The World's Most Expensive Forgotten Edifices

13. Secret Apartment in the Fort Washington Library, Manhattan, New York

Location: New York City, Manhattan, New York The 1920s Price: not specified The NY Public Library System's Fort Washington branch is roomy and light, with high ceilings, sweeping windows, and an open, breezy atmosphere. However, tucked away behind the Fort Washington Library's walls is a gloomy, musty room that was once a lovely apartment. The NYPLS has never made repairs to the run-down, abandoned unit.

 

Location: Fort Washington Library, Manhattan, New York

The Fort Washington Library's secret apartment once belonged to the library's caretaker in the 1920s. However, as the role of caretakers diminished in the 1980s, these once-vital living spaces became obsolete. Many library flats were either renovated or completely demolished, leaving only thirteen remaining. Among them is this eerie, deserted apartment, a haunting reminder of a bygone era.

In conclusion, the secret apartment at Fort Washington Library encapsulates the changing landscape of public libraries and the fading presence of caretakers, serving as a poignant symbol of history and the passage of time.