North Brother Island- Physical Plant
I’ve spent the last several years visiting the quarantine island known as North Brother, documenting the slow change and decay of the buildings over the years. Located in the middle of the East River off the Bronx in New York, the island is a nesting sanctuary for herons and rarely seen by anyone outside of the NY Parks Department.
Best known as the island where Typhoid Mary was quarantined, the elements have battered the remaining dozen or so structures and brutal wintery freeze thaws cause wooden additions to collapse by the month. This first post will focus on the physical plant on North Brother.
September 2010
March 2009
November 2009
December 2008
The interior of the powerhouse, containing two smokestacks and two-story tall boilers has fallen victim to brutal storms and in the warmer months is carpeted in vines. Remains of wire reinforced purple glass from the former ceiling litter the ground, buried under decades of detritus.
November 2009
September 2010
Though there’s several entrances to the physical plant, some are more difficult to access then others. A lightning strike to one of the smokestacks years ago caused an explosion of bricks and other material westward, partially collapsing the roof of the neighboring morgue building.
Entrance directly across from the coal house, where the fuel for the plant was stored after being shipped in off a designated loading dock.
Two story tall boilers at the west end of the plant.
My compatriot in exploring the island has an incredible, well publicized blog entry exploring the island’s history in depth, it’s highly recommended reading.
Further reading:
The Kingston Lounge: North Brother Island
wardnine 
Fantastic work. I love seeing your photos across seasons.