THE HART ISLAND PROJECT

Submitted by ub on

It was a free lecture and the standing room only event at The City Island Public Library today was fascinating as Melinda Hunt delivered her amazing presentation of the historic significance of NYC Potters Field.

The founding director of The Hart Island Project spoke about the need for the NY City Council to pass bill 848 allowing members of the public access to visit Hart Island, like they would visit other public parks.

Hart Island was purchased by the City in 1868 from the Hunter family of the Bronx for $75,000. The following year it was established as the City's public cemetery for the burial of those persons who died indigent or whose bodies went unclaimed. In the first year, 1,875 burials were performed. The NYC Department of Corrections currently controls this island.
http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/nycdoc/html/hart.html

Hunt has devoted two decades researching, and documenting information about the million member burial site.

http://hartisland.net