NYC's Potter's field on Hart Island

[@DMEseter]

A mother’s love is forever. Poor lady, wish her peace

[@Papa-o33963]

Her Soul,Our Souls Leave Us and our souls live on before we r buried. Que DiosCristoEspiritoSanto nos Bendiga Siempre y Por Vida, AMÉN.

[@DMEseter]

S C who hurt u bro. U need a hug buddy HMU I got u fam

[@debi909]

@S C Sorry, been there, and my siblings ... I always make sure mine don't have to feel unloved. *Bless you* ... *Blessing Everyone* ...

[@SouthernPirateOutdoors]

I made it to Hart island and stay the night. The video is on my KZbin channel.🏴‍☠️🏴

[@annapurna2389]

Thank you to the woman who sued to get the names + started the Hart Island Project. My friend's mother was buried there..I just showed this video to him. He found out years later when he called from California to NYC Public Records to get a copy of her Death Certificate. The kind clerk told him where the death occurred + burial in Potter's Field. He grew up in Manhattan & never heard of this place until today. He's 71. His mother's b-day is April 30.

[@Xsilif]

Does he plan on having her moved to a regular cemetery?

[@johnguerin1960]

I agree with her sentiment: we all deserve dignity

[@plaguedoctormasque8089]

Sure a Refucklikklan would call this Dignified. Hope you get trump 19.

[@abseconPC]

Yes but if they can't afford a burial plot how can they afford to get into heaven you're not going to get a very good spot in heaven unless you have the means to back it up

[@teamcougars]

No one should ever be buried and forgotten 😢😢thank goodness for the inmates I just want to thank them individually but it’s not possible hopefully some of them will see the video and comments ❤

[@BellaWorldAni]

Maybe this will be one of the things that will change for the better due to this pandemic, that Hart Island can become a place of reverence & dignity for the thousands buried there. I hope that happens. Thanks for this story. It touched my heart.

[@Stoffmonster467]

It's a question of dignity. In Germany even anonymous funerals are done with a service. No one deserves to be dumped on a landfill.

[@geslinam9703]

Uta Hill it’s not a landfill. And who will pay for these services? And it’s not unknown to everyone...I have always been interested in cemeteries and I’ve known about it for a long, long time. I do think it’s wrong to make visiting a hassle and that people aren’t allowed to take their own photos or videos. Makes one think they are hiding something.

[@john-paulnagel2732]

Sad No Person Should Be Buried Alone and without Recognition God Bless All those Families that Lost Someone

[@AZ-kr6ff]

You must be very naive.

[@stuffghlikes]

@S C Honoring someone who has past out of your life is not for the person who is gone, but for those who are still here...

[@josephjackman3252]

They’re not alone..they have over a million keeping them company.

[@juliaweber5026]

I agree

[@kellysquared2]

Former Disney star, Bobby Driscoll is buried on Hart Island. He starred in numerous Walt Disney films including Song of the South, Treasure Island, and he provided the voice of Peter Pan. His life story ended up being a truly tragic one.

[@kellysquared2]

@JCM yes, so tragic

[@kleeamd8274]

He actually might not be there anymore. Hart Island used to have a practice reusing the burial trenches every 25-50 yrs. Not sure when that practice was ended. I know they were still in the practice of reusing the burial trenches in 1978 Also, Bobby Driscoll died in the late 60's. All the burial records before the year 1977 were lost in a fire caused by arson. So even if the trench he was buried in wasn't recycled, there's no record of where his body lies

[@williamsantuzzi5808]

even as a kid i always wondered how many actors and actresses could start a fund for the actors/actresses who passed away without being remembered. if everyone one of those bozos would donate 100.00 dollars to an account people like bobby driscoll would never be forgotten.

[@kenj.8897]

​@@williamsantuzzi5808William there is a fund like that in place . My Aunt was a actress , lived in NYC , she died and nobody in the family was contacted. The fund you speak of paid for everything. She actually was well off and my family received the funds . My first question to the lawyer was who paid for all the costs ?

[@robertzastrow4648]

Besides Bobby Driscoll, writer Dawn Powell and one time girlfriend (sorry, don't know her name) of Rock musician Lou Reed are also buried on Hart Island.

[@coffeenow2382]

Now that we know, we will not forget.

