My Genealogy Hound

Ellis Island quarantine buildings on Swinburn Island and Hoffman Island Vintage Photograph

In this vintage photo are:
Top: The new hospital building, Ellis Island.

Middle: Swinburn Island - All suspects are transferred to this island to await development of disease.

Bottom: Hoffman Island - Where immigrants are sent when afflicted with contagious diseases. The last building in the background is the crematory.

Background information:
The large building in the top photo is the primary Ellis Island processing center. Swinburne Island is the correct spelling for the middle photo.

After several outbreaks of cholera and other contagious diseases, Swinburne and Hoffman Island were constructed to help in the containment of any further disease outbreaks. Anyone either suspected or confirmed to be carrying a contagious disease was sent to one of the two islands until they were shown to not have a disease or to have been cured. They were then allowed to move to Ellis Island for final processing.

After the 1920's, Swinburne and Hoffman Islands were little used. Both Swinburne and Hoffman Island were used by the United States Merchant Marines for training purposes during World War II.