sioner of Correction. Almost immediately he led a spectacular raid on the
island that shattered the ugly system "whereby 200 men lived like kings
and 1,200 almost starved." It was recognized, however, that the ancient
structures were ill suited to modern penal methods, and the quarters that
had housed such notorious convicts as the Tammany leaders, "Boss"
Tweed, Billy McGlory, and "Little Abe" Hummel were razed. The pris-
oners were moved to the new Riker's Island penitentiary. After more than
a century's use as a place of punishment, Welfare Island was entirely given
over to care of the aged and the ill.

Randall's Island

IRT Lexington Ave. subway, 2d Ave. el, 3d Ave. el, 3d Ave. surface car, 2d Ave.
bus, Lexington Ave. bus, or Madison Ave. bus to 125th St.; then by Triborough
Bridge bus to Randall's Island.

The program for the transformation of the East River islands has been
completed only on Randall's Island, the triangular meeting place for the
three arms of the Triborough Bridge. Except for the land required by the
Triborough and New York Connecting Railroad Bridge structures, the
whole of the island, 194 acres, has been laid out in parks and playgrounds.

Besides the bridges and a few administration buildings, the only im-
portant structure is the municipal Triborough Stadium, placed near the
southern point of the island. This provides 21,441 permanent seats and
space for an additional 8,000. It is used for athletic contests, open-air
opera and other musical spectacles, and public meetings. It is equipped with
probably the largest movable outdoor stage in the world.

In 1668 the British Governor Nicolls granted the island to customs col-
lector Thomas Delavall. Captain James Montresor bought it for a place of
residence in 1772. Of its several early names, Montresor's Island was most
commonly used. In 1784 Jonathan Randel (Randal) acquired it. When the
city of New York bought the island for sixty thousand dollars in 1835,
the misspelled title deed added an extra "1" to Randell that still survives
in the island's name.

The Common Council decided in 1843 to move the potter's field from
Fiftieth Street and Fourth Avenue to the southern part of the island; in
1845 an almshouse was added. In 1851 part of Randall's was appropriated
for the use of the "Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents,"
who built there a house of refuge. From that time until it was cleared for