[@loriepostlewaite162]

This is where my niece will be buried in a few days he was 28 I hate the thoughts of it 😢 it’s heartbreaking to me knowing this is where she will be RIP sweet Angel Diana I love You always ❤️❤️😇

[@TheTibetyak]

Amongst the mass graves of anonymity, many were treated with more dignity and respect in death by inmates than they ever received in life. Don't assume those who dug the graves were all soulless, careless men simply waiting their turn to be interred in a Potter's Field.

[@amazingabby25]

🙏 thank you

[@amazingabby25]

Madison Daily have you ever in walked down market or the 13th street freeway underpass, or anywhere in the TL, rich and middle class just step over the poor in the streets. I live right in the heart of the city.

[@shawnaweesner3759]

Thank you to the inmates that have taken such care of our dead for so long.

[@carolyndaniels386]

👍🤝🙏

[@raccoonchronicles5134]

They're not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts...it's called "work release" or "I'll do anything to get outta this prison for a few hours".

[@janice8523]

May God bless all the souls buried there.... God never left them alone... may they Rest In Peace!

[@donpeters9849]

My heart breaks for these people that are unable to let go

[@arroyobaby38]

Oh god my heart aches for this woman 😞 😢

[@stuffghlikes]

My tears are 56 years old... but will never be gone like this woman's. Thank you for being such a nice person.

[@adiksadiatabs]

you should hear what she said in another interview 😏

[@stuffghlikes]

@@adiksadiatabs What did she say?

[@claudiabadia3605]

I never knew much about this island but she’s so right. They deserve love and dignity like anyone else. I hope they finally do some sort of memorial so that people can go to visit and pray. This is so sad. These people were all worth something

[@LisaNYC70]

I don't want it becoming a tourist site though. It should be a memorial that only family should be able to go to. Sorry, but I feel strongly about this because I know of at least 2 family members buried on that island. A baby who only lives a few hours (would have been my great uncle) and my great grandfather.

[@ed10523]

As A Fellow New Yorker born and raised in this Beautiful City, that this Should Never have been. We are better than this. Prayers go out to the Woman on the video and Many Others who have lost their loved ones. Like She Said, We All Deserve Dignity.

[@sophierobinson2738]

I've known about Hart Island for a long time. There have been books, articles, and videos including it.

[@Sunshine-bh8ki]

Has anyone seen the movie "A Tree grows In Brooklyn " There a seen were a neighbor dies and she talk about a little girl has to be Lay to rest and Potter's field

[@suewolfe3898]

Yes! I have the DVD. It was the neighbor girl who died. Her parents were poor but they bought her pricey fancy dresses while she was alive but in the end, they didn’t have a life insurance policy to bury her. And that’s just a little part of the movie! It’s a very good movie!

[@gayemarianesfox2405]

Thank you so much for shedding light on this. ALL people do deserve dignity and I’m glad they created this cemetery but names should be known.

[@kimwray7638]

I am so happy that it is finally in the hands of the parks dept. and it can be visited by family and taken care of now! God bless them all and RIP!

[@eileenmiller7522]

💐R.I.P. 🕊Lord, please comfort Your people. Amen!🕊

[@fastbreak0822]

Well done....... LINDA HUNT You are an awesome human being....

[@kmvenezia4337]

NO, this is America, where they believe you don't deserve dignity unless you can afford to buy it. That's dignity in America.

[@garrett21]

Sad they took it away from the inmates to care for. Doing that kind of work would definitely build character

[@williamjarrell3541]

Or it could allowing somebody's loved one to be disposed by indifferent riffraff who could careless about the work they're doing.

[@LisaNYC70]

I get your point Garrett21 but it is best the parks department takes it over and has actual paid employees to do the work. Hart Island has been held under heavy mystery for too long. As it is, it is still under a sort of cloak of secrecy. Their records are horribly kept too. I've been searching for my great grandfather and have hit brick walls at each turn.

[@thepearl6087]

We have been burying people there for at least 80 years. It is where people who have no family, no plot, no money to be buried and did not give permission for cremation prior to their death or have any family member sign for a cremation.. The city could just have thrown the bodies into the incinerators - but out of respect they pay to ship them there and be buried. Do other states do this?

[@Ghost-Mama]

Her last statement hit home. ❤🌎 wow.

[@gshock3092]

Someday we all will see these people on the other side!

[@NdnUrbanCat]

In Paradise!

[@JustinLodes]

I believe they will be resurrected back onto a paradise earth after Jehovah brings forth Armageddon

[@tinamclaughlin1991]

There is a place for all there. There must be love and respect too!

