This octagonal building is all that’s left of the infamous New York Lunatic Asyl…

This octagonal building is all that’s left of the infamous New York Lunatic Asylum, about which reporter Nellie Bly wrote, in her book Ten Days in a Mad-House: “A criminal . . . is given every chance to prove his innocence. Who would not rather be a murderer and take the chance for life than be declared insane, without hope of escape?”

These days, it’s a very fancy apartment building.

To learn more, check out the essay I wrote, The Ghosts of Hell Gate, in the Feminine Macabre (follow the link in @spookeats ‘s bio to get that!)

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