The buildings on
Ellis Island welcomed immigrants in a grandiose style, so unlike the guns and
fences "welcome" that await so many immigrants today. Not to say we didn’t try to be selective, but
the welcome was as gracious as was possible.
Third class or steerage passengers were processed at Ellis Island. Those in First or Second class were processed
on-board ship and released without going to Ellis Island. Only a serious illness would earn them a delay. (Money still divided
those with and those without.)
Twelve million people were processed at Ellis Island. The buildings today have a melancholy
feeling as though they wistfully would like the bustle to come back.
After unloading their trunks or meager belongings, the newly
arrived flood of humanity climbed the stairs to a great hall where they waited
to begin the processing.
There are only eight original benches remaining of the
roomful of benches. You can see the wear
that they have endured. I can just image
sitting here fearful, hopeful and exhausted.
Immigration officials stood at wooden tables and checked names against
the ship manifolds, determining American spellings of surnames.
As benches fail, new ones are built by high school students to replace them. |
The next step in
processing was a quick physical examination.
Six seconds. That quick. The unfortunate ones, whose clothes were marked with a
chalked note indicating a need for closer exams, were escorted down these sterile-looking
hallways. It would seem possible that
some had never seen such a spotless gleaming hall.
If the doctors
determined that you could be cured or should be quarantined, you might be sent
across the small dock area to stay in a hospital facility.
The immigrants was allowed to bath while their clothes and
belongings were fumigated. Heads were
checked for lice. Families were separated
for this process adding a worrisome element to the process. Food was served in cafeterias. These doors led from a cafeteria to an
outside area with a view of the New York skyline. Notice the elegant window details. America was courting those who came
seeking. She looked good.
The storm Sandy
created more difficulties than the immigrants had in maintaining the site. Boarded-over windows and signs of construction were evident
in every building.
Notice the boarded windows on the right. |
The main hospital is closed. |
As immigrants were released and were ferried to New York
Island they could look back at the Statue of Liberty on the left and Ellis Island on the right.
Turning about they would see the dense array of buildings of their new home.
"Welcome," the city said in glowing colors.
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