Old Immigration: Before Ellis Island, there was Castle Garden #Giveaway

by Guest Blogger Natalie Monk

Hi, everyone! I’m so excited to be posting on the blog today, courtesy of the oh-so-talented Pam Hillman! Stick around for a giveaway!

While researching for my upcoming novella, I discovered Ellis Island didn’t open until January 1, 1892. What did immigrants do before then? My Polish-born heroine travels to New York in 1885.

Though I knew my plot and set word count wouldn’t allow me to chronicle her voyage and entrance into the country, I wanted to research those experiences in order to fully understand her character. Plus, I couldn’t have her arriving at Ellis Island seven years before it opened. Stranded on an island—mercy, where would the dear girl have gone?

Castle Garden in its first form was called the West Battery, and eventually became the first official place used by the government to process immigrants in New York.

Its presence prevented any attack on New York during the War of 1812 without ever firing a shot. In 1815, the fort was named Castle Clinton after New York’s first governor, George Clinton. After 1823, the fort became known as Castle Garden when it was used as a theater and social event center. The building held a restaurant as well.

“In the evenings it is generally crowded with citizens, who assemble to derive the benefit from a pleasant breeze of the water, or listen to a band that frequently plays in the Castle garden, which is connected with the walk by a wooden bridge.” – Quote by Grenville Mellen from his 1840 book titled, A book of the United States: Exhibiting its geography, divisions, constitution and government ... and presenting a view of the republic generally, and ... cities and towns with statistical tables.

In 1855, the New York Board of Emigration Commissioners took over and reopened the building as the Castle Garden Emigrant Landing Depot on August 3, 1855.

Over the next thirty-four years, eight to ten million people emigrated to the U.S. through Castle Garden.

July 24, 1855 New York Times

  

Erie Railroad, Castle Garden, New York City

“Immigrants landing at the South Street piers after 1856 were transferred by steamship to Castle Garden for processing. Castle Garden is the round building in the lower left of the picture.” -- Viewsofthefamine.wordpress.com

Emma Lazarus writes of Castle Garden in her 1883 sonnet, "The New Colossus:"

"Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door!"

The Castle Garden Emigrant Landing Depot staffed around 100 people, led by a superintendent. It held a restaurant, wash rooms, and bread stands. The Information Department staffed interpreters for Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Latin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Swiss-German. All immigrants had to pass a doctor’s inspection. The sick were put on a steamboat to Ward’s Island or Blackwell’s Island where they were to receive medical treatment.

The Depot also housed an Employment Office which later became a Labor Exchange where immigrants could find work.

Fun fact:

After experiencing the noisy, chaotic atmosphere in Castle Gardens, many Yiddish-speaking people began to use the slang term “Kesselgarden” to refer to any loud, confusing area or space.

The building was closed for immigration in April 18, 1890. From 1896 to 1941, the building housed the New York Aquarium.

Now, the lower, outer walls of Castle Garden are used for ticket sales for ferry rides to Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty.

 

On December 23, 1866, the New York Times published an article from a woman accounting her experience as an immigrant at Castle Garden.

“[At night,] the building being lit up with gas gave a more cheerful aspect to the interior, and enabled us to survey the somewhat novel scene before us. …the Germans and Dutch…the most numerous…being parceled off into the eastern portion of the building, which is separated from the other portion…[which contain the] English, Irish, Scotch and French. Bakers, butchers, boiler-makers, gardeners, grooms, and in fact masters of almost every calling to be found in the book of trades... Most of the strong, healthy girls…[obtain] situations as housemaids, nursemaids, milliners, sewing-machine hands and dressmakers…
Two large iron stoves, between four and five feet high, fed with plentiful supplies of anthracite, and throwing out considerable heat, occupy each end of these apartments, one being set apart for the males and the other for the females.
In a far corner…for fifteen or twenty cents you can obtain a half a pint of coffee, a roll, cheese or butter; but many of the emigrants appeared to prefer purchasing their own tea and coffee, and preparing it in tin utensils in the stoves. There are two water taps and an iron ladle at each end of the division…nothing in the shape of wine, lager beer or spirits being allowed to be sold upon the premises.

There was no prohibition against ‘smoking’ at the Garden…

Two…watchmen…keep order and attend upon the emigrants…

Having determined to rough it with our traveling companions, who could not afford a dollar for their bed and breakfast, we essayed a sleep, but vainly [because of] the cold, sepulchral character of the place…combined with the tantamara of tongues, the squalling of children and the erratic ramblings round about of a colony of rats…even after a fortnight's rocking to and fro…the snug hammock…was a comparative paradise to this.

Only one or two cases had to be sent to the hospital, and altogether the vessel had a clean bill of health, far different from last year, when owing to the prevalence of cholera, many died and had to be thrown overboard.

…the balconies of the building might be converted into dormitories for the women and children, and those in delicate health, and a towel or two, some soap, and other requisites, would be useful supplemental articles in the washing rooms. Many a poor emigrant comes over in a filthy and verminous condition…”

The anonymous lady goes on to speak of stowaways and tell about a body that was found on the voyage to America, a suspected murder. Then the ship S. S. SCOTLAND sank on its return voyage to her home! Read more here: http://silvie.tripod.com/CastleGarden.html.

Have you ever traveled to a foreign country…or moved there? How was your experience similar or different to the early immigrants’?

Here’s a sneak peek at my novella:

For Richer or Poorer

Coming July 2017

(Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection )

In order to bring her starving family to New Jersey, Polish immigrant and housemaid Marcella Lipski must marry wealth…so she dons her employer's discarded ball gowns and goes husband hunting at Newark's tourist spots. There are a few problems, though. Ella's shy. She knows nothing of the rules governing American high society. She'll lose her job if she's recognized. Oh, and she can't speak a speck of English. When a poor-but-mysterious cart driver catches her eye, she must protect her heart at all costs. She won’t leave her family hopeless.

Woody Harris has no desire to be rich, and he lives out his faith by giving most of his possessions away to the street kids on his freight route. When his horse spooks and bowls over Ella, inflicting bruises, Woody offers her free conveyance for a week and starter lessons in English as compensation. He's soon charmed by her innocent, farm-girl ways and her concern for "his" kids. But by the time he learns Ella will only marry for money, it's already too late for his heart.

Natalie Monk is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Natalie’s a preacher’s daughter from North Mississippi, who loves porch swings, old movies, and meeting readers through her website: www.nataliemonk.com. Her goal in writing, and in living, is to bring glory to her Savior, Jesus Christ.

A paperback copy of A Hope Remembered by Stacy Henrie is up for grabs, a romantic historical mystery about a young American who migrates to England after WWI. Giveaway open to U.S. entrants. Leave your email address in the comments below to enter!