Blackwell Island: New York's 19th Century Madhouse

Returning to the show is my special 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.       JOIN OUR NEWLY REOPENED PATREON COMMUNITY FOR ACCESS TO OVER 750 EPISODES AND MIND-BLOWING BONUS CONTENT!       "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, site of a lunatic asylum, two prisons, an almshouse, and a number of 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 among us—and reminds us how much work still remains.   ATTENTION: 2023 - SEASON: 8 We have a new feed for 2023 so to ensure you get new releases please make certain that you follow or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app.     Show Us Some Love! Copy and Paste our link in a text message to a friend or family member: https://www.mysteriousradio.com   Follow us on Instagram @mysteriousradio Follow us on TikTok mysteriousradioTikTok Follow us on Twitter @mysteriousradio Follow us on Pinterest pinterest.com/mysteriousradio Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/mysteriousradio   Want All Paranormal Episodes? Follow Our Podcast Paranormal Fears! Follow Paranormal Fears on Apple Podcasts Follow Paranormal Fears on Spotify Follow Paranormal Fears on Google Follow Paranormal Fears on Amazon Follow Paranormal Fears on Podcast Addict Follow Paranormal Fears on TuneIn Radio or in your favorite podcast app!