In this interview, Myles Zhang discusses with Madeline Feierstein his research project on the history (and possible future) of the old Essex County Jail in Newark.
Madeline Feierstein is a historian of American history based in Alexandria, Virginia. She is particularly focused on psychiatric institutions, military hospitals, and prisons. Madeline has developed popular guided tours in Alexandria and Washington, D.C. Her meticulous research has been showcased at prestigious institutions, including the Alexandria Historical Society, DC Preservation League, and National Museum of Civil War Medicine. She leads significant projects documenting the soldiers who were treated and fell in Alexandria’s wartime hospitals.
Madeline’s project, Rooted in Place, stems from a childhood interest in lost or soon-to-be-demolished buildings. Even from a young age, Madeline felt as though no one spoke up or advocated for sites with darker histories. She fights for their preservation through campaigns and education, believing every building is a piece of American history that we can learn from.