8. Staten Island Farm Colony

Greenbelt’s unruly forest surrounds Farm Colony structures.

Throughout its history, the Staten Island Farm Colony was often associated with society’s unwanted. The colonial farm era in the 19th century witnessed a bout of construction developments catered to housing the poor, infirm, mentally ill and developmentally disabled.  On a rather disturbing note, a 1920s abduction and murder of a seven-year-old boy toccurred on the Farm Colony’s grounds. The Farm Colony community claimed they saw an old man and young boy walking in the woods on the day the child went missing, and fingers pointed to legendary serial killer Cropsey as the one to blame.

In another story, Andre Rand, a man who allegedly lived in the tunnels underneath the abandoned site, was responsible for a string of child murders during the 70’s and 80’s. In 1987 the body of Jennifer Shwweiger was found not far from where he set up camp.