The gantry on the approach to North Brother Island.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

The boiler house’s east and west smokestacks from the boat.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

The boiler house, built in 1885, surrounded with a little caution tape to keep explorers away from bricks careening off the smokestack.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

The old gantry at North Brother, the old cargo entrance to the island. It was built in 1885.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

The male dormitory, one of the island’s oldest housing structures.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

North Brother Island, also called Riverside Hospital, quarantined patients with everything from measles to yellow fever to tuberculosis. It was originally run by the Sisters of Charity.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

The group wasn’t allowed to go into buildings, only peer at the insides from the trail.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Survivors of the General Slocum disaster in 1904 were taken to North Brother Island. The ferry disaster, in which more than 1,000 people died, accounted for the largest loss of life in New York until 9/11.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

South Brother Island, which the Parks Department took control of in 2007. It’s also a protected area for herons.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

North Brother Island’s most famous patient was Typhoid Mary (Mallon), who was quarantined on the island and died there in 1938.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Another view of the smokestacks. Krawchuck called North Brother Island essentially a “free-standing city” complete with a morgue, public school, and tennis courts.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

 In the late 1940s, North Brother Island housed veterans returning from World War II.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

In the 1950s, the island became a drug-rehabilitation center for heroin-addicted youth.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Tuberculosis hospital, the newest structure on the island, was finished in 1943 – just in time to become obsolete.Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Photo: Jen Kirby/New York Magazine

Photo credit: BLA/WXY

Photo credit: DNAinfo/Eddie Small

Photo credit: DNAinfo/Eddie Small

Photo credit: DNAinfo/Eddie Small

Photo credit: DNAinfo/Eddie Small

Photo credit: DNAinfo/Eddie Small

Shaughn Bulgar, 18, a student at Hostos Community College and a Bronx resident, said, “Fast food is usually the only thing around, so that’s what I eat.” Credit Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times

Maritza Arias, 21, said it was difficult to find good fresh food locally. Credit Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times

Felix Cardona, dean of academic programs at Hostos, said the food industry was important to the Bronx’s future. Credit Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times