[@juliaweber5026]

I agree a memorial for those who passed I’m glad

[@StephenGates-bv5jm]

May they rest in peace

[@jeffreygodcharles1778]

I had heard of this because Walt Disney’s Peter Pan voice actor, Bobby Driscoll, was buried there in unmarked grave. Star of Treasure Island, Song of the South (Zippity Doo Dah! 🎶)

[@antoniafoster8264]

Why? Did he not have family or friends that kept in contact with him?

[@williamjarrell3541]

@@antoniafoster8264 No, Bobby Driscoll was another child star who grew up to be a train wreck. As I recall he died of substance abuse was found in an abandoned building or alley circa 1968. When Disney re released Song of the South in 71 or 72 someone in the media went looking for him and his fate was made known. I don't think his family even knew where he was.

[@antoniafoster8264]

Oh, thank you for responding. I didn’t know.

[@djeeyore25]

It's a tragic tale indeed. While I was out walking one night, I actually went by the location where he was found. The site has certainly changed over the years, but it's still sad knowing that's where he passed away.

[@jeffreygodcharles1778]

Antonia Foster There’s a KZbin documentary on his life and death. Bobby Driscoll- The Lost Boy- I believe.

[@juliedee620]

I’ll be praying for the mom & her daughter❤️🙏

[@karenm7449]

This footage surely cuts at the heart of the grieving families. Have you no shame or respect for them?

[@samanthab1923]

It's shocking that it's in such poor condition too. The ruins, no grass & after Sandy the erosion was so bad bones were being exposed. Recently the city was given 13 mill to fix it up but alas not forthcoming.

[@stuffghlikes]

Wow... that is horrible. My child that arrived too early and didn't make it is also buried in a mass grave in Providence, RI. It's been a long time, but I still weep like this woman on the program and several years ago, one of the richest and well known colleges (RI School of Design) did a horrible ghost program at the cemetery, including old black and white ghost cartoons projected up into the trees while playing Latin American rock music. Apparently they thought that because it was an old cemetery that nobody had loved ones there... They said they did it to make the local community aware to keep it free of all the drug paraphenalia, etc... Respect for the dead seems often lost. My heart bleeds for those who can not find respect in their hearts for those lost.

[@jaym8299]

4:51 "The whole point of a cemetery is story telling" WTF!? It's to bury bodies?

[@tinklvsme]

Vincent, thank you! 🙏🌹❤️

[@Melissa-cb7wz]

Heartbreaking

[@gloriahanes6490]

God Bless Melinda Hunt and her efforts for these poor souls, I will view the Hart Island Project on KZbin. A Memorial Plaque to honor those buried would be a fitting tribute to the souls buried at Potter's Field.

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

The famous Puerto Rican poet Julia De Burgos died an alcoholic, in poverty in NYC and it was some time before her body, buried in Hart Island, could be disinterred..and brought to Puerto Rico, where she was given a funeral and laid to rest in her home country. My good neighbor Philip St. George is also buried on Hart Island, because he left no will, and we thought he was impoverished. Ironically, he had several thousand dollars in a bank account which would have allowed him to be buried in Richmond, next to his mother. We only learned of the bank account.... years later. By then, 'the City' had claimed them. Always makes me sad to think..

[@Nudnik1]

So sad... She a good Mom... Should be a big respectful service done there when this is over make the island beautiful also. I want to be buried there now.......

[@MommyCassReborns]

even run by inmates they could give them creative license to have done some nice land scaping and keeping records on each...and maybe even making markers or stones back at the prison to commemorate each. Inmates would do a good job because they could identify with the down on your luck and abandonment/loneliness thing.

[@kimwray7638]

Then He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said: “ Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Luke:6 20-22

[@lazmotron]

There is a very touching scene at the end of the Matt Dillon, Danny Glover 1993 movie The Saint of Fort Washington that takes place at Hart Island. That's how I first found out about NYCs potter's field.

[@joannharden8867]

I saw that movie too. So sad ❤️

[@motogamma442]

subscribe to me in response subscribe to you

[@motogamma442]

Lazaro Monteagudo subscribe to me in response subscribe to you

[@jesdadotcom]

Thanks for taking the time to talk about this. It's needlessly alarming to people who catch it on CNN but don't understand the history.

[@theplayerformerlyknownasmo3711]

See how people never forget. If youre hurting now it will always hurt. You just learn to live with it.

[@janemann3045]

This is sad, Thanks goes out to the woman that started the Island Project.

