The above image is derived from a scan of the NYC DOC 1954 annual report digest.

Hart Island, consisting of approximately 100 acres, is located at the foot of Fordham Street in Bronx County, east of City Island and at the northern point of Long Island Sound.

In 1868 the island contained some old buildings used for the detention of incorrigible children.

Some years later this project was abandoned and the institution was converted into an asylum for the insane.

Above: a reduced image of a scan of Page 50 in the NYC DOC 1954 annual report digest.

Since April 20, 1869, the City of New York has maintained a burial ground here, known as Potters Field, for unknown and unclaimed persons. Workhouse inmates provide the labor service required for this project.

In 1895 the Department of Correction acquired the Hart Island institution and established a Branch Workhouse for aged men, drug addicts whose general health had been impaired, prisoners who had undergone surgical operations and others who were serving short terms.

In 1905 the Department also established a reformatory at Hart Island for young offenders known as a “Reformatory for Misdemeanants.”*

The housing and commingling of both adults and young offenders resulted in a complete lack of segregation and treatment programs for the adolescents.

This situation was rectified on March 8, 1914, when the first transfer was made of the adolescent group from Hart Island to New Hampton Reformatory.

The NYC DOC 1954 annual report transmitted by Anna M. Kross to Mayor Ronert F. Wagner on Jan. 1, 1955, covered her first full year as Correction Commisioner.

In 1947, the Department of Correction decided that, in view of its low inmate census, Workhouse accommodations could be provided on Rikers Island.

This necessitated the unsound policy of commingling Workhouse and Penitentiary inmates.

Upon this Department's recommendation, the Board of Estimate adopted a Resolution on February 23, 1950. authorizing the release of Hart Island to the Department of Welfare to be used for a rehabilitation center for homeless men.

The administrative decision to release Hart Island to the Department of Welfare, which was effected by July 13, 1950, was based on the assumption that the facilities on Rikers Island would accommodate a steadily increasing prison inmate population.

As the growth of the sentenced inmate population began to exceed the housing capacity during the early part of 1954, the inadequacy of the Rikers Island facilities became apparent.

In distance (right), Commissioner Anna M. Kross and aides watch as Rikers Island inmates board ferry to Hart Island Aug. 20, 1954. Move cursor over image of inmates boarding ferry to bring up image of AMK watching. Clicking image accesses larger one. Use browser's "back" button to return to page.

Accordingly, this administration entered into negotiations with City officials to obtain additional housing quarters.

As a result, Hart Island was restored to us on August 17, 1954.

The population of the Penitentiary and Workhouse on Rikers Island reached the all-time high of 3,759 inmates on August 20, 1954, even though the rated capacity for the Penitentiary was 1,887 and that of the Workhouse 1,000.

On August 20, 1954, with an inmate population at the Rikers Island Workhouse totaling 2,066, there was an immediate transfer of 208 inmates to Hart Island.

On December 30, 1954, the census of Hart Island was 514 and as housing facilities are steadily reactivated there, such transfers will continue to be made.

A program of physical repair, utilizing both inmate labor projects and contract projects, is now under way. A sum of $300,000 has been allocated for repairs.

When completed, the institution will house a minimum of 1,560 adult short-term prisoners in four groupings:

Image of municipal ferry Greenwich Village transporting Rikers Island inmates to Hart Island. Click image to see larger version escorted by patrol board from which someone -- quite likely AMK -- keeps watch on the transfer. Use your browser's "back" button to return to page.

• a) short-sentence persons 5 to 30 days;

• b) selected social problem groups, such as non-support and other family and marital conflict cases;

• c) aged and infirm persons with a differentiated treatment program for the geriatric, alcoholic, drug addict groups;

• d) unclassified prisoners serving 30 days to six months, including violators of automobile laws, etc.

There is ample opportunity for prison labor in maintenance and repair since this institution still requires extensive physical alterations.

Hart Island-bound inmates from Riker Island make ready to disrenbark the Greenwich Village upon arrival. Click image to see larger version. Use your browser's "back" button to return to page.<

Although the appropriations were large, they did not begin to meet the needs of the emergency situation, nor did they provide for a new building program.

The Santa Claus Toy Repair Workshop was again introduced for the repair of damaged, antiquated toys, which are then distributed to the needy children of New York by the Police Athletic League (PAL) of the Police Department.

Other handicrafts and manual productions are conducted in this large workshop, primarily by the geriatric group.

The workshop's productivity for the year 1954 was as follows:

Hart Island programs often involved useful activity to occupy the time being served by elderly inmates in the Workhouse, such as mending toys for Christmas distribution to needy children. In the above photo, Warden Edward Dros and Commissioner Kross watch inmate at work sewing a doll. Click image for larger image of Sanata's Hart Island substation. Use browser's "back" button to return to page.

• 3,471 Toys direct to the Police Athletic League .
• 388 Toy units to Magistrates' Home Term Court.

Many quiet games were distributed for the inmate population; a craft project program was begun; art instruction was instituted; radios were supplied for each dormitory area; library facilities were opened and specific recreational areas were designated. Plans are in the offing to convert unused outdoor sections into recreational areas for all the athletic activities.

The departmental Social Service Unit is attempting to serve the aged and homeless prisoner here during his stay and upon his release makes contacts with the Department of Welfare and other social agencies for housing, job placement, or hospitalization. A Separation Unit is in process of being instituted with the cooperation of the Department of Welfare .

* Chapter 305 of the Laws of 1905 with an amendment under Chapter 516 of the Laws of 1907 limiting commitments to first offenders 16 - 30 years of age.