    Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook It's super easy to access our archives! Here's how: iPhone Users: Access Mysterious Radio from  Apple Podcasts and become a subscriber there, or if you want access to even more exclusive content, join us on Patreon. Android Users: Enjoy over 800 exclusive member-only posts to include ad-free episodes, case files, and more when you join us on Patreon.  Please copy and Paste our link in a text message to all your family members and friends! We'll love you forever! (Check out Mysterious Radio!)Do you frequently miss episodes of Mysterious Radio? Don't worry; here are some tips to ensure you never miss out again:1. If you haven't already, follow or subscribe to the show to receive updates on new episodes. Even if you have already done this, it's a good idea to click the option again to ensure that you are still subscribed. This is especially important!2. Turn on notifications for new episodes in your podcast app.3. Make sure that your device allows notifications from your podcast app.4. If your app has the option, swipe down to refresh the list of episodes. Do you frequently miss episodes of Mysterious Radio? Don't worry; here are some tips to ensure you never miss out again:1. If you haven't already, follow or subscribe to the show to receive updates on new episodes. Even if you have already done this, it's a good idea to click the option again to ensure that you are still subscribed. This is especially important!2. Turn on notifications for new episodes in your podcast app.3. Make sure that your device allows notifications from your podcast app.4. If your app has the option, swipe down to refresh the list of episodes.
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