[@tudorjason]

Companies and organizations that practice secrecy and laziness always get me mad. Whichever hospital where Elaine had her baby should be ashamed about their procedures.

[@gloriataylor6868]

I ABSOLUTELY agree: we ALL deserve a dignified burial, regardless of our financial means.

[@ZeacorZeppelin]

I knew of Heart island as a kid. You know that ferry boat, the Michael Cosgrove will be at the staten Island ferry Terminal when its not needed there.

[@davidwomack5982]

Hart Island without a ♥️

[@bishopjd2]

My uncle Joe Anthony Daniels is buried there. He was an indigent alcoholic veteran...

[@elysetroubadour6117]

I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope he rests in peace

So very sorry that his life took that awful road. Blessings on him, always!

[@Nudnik1]

He was a hero...

[@barbarawoodbury5929]

I'm so sorry. The veterans are and were never treated properly.

[@carolyndaniels386]

So sorry. May he RIP🌼❤

[@elizabethtrainer9732]

I think Prisoner's would be far more respectful to the bodies than a paid landscaper would be, prisoner's by in large know what disenfranchisement feels like, and also being alone.

[@styxrivers8606]

God bless this place.

[@tudorjason]

Hart Island was discussed in Don't Say A Word. Not featured since a camera crew probably wouldn't have been allowed on the island in 2001. And it's probably been discussed in other movies and TV series. So it can't be news to everyone.

[@bryonkidder6199]

That was a good short history of Hart Island...WoW!

[@corieddings5713]

Oh thank you for doing this...the way the news was portraying it was like something out of a horror movie, still kind of is but at least we know why. I cry everyday for the families that have lost loved ones💛

[@debi909]

... Blessing Everyone ...

[@cynthiaschwab8894]

Fear not. No body dies alone! 🙏🤓!

[@maga6252]

So were prisoners also buried there when they passed or when executions were carried out for the condemned? Just a thought.

[@Venture_Fanatic]

This is a true reflection of America at it's core.

[@amethystwhite5803]

💔

[@daedaetinez6406]

Heart island should change its name to “Broken Heart Island “. 💔😞😔

[@cmck2021]

😢😢😢

[@krist444]

So sad that she had to lose her child and I believe that's really where the suffering is. I guess unless she hasn't found Christ Jesus the burial of her daughter in that place may also affect her. Let us pray 🙏

[@blessings7015]

Sorry for the out come of how Elaine was treated for her Baby. When you someone can't afford a proper burial atimes that how someone get treated. The City have funds to do things that are not worthwhile,But anything too cheap never good. Everyone wanted to be treated fair and square. God bless everyone stay strong and encouraged.

[@paintnamer6403]

Ask a Mortician has videos about Hart Island and the overwhelmed funeral homes.

[@steelerscountry4849]

Honor, respect, dignity... what else matters

[@redtrinitygirl]

People who don't know about this must not care about what happens to John/Jane does or the poor after they die..

[@timsworld9342]

You should change your user name to Captain Obvious

[@whitneyj2075]

Nope. Got better things to worry about.

[@ariw9405]

This same lady who in another video says her daughter shouldn’t be buried with bums and homeless people. She’s disrespectful of the other souls buried there

[@LisaNYC70]

What she should realize and shame on her for not thinking about it is that many babies are buried on Hart's Island too. Children of those who couldn't afford the ridiculous costs. Many elderly who had no family or money are buried there. Does she know the stories of those she labeled "Bums and homeless people" saying homeless people as if it's two dirty words! I lost sympathy for her with this ignorant comment.

[@princesssochi1006]

With today's technology I hope that DNA is being done on those buried there so someone can possibly identify them eventually. How do you find a list of the people whose Identities are known that are buried there??

[@beverlywideman9076]

IN JESUS' PRECIOUS NAME -- 🙏🏾 AMEN!!! 💝🌈🧑🏾‍🎨🤗💞

[@eileenmiller7522]

💐R.I.P.!

[@owencrutcher493]

Patricia Cornwell wrote a book about Potter's Field with the character Kay Scarpetta (Medical Examiner) in it. Thought it was a fictional location. Boy, you learn something new every day.

[@bengrogan3620]

It sounds like did you ever see your dead baby I mean back then people did steal kids. All the time.

[@adapedneau1114]

RIP

[@tyresebrinson8584]

I saw an episode of #POSE that showed this burial spot for 80s AIDS victim.

[@brooklynnikki478]

I feel so sad for her and her baby that died.

