Explore the allure of the abandoned with the Islip Historical Society

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On Sunday, April 14, the Historical Society of Islip Hamlet will host award-winning photographer and author John Lazzaro as he presents the history of Kings Park Psychiatric Center.

Combining rare, archival images as well as his own photography, Lazzaro will discuss his work and the approach to his creative process behind his 2019 book, “The Walls Still Talk: A Photographic Journey Through Kings Park Psychiatric Center.” The program will be held at the Islip Public Library on April 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Lazzaro has been intrigued by history and abandoned places from a young age.

“When I was in high school, I used to go to indoor track meets at Suffolk Community College, and would drive past Pilgrim Psychiatric Center,” shared Lazzaro. “A lot of the buildings on that campus were defunct and abandoned. Driving through the grounds, and wondering about the history of the place, my interest was piqued all the way back then.”

Lazzaro made dozens of trips to Nissequogue River State Park to photograph the remaining buildings of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center, which has been sitting idle and abandoned since 1996. His images show the result of decades of neglect and decay after deinstitutionalization.

According to Lazzaro, many locals do not know that Long Island used to be the mental health capital of the world.

“Farmland in the late 1800s, early 1900s, was very cheap. A lot of the hospitals in the city were becoming overcrowded and the conditions were very poor, so they expanded onto Long Island,” shared Lazzaro. “Long Island had three of the world’s largest state hospitals at the time.”

To see Lazzaro’s captivating images and learn about the history of mental health and King’s Park, his experiences as a photographer, and his creative process, join the Historical Society of Islip Hamlet on April 14.
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Photos courtesy of John Lazzaro