Free Upper West Side History Lecture Tonight Focusing On Former Insane Asylum On Columbia Campus
A vintage postcard view of Columbia's famed Low Library. The red building to the right, which still stands today, is the last remnant of an insane asylum that stood where Columbia built its campus. (Credit: Michael Susi, via DNAinfo)
DNAinfo reports that an insane asylum used to stand on the current Columbia University campus. Hobbyist historian Michael Susi will shed light on the prestigious school’s unusual history at a free talk this evening at 6:00 pm entitled “The Remnants of the Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane.” Per DNAinfo:
The asylum began operating in the 1820s, and at its height was home to roughly 300 inmates, Susi said. The facility was a “dumping ground” for all of New York City’s insane, until the infamous Blackwell’s Island asylum opened in 1839, Susi said.
After that, the Bloomingdale facility catered to wealthier clients who were thought to be curable. It was one of the first asylums in the country that used humane forms of treatment, Susi said.
“They got sun, relaxation and moderate exercise,” Susi said. At the time, Morningside Heights was isolated and rural, providing a peaceful setting for patients.
Susi’s talk will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 pm tonight, at the American Youth Hostel (891 Amsterdam, corner of 104th).
Click through to the DNA article for a slideshow of some great vintage postcards of the Upper West Side.
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Tags: Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane, Columbia University, free lecture, History, Michael Susi, New York City, NYC, Upper West Side, UWS, vintage postcards
