Bellevue Hospital In New York Has A Dark And Fascinating History
Bellevue Hospital in New York, founded in 1736, is the oldest public hospital in the U.S. with a notable history of medical firsts and a notorious psychiatric ward.
In 1799, Bellevue opened the first maternity ward in the United States. The first mobile treatment centers, (which were forerunners to modern day ambulances, though at that time they were horse-drawn), started here in 1869. Bellevue even housed New York City's first city morgue!
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Despite these many achievements, Bellevue is probably best known for its psychiatric ward, one of the first in the nation.
Unfortunately, treatment of the mentally ill was not always humane in those times. There are many horror stories of abuse suffered by patients at Bellevue.
The hospital has always been a public facility intended to treat all, regardless of their ability to pay. Due to this, it was often a holding place for "foundlings" (orphaned children or babies that were abandoned).
Some reports state that at times, rats fed on the flesh of ill or dying children. The conditions of all hospitals in this time period were poor compared to what we are used to today. Sadly, since Bellevue catered to the lowest rungs of society, conditions were often particularly bad there.
Patients were often crowded into rooms and sometimes even tents when rooms ran out.
Surgery without anesthesia was common in this time period. Insulin shock therapy was another nightmare treatment. It caused horrible seizures but had the supposed benefit of calming people with behavioral issues.
Today, thankfully, we live in a world with hospital reform and patients at Bellevue are treated humanely regardless of their medical conditions or ability to pay.
Bellevue is still operating in the present-day, now under the official name NYC Health + Hospitals / Bellevue. It is still one of the largest hospitals in the country by number of beds, with nearly 850.
For another place in New York with a creepy backstory, check out the Island of the Dead, Hart Island.
The first partially successful photograph was taken over 200 years ago, a technological step forward we couldn't be more grateful for. It helps us see just how much the times have changed. Looking through old photos of New York is always interesting to see, it takes you on a trip back to a time when things were much simpler. Get your daily dose of nostalgia with these mind-blowing photos showing life in the 1930s in New York.
Taken in the town of Middletown in Orange County, this shot from 1939 gives you a peek at how New York's small towns were centered around this strip of road.
Something that's usually now considered a bit of a hidden gem, General Stores used to be in every small New York town. Pictured here, you can see the old Sterlingville general store that was once up in Jefferson County in the late 1930s.
It was during this time in history when more and more of New York State's parks began to become developed. While many know Watkins Glen as being one of our most stunning state parks, many may not realize that this land has been managed by New York since 1924. Also, make sure to take notice of the outfits in this photo!
Before New Yorkers were busy running to the local grocery store for milk, they were having their delicious dairy delivered right to their homes! Captured in 1939, you can see a family's milk delivery by the side of the road somewhere out in Orange County.
To imagine elementary schools as anything other than considerable-sized buildings with hallways full of classrooms is a hard idea for some of us. Historic photos of New York like this one from 1939, remind us that one-room schoolhouses like this were in every small New York town.
Children's school desks now come in a more simplistic design, where they're lightweight and easy to pick up and move around a classroom. But back in the 1930s, it took a bit more craft to create these heavy desks like the ones you see here captured in 1937 in Albany County.
Nowadays, barns can often feel few and far between, with businesses and neighborhood developments being built up everywhere. But back in 1937 in Otsego County, you could find charming little barns like this on almost every road you traveled along.
Something that you also don't see as much nowadays, train stations were once always a quick ride or walk away from where you lived. Here you can see an old railroad station out in Cooperstown from 1937. Sadly, it seems that closing down New York's railways has become a more popular decision to be made in modern days.
The days of scrubbing our clothes clean in a barrel may seem like they're far behind us, but it wasn't until the 1950s that automatic washing machines became popular and entered the American household. Pictured in this shot from 1936, you can see what laundry rooms once looked like in Albany County.
Not all of New York's roads were paved during the 1930s. In this shot from Otsego County, you can see what it was like in the 1930s in New York as a family walked their cows down a dirt road during September of 1937.
