The Journey of Stephen Emich
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Ellis Island / Part # 2
The Front Entrance
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Since it first opened as the major hub of Immigration in
1892, over 12 million people were processed through the naturalization station
at Ellis Island including 11,747 in a single day on April 17, 1903. Originally
the island was much smaller and was called Oyster Island for the fish
processing that took place there. When the government acquired the property, it
was renamed for the previous owner, Samuel Ellis. The island was expanded over
time to include about 30 buildings, most of which were devoted to a hospital.
All prospective immigrants were first examined by physicians before they could
be processed through the Great Hall. About two percent of all arrivals were
sent to the hospital wing of the island and were then deported back to their
country of origin. For those unfortunate souls the island was called The
Island of Tears. In addition, over 3,500 people, who were denied access to
the American Dream, died within the walls of the hospital on the island,
one step away from American soil until their burial at several area cemeteries
near the harbor.
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Passing Lady Liberty
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Changes in The United States immigration policy closed
the facility in 1924 to mass immigration. In the years that followed, the
property served many uses including a deportation station, internment camp
during World War II, a Coast Guard Training base, and as a detention center for
radical aliens. The sight closed in 1954 and following several unsuccessful
attempts to redevelop, it was abandoned. In 1966 Ellis Island was included with
the Statue of Liberty on the list of National Register of Historic Places,
giving the property landmark status. The National Park Service manages
the island today.
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Katelyn Gazes over the Harbor
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One of the stories I remember was my grandfather's
scare when passing the Statue of Liberty... All passengers were called on deck
as the S.S. Paris entered New York Harbor to view the famous Lady who
welcomed all weary travelers to the New World via New York. As my grandfather
Stephen turned to see the great statue, another passenger had popped open a
bottle of champagne and the spray exploded out the end of the bottle, got
caught in the sea breeze, and hit my grandfather right in the eyes. His vision
became blurred, his eyes burned, and turned a deep red. Knowing the medical
exam was the first obstacle he would face once on land, he worried that he
would be pulled aside and sent to the hospital. I can only imagine the fear he
must have felt as he pondered the possible outcomes. Would he be separated from
his brother and sent back to Europe alone to an unknown future? To his relief,
the wait was long and his eyes began to clear and were not a point of interest
for the examining doctor. He entered the Great Hall and prepared to face the 29
standard questions all immigrants faced within the winding lines of the
processing stations. A five-hour ordeal lay ahead.
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Name Location at Backpack
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Katelyn and I boarded the ferry and after viewing the
commanding presence of Lady Liberty we passed through to Ellis Island.
Upon arrival, we skipped the guided tour and went straight through the Great
Hall to the rear courtyard outside to find the sprawling silver Immigrant Wall
of Honor. I used their web site earlier to find on what panel his name would be
found. The massive monument was circular in design with flanking straight walls
to the one side. This is where we found panel # 657 and my grandfather's name
near the bottom right hand corner. My backpack in the photo above, designates
the location of his engraved name.
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Wall of Honor / Close-up
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We both crouched by the name and I called my mother on
the phone so she could share in the experience when we touched it. I took a lot
of photographs and then took several graphite rubbings of the name on paper, as
is often done at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. It was a special
moment that I will never forget. It is humbling to think of what all started
here and what it grew to become over time. Not just for my own family, but for
all the millions who came through here with little of their own, with the
exception of great hopes and unfulfilled dreams.
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New York City Skyline
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It is amazing to think about how one person's brave
journey could impact so many lives of future generations. Katelyn had trouble
connecting the dots somewhat, because she had never met or heard much about
Great Grandpa Steve before today. I was glad she shared the experience with me
and she has since expressed interest of a return visit to see and learn more
next time we find ourselves in the Big Apple.
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Majority of Island in Decay
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Thus far, only the main Great Hall building has been
restored. The remaining 28 buildings, most of which make up the hospital,
continue to sit empty and die a slow death of decay. There are plans to try and
save the rest of the dormant structures but little has changed on site since
the initial restoration project phase was completed in 1990. The decomposing
buildings give the island an uneasy, unsettled and ghostly feel. With attention
and funding maybe they will all come back to life again some day and will be
incorporated within the museum experience.
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Mildred and Stephen Emich
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After my mother got married and moved out of the city, her parents
followed and built a ranch style house right up the street in a new housing
development south of Lititz, PA. Above is one of the last pictures of my
grandparents and me before Grandpa Steve passed away. I never got to really
know him or hear his stories first hand... But I now live in that ranch house he
built, and can look out across the yard at all the mature trees he planted as
saplings so long ago. My visit to Ellis Island has helped pull me closer to him
and I hope the engraving of his name on the Immigrant Wall of Honor is accepted
as a small token of thanks for all he did to make my life in America possible.
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Last Picture with Grandpa Steve
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PLEASE SEE RELATED BLOG...
Ellis Island / Part #1
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