[@larrydeleau8538]

I'm not a burial expert...but wouldn't you strike water if your digging deep on an island. ..just wondering 🤔

[@92stkmelo]

A preson i was close 2 was burried over there C.I.P💙💫Ⓜ️

[@ekop1778]

AMERICA IS ONE SICK COUNTRY DISGRACE WE LIVE THIS WAY UNREAL

[@andreschavez7831]

I would never leave my child ALONE @ a hospital and go home! Then say u cant get back to the hospital! Walk! Ski! Crawl! Poor baby:( 🙏🙏 Now sympathy 4 her? NO!

[@ericreguli2116]

So sad.

[@motogamma442]

Eric Reguli subscribe to me in response subscribe to you

[@suewolfe3898]

Very sad. 😔

[@motogamma442]

Maryann Williams subscribe to me in response subscribe to you

[@gotmula760]

🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@42luke93]

No cameras allowed? I really want to go here now. I am so sick of phones and computers.

[@jefflibby6680]

A daughter is known why is she there. Why did you plant her there. You had a job.

[@ctsv-2s]

so many years ago i was out in march in my 18 ft jet boat with my friend .Went to city island for drinks left there .boat stalled and we floated onto a what we thought was a derserted island ,no cell phone then getting darker and raining .We walked around looking for help came up upon a razer wire fence with a dark building in the middle .Threw rocks until the window lit up and these dark faces packed the window yelling obsene words at us and we replied back the same way .Then we saw a fire in the window and we reailized they were INMATES! Soon a helicopter was over us ans a big dump truck pulled up yelling us to get on the ground crazy! we got brougt back by a inmate boat (the benches had handcufs attached to them ) My Girlfriend and mom came to pick us up and had to drive from pt washington to city island to get my boat back .The correctional had to go back to tow the boat for the inmates were rioting !

[@milkman81]

That island has to be great for the water table...

[@sophierobinson2738]

MilkMan81 How so?

[@rosalbahamer994]

Yup

[@Badgasvideo]

:58 one million people are buried here????!

[@corieddings5713]

Ya makes you sick to your stomach, I seen stacks of 4 but who knows maybe it goes down farther.😨

[@markybear92840]

So, you replaced free labor...with paid labor. Nice one NYC. Paupers graveyards have existed for generations. This mother, may her child rest in peace, needs to deal with her loss. For CBS news to wrap her pain in with COVID 19 for sensationalism, well, just shameful.

[@MGR1900]

What the hell is this?

[@patvorster3956]

Who is being buried there now? Is there a record of their names and what was the cause of their death? Will we be able to find out?

[@QueenZenaTheFirst]

So sad

[@motogamma442]

Alek B subscribe to me in response subscribe to you

[@detroitmania]

Who built the buildings? What were they used for?

[@kleeamd8274]

The buildings served many different purposes: - Union Civil War prison camp - a psychiatric institution - a tuberculosis sanitarium - a homeless shelter - a boys' reformatory -a jail -a drug rehabilitation center

[@Cristina-oq5cv]

I think they should make a memorial with all the names of the people that are buried there and also publish it in the internet because there’s a lot of immigrants that have died and their families never knew what happened to them they just never came back. It’s horrible where all those people ended up So sad.

[@timlackiejr.7873]

You have to put them somewhere. May God keep them in Jesus' name. Amen.

[@statewidesandblastingstate7171]

Sad story.. but, what are you gonna do..

[@Justin-yc1ig]

🤷🏼‍♂️

[@lucky1u]

It's hard to get sappy about this when you know amazing creatures who care very deeply for their young are slaughtered and abused without any thought or respect to them. So, what about them?

[@LisaNYC70]

My great grandfather wasn't a nice man from what I understand. Gambler, drinker and would disappear for months at a time. Sometime in the mid to late 1950's he died 'in the street' from what I am told by family. When he died, he must have had his nieces name and number in his pocket. They called her, but her husband answered. She was in Turkey at the time and he was leaving in a week to join her. He never told my great grandfathers 4 adult daughters or his wife (they were estranged sometime before the 1940's census, but never divorced). The husband went to Turkey and then on to Greece. Only months later when they returned to the states did he tell his wife who then told her cousins. We believe he was buried on Hart's Island but I cannot find any records. I understand there was a fire that destroyed records for around the time he would have died and been buried. We don't know that his niece's husband told the caller. If they even had my great grandfathers name. If he told them his name or that they had the right person. It's a mystery I would love to solve. I've tried the Hart's Island website but entering his name comes up with nothing.