Looking at the oldest photos in New York, it's always interesting to see how much our state has transformed over the years. Life in the 1930s in New York was certainly different than it is now.
To immerse yourself in more state pride, check out Wear Your Roots. Then, for fun, see if you can pronounce these 16 words - it might just tell you if you are a true New Yorker.
You may know that New York is first in your heart, but did you know that it was first in a number of other accomplishments? (Like creating the very first pet cemetery!) Let's take a look at some things invented in New York you may not have heard about.
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1. New York City was the first capital of the United States (1785)
The U.S. Constitution named New York City as the first capital. Congress and the Supreme Court's very first sittings were Federal Hall on Wall Street (then called Old City Hall). George Washington was also inaugurated as President there.
Sadly, NYC's role as a capital was short lived. The honor was transferred to Philadelphia in 1790 due to fears that the high society in New York was too aristocratic and financially-oriented.
Learn why New York is not the capital of the United States in this video from KhAnubis:
2. The Clermont took the first successful steamboat voyage (1807)
As the world's first steamboat, it's no exaggeration to say that the Clermont changed the course of transportation. The ship operated on the Hudson River (then often called the North River) between New York City and Albany. The first voyage's average speed was around 5 miles per hour.
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3. The first American chess tournament was held (1843)
The first modern chess tournament was held in England in 1841 and shortly thereafter, chess became an international phenomenon. The first American tournament was a local match held in New York in 1843. By 1857, America was hosting American Chess Congress competitions to determine national champions.
4. The first women's rights convention met at Seneca Falls (1848)
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention. It set off a flurry of other women's rights conventions that occurred in the following years. The meeting discussed the prospect of women gaining the right to vote and discussions of what the role of women in society should be.
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5. Belva Lockwood became the first female attorney to practice before the United States Supreme Court (1879)
Belva Lockwood was a proponent of women's suffrage who was one of the first women to graduate from law school. She was the first female attorney to practice in front of the Supreme Court and was also the first woman to run for President (1884, 1888).
6. Niagara Falls became the first state park. (1885)
Prior to Niagara Falls being obtained by the state, the land's ownership was private and there was little public access to the area. Thankfully, that all changed when the Niagara Reservation was named a state park!
7. Toilet paper was invented in New York City (1857)
Other substances had been used for bathroom wiping for centuries, but it was not until 1857 that modern, commercially available toilet paper was invented. It was originally sold in sheets with the inventor's name printed on it!
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New York was the first to do what? Yes, toilet paper. Prepare to be razzled and dazzled by the history of toilet paper in this video from History of Stuff:
The teddy bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt. He was involved in an incident in which he refused to kill an American black bear that had been captured and tied to a tree. The occurrence was popularized in political cartoons, and a New York candy maker was inspired to create a stuffed bear named after Roosevelt. The bears were immediately popular and the inventor's newly-found toy company ended up being a huge success.
9. The first roller coaster to operate in the United States was at Coney Island (1884)
The museum was started in hopes of educating urban children about natural science. Today, children are heavily involved in planning out new exhibits there!
11. The first 3D film shown to a paying audience was played at the Astor Theater (1915)
Bill Richmond was born into slavery in New York. During the Revolutionary War, a British commander was impressed with Richmond's performance in a bar fight and arranged for him to be freed. He was transported to England, where he was educated and began boxing in his 40s. He proved an immense success, winning 17 of his 19 matches.
Learn more about the fascinating life of Bill Richmond in this video from Today I Found Out:
15. New York was the first state to require license plates on vehicles (1901)
The first license plates were not made by the state, but instead crafted by the car's owners (typically on leather or iron). They were printed with the owner's initials and designed to notate ownership.
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Did you know that New York was the first to accomplish these things? Of all of the first things New York participated in which one surprised you the most? Be sure to tell us about any other New York firsts you've discovered in the comments! If you're proud to hail from such an inventive state, wear your state pride on your sleeve with this apparel from Wear Your Roots.
Then, check out a few things that Buffalo, New York was the first to do:
