The abandoned buildings and grounds were once used to quarantine people and families with highly contageous diseases like TB and Small Pox. See map:
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/15816/
How beautiful is this?? Wonderful imagry from a time best forgotten. I wonder, is there anyone who written of thier time on the island?? I would love to read some on this!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Brother_Island