One day at college, in New York City, we were discussing getting smacked by a cab or a bus. What would they do with you if you were not identified [Hidden Treasures, April]? I was told you would be brought to Potter’s Field—taken across the river and buried standing up, after they took a snapshot of your face. So one fine Saturday in May, we went to the old Potter’s Field in New York City, burial site of the unwanted and unknown. I could not believe the files and files and files of photos, some dating way back, many children (of the streets) and others who were just found and not claimed. It was fascinating. There are no markers, just land. They did, indeed, bury you standing up and on top of one another. Kind of creepy and mostly sad. We intended to stop a few hours, and spent nearly eight looking through these files of men, women, children, and some with both woman and child—nameless photos of people buried over the period of a century. This was way back in 60s. I never thought of Minnesota as having any potter’s fields—I thought that name was just for New York City’s.
Joy Kangas, Hamel
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