Did you know the Navy Yard once contained it’s own Hospital, and some of its abandoned buildings still survive today?
Originally built between 1830 and 1836, the hospital grounds are currently the final untouched corner of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Many of the original buildings still exist, including the main hospital building, various quarters, workshops, and a combined carriage house, horse shed and garage structure.
This hospital has quite the place in medical history. It was home to one Doctor E. R. Squibb. Squibb invented anesthetic ether in his lab at the hospital. He was motivated to conduct this research from seeing so many patients who suffered painful injuries and lost limbs in war combat.
The hospital itself was decommissioned in 1948 and has thus far sat decaying ever since. Its time as a completely abandoned, dormant area is very likely short though. In 2015, Steiner Studios released a plan to redevelop it—knocking down some of the buildings while preserving others.
There are two little known fact about this hospital. Below ground, there was a tunnel system connecting the various buildings. This tunnel currently dead-ends at the cavernous basement of a building that was demolished long ago.
The other little known fact is that this location played host to the World Trade Center Memorial prototype. This article explains it further.
I also shot some additional photos of R95 using some old Black and White film. So if you’re feeling particularly Noir, check them out.
If you’re interested in a more detailed history of the Navy Yard, check out my latest book Abandoned Industries of New York Volume 2
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Great story Joe!
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Stationed at the yard in 1982-3, I used to walk through this complex to go play softball at the Navy field, cheered on by the hookers watching through the fence. No matter what old base I go to, it is incredible how our government just lets valuable property to rot for decades.
Ran into this spot completely by accident while painting, though I knew of its existence. I didn’t get to find the tunnels, unfortunately, as many doors were jammed shut. Cool spot.
My late father was a decorated Navy Veteran and I had an operation at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital when I was just 2 years old. I wonder where the medical records are archived….
I went there today to explore. In the biggest building we walked in threw a open door and climbed down into the tunnels. After that we made our way up to the attic where I found a wooden relic with a navy coin from 1863 engraved into it. We also explored a few other buildings like the hospital but it was a lot more looted and looked like people have been threw there.
Served with the Armed Forces Police New York 1973-1974 – we were quartered and had operations in the old hospital – great old building.
Oh wow – never knew the building was used that way.
We lived in the annex in unit R5 in 1972/73. I was 9 years old. Remember playing in the old buildings and going into the steam tunnels that connected them. Thank for you photo. One of the only ones I have ever seen of the tunnels.
My adoptive father was stationed here 1953 to 1956. We lived in what I was told years later was a converted old hospital. There were three floors and we were on the top floor. Im my memory, I was young at 4 to 7 years, the BOQ was across the street on the left outside the back door at the fire escape. Biggest memory was the flag pole right out the front door and across a little street. I have a couple photos of myself standing at the flag pole. Alsn my bus driver Danny that took me to school and a guard I believe his name was George. Then myself andadoptive mother standing in front of some other buildings on the day of my first communion. I amnot sure why this is even important to me . I just really wondered if the old gorgeous flag pole still stands.. If I could find it in the newer photos I could locate the house we lived in. I only have a couple partial photos of it. Does anyone here know about the flag pole. Thanks!
Darn I forgot to say the address of the building we lived in was R 4C