Thursday, January 4, 2024 – A SAD FINISH TO THE STORY OF THE STOLEN LAMPS

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

THURSDAY, JAN. 4, 2024

REMNANTS OF

GOLDWATER HOSPITAL VANISHED,

PART 2

JUDITH BERDY

ISSUE#  1156

THE GOLDWATER LAMPS

FROM 1939 TO 2013 SIX BRONZE LAMPS GRACED THE ENTRANCE TO GOLDWATER.

THE FULLY FUNCTIONED UNTIL THE DAY THEY WERE DISCONNECTED,

ON A GRACEFUL PLYMTH THE LAMPS WERE IMPRESSIVE

TYPICAL OF PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE, GOLDWATER WAS THE BENEFIT OF WPA ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

THE MOVE NORTH

AFTER THE CLOSING OF GOLDWATER THE SIX LAMPS  WERE STORED IN THE BACK YARD OF COLER. FROM WHEN I STARTED WORKING AS A VOLUNTEER AT COLER, I TRIED TO HAVE ADMINISTRATION, CLEAN UP AREA, FIND A NEW HOME AND PROTECT THE LAMPS.  ONE LAMP WAS ALREADY BROKEN AND THE OTHERS JUST SAT IN SEMI-OPEN VIEW.

ON DECEMBER 26TH, FOUR WERE HAULED OFF. A TRUCK ARRIVED AND IN 20 MINUTES THE LAMPS WERE GONE.
A POLICE REPORT HAS BEEN FILED, BUT SURELY THESE VALUABLE LAMPS WERE AT A SCRAP DEALER THE NEXT DAY.
ONE LAMP AND ONE BROKEN ONE REMAIN.

MAYBE WE WILL RESCUE THE BROKEN LAMP AND PLACE IT NEXT TO OUR OTHER ARTIFACTS BY THE KIOSK.

ON DECEMBER 29TH, THE TRUCK RETURNED AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE LAST STANDING LAMP WAS GONE. (THE DAMAGED ONE IS NOW SECURED)

THIS IS THE TRUCK, WITH NO MARKINGS AND NO LICENSE PLATES ARRIVING AND DEPARTING THE SITE.

UPDATE

This is probably one of the most heartbreaking episodes in my years on the island.  To see valuable historic artifacts being stolen, destroyed, ignored by so many is tragic. 

What of our history be gone next?
What landmark will be ignored? 
What building or site will not be maintained?
 Look around and see how our treasures are being ignored (start at the Chapel bell).
Maybe 2024 will wake up RIOC and others to our fragile history.

Judith Berdy

JUDITH BERDY, GLORIA HERMAN AND ELLEN JACOBY SPENT THIS AFTERNOON SECURING OUR ARTIFACTS SO THEY WILL  NOT VANISH FROM OUR ARCHIVES.  WE HAVE ALWAYS KEPT OUR TREASURES SECURE AND MANY ARE THE ONLY RESOURCES THAT REMAIN OF MANY ASPECTS OF ISLAND HISTORY.

WEDNESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

Oklahoma, the 46^th state, entered the Union on November 16, 1907. As such, this 46–star flag was the official flag of the United States from July 4, 1908, until July 4, 1912. The silk printed flag has a dark blue canton with 46 white printed stars. The stars are configured in an 8/7/8/8/7/8 row pattern.

CREDITS

JUDITH BERDY

MAYA LEVANON-PHOTOS TIK TOK & INSTAGRAM

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated

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THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

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