In 1848 Ireland was gripped by famine. Nearly a million people would die of starvation and typhoid Fever. Desperate for survival a million more Irish would abandon their homeland and come to America. Many settled in the Five Points section of lower Manhattan infamous for its squalor, violence and disease
By the end of the Civil War, an estimated 30,000 orphaned and homeless children roamed the streets of New York City. They survived by resorting to petty crime, by begging, and by selling newspapers for a nickel a piece.
In response to this crisis the age of orphan asylums began, culminating in one of the most improbable and audacious episodes in American history. Inspired by Charles Loring Brace, it was called the Orphan Train Movement. It endeavored to save these children by heroes who fought for their liberation.
Michael T. Keene is the author of Folklore and Legends of Rochester, Murder, Mayhem and Madness, Mad~House, Question of Sanity, and now his new book,
NEW YORK CITY’S HART ISLAND: A CEMETERY OF STRANGERS
Pre-Order a signed, soft cover copy of the book: New York City's Hart Island, directly from the Author
https://michaeltkeene.com/hart-island-soft-cover-book/
*Orders will ship on or after Oct 14, 2019
Learn more about Author / Host / Filmmaker Michael T. Keene
https://michaeltkeene.com/about/
Send questions / comments / suggestions to:
https://michaeltkeene.com/contact/
Connect with Michael T. Keene on Social Media
Twitter https://twitter.com/talkhartisland
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkingHartIsland/
Ship Ablaze with Edward T. O’Donnell
Leonard Melfi with Edward Berkeley
The Great Arrival with Diane Vecchio
Shelia Terry with Larry Powell
The Manly Arts with Elliott J. Gorn
The Triangle Shirt Waist Factory Fire with Hasia Diner
Leola Dickerson with Peter Strauss
Bellevue with Dr. Danielle Ofri
Dawn Powell with Tim Page
Damnation Island with Stacy Horn
A Pickpockets Tale with Timothy J. Gilfoyle
Inside Rikers: Stories From the World’s Largest Penal Colony
Hart Island A Musical by Michelle Elliot and Danny Larsen
Forgotten Ellis island with Lorie Conway
Five Points with Professor Tyler Anbinder
Bobby Driscoll with Dave Bossert
Superstorm with Dr. David A. Robinson
The Treasure of Hart Island with Mike Monahan
The Island at the Center of the World with Russell Shorto
Talking Hart Island PROMO Trailer
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