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Hart Island: Stopping the Anonymity Clock by Revealing Lives Lost
National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/04/unclaimed-coronavirus-victims-being-buried-on-hart-island-long-history-as-potters-field/ (Hart Island, 131 Acres)
Hart Island is an island in the Bronx, at the western end of Long Island Sound in New York. During the Civil War, the Union Army used the island as a camp for prisoners. Later, a sanitarium was built on the island to treat and house tuberculosis patients. The island has housed numerous institutions including, a psychiatric hospital, a reform school for boys, and a substance abuse center. The island now serves as a “Potters Field,” a place where the disadvantaged and disconnected end up when they die.
New York City purchased the island from a private party in 1868 and set aside 45 acres as a burial site. There are at least one million people buried on Hart Island. Recently, the average number of burials increased from 25 per week to 25 per day.
Prisoners from Rikers Island have been responsible for burying the deceased in mass graves. Each grave can hold 1000 infants or 150 adults. Burials during the COVID 19 pandemic, are being done by hired contractors with hazardous material suits. Presently, 150 people each week are buried due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Over one million people buried in these communal graves on this island, some of which died of various epidemics over the years including, yellow fever, the white plague, AIDS, tuberculosis, Spanish Flu, and now, COVID 19.
The Hart Island Project created a searchable database, allowing families to search for their lost loved ones. The burial information on each individual includes a clock, which tracks the amount of time the person has been buried in anonymity. The clock stops when someone (a family member or volunteer) adds information about the person, thus ending their anonymity.
Leroy Clayton, One in a Million (1895-1986) Plot 172
When Leroy Clayton was born on August 22, 1895, in Finleyville, Pennsylvania, his father, Joseph, was 36 and his mother, Frances, was 33. He married Mabel E Spencer on December 22, 1915, in Brooke, West Virginia. He died on August 29, 1986, in New York at the age of 91, and was buried in Bronx County, New York.
Leroy Clayton enlisted in the Army in 1917 when he was 22 years old. He served in Company A of the 317 Engineering Division.
Leroy Clayton died on August 29, 1986, at New York, Presbyterian Hospital.
Rest in Peace-Kathleen
Ronald Barbeire, One in a Million (1939-1980) Plot 120
Ronald Barbeire was born on June 9, 1939, in New York City, New York. He married Josephine Davila in Manhattan, New York in 1968. Rest in Peace-Kathleen
The Social Security Administration has the following information, which would allow the family to request information about his parents:
Name: Ronald Barbeire Social Security Number: 109-32-8682 Birth Date: 9 Jun 1939 Issue year: 1957-1959 Issue State: New York Last Residence: 10302, Staten Island, Richmond, New York, USA Death Date: Jul 1980
Forrest Blake, One in a Million (1937-2004) Plot 319
Forrest Blake was born in Maryland in 1937. He was one of six children born to Russell Blake and Margaret Forrest. Forrest’s grandparents came from St. Inigoes, Maryland. It was a small fishing, farming, and crabbing community. Forrest’s youngest surviving brother died in 2013 and is buried in Garrison Forest Veteran’s Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. Rest in Peace- Lisa & Kathleen
Irwin Gerstner, One in a Million (1934-1980) Plot 120
Irwin Gerstner was born Sept. 21, 1934, in New York City. He was the youngest child born to David Gerstner and Lina Grosin, immigrants from Russia and Romania. His older brother, Bernard, died at the age of 45 while serving in the United States Army Air Forces in WWII. Bernard was a 1st Lt. whose team was shot down during a mission near Yokohama, Japan. The middle child, Murray, died in 1929 at the age of 9. Bernard is buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri. Irwin’s parents and brother, Murray, are buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Queens, New York. Irwin died on July 21, 1980. Rest in peace, Irwin -Kathleen Hill
Abraham Loorstein, One in a Million (1908-1980) Plot 120
Abraham was born in Poland and was living in New York in 1940. He was living with his cousin and aunt while working as an operator in a suit factory. Rest in Peace, Abraham -Kathleen Hill
Michael Siomkin, Jr., One in a Million (1937-1980) Plot 120
Michael John Siomkin, Jr. was born on October 21st, 1937, in Long Island, New York. He was the first child born to Michael John Siomkin Sr. and Sonia Conshick. Michael’s younger brother was named John Michael Siomkin. John’s grandparents, John, and Mary (Bobb) were immigrants from Russia. John enlisted and served in the Army from 1954 to 1955. Michael died on June 1, 1980. Michael is no longer an anonymous person buried on Hart Island. Rest in Peace, Michael- Kathleen Hill
In December 2019, the New York City Council signed legislation allowing the property to transfer from the Department of Corrections to the Parks and Recreation Department. The full transition is expected by July 2020. Plans are being made to memorialize the island and build a public park for family members and visitors to pay their respects.
Bernard is buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri. Irwin’s parents and brother, Murray, are buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Queens, New York. Irwin died on July 21, 1980. Rest in peace, Irwin -Kathleen Hill
