New York City has dozens of such pocket parks scattered throughout the city, so this is nothing unusual.
Whats unusual is the story of the brothers after which the park is named.
Homer and Langley Collyer were both born in the 1880s to one of New Yorks most respectable families.
Dr. Collyer was known to be eccentric.
The brothers, as they aged, followed increasingly in their fathers odd footsteps.
He was a professional concert pianist.
As time progressed, the brothers became fearful of the changes happening in the neighborhood.
Rumors began to surface that behind their closed doors were vast riches and luxuries brought from the Orient.
In reality, the brothers were slowly sliding into madness.
He also laid booby traps all over the house, should anyone intrude.
Often, this meant rummaging through trashcans outside grocers and butchers.
The house had neither gas nor electricity nor waterthey were all turned off because of unpaid bills.
Of course, it didnt work.
Instead, Homers health started to fail and he became paralyzed due to inflammatory rheumatism.
But the brothers refused to seek medical health.
Ironically, their eccentric behavior only drew more attention that the brothers were trying to escape.
When the police arrived they couldnt get into the house at first.
Homer had starved to death.
His brother Langley, however was missing.
All in all, a total of 120 tons of debris and junk was removed from the house.
A crowd of more than two thousand people stood outside the home everyday to watch the clean-up effort.
The brothers died within a few feet of each other.
Homer probably died several days after Langleys death.
Detectives discover the half decomposed body of Langley Collyer.
It is estimated that 2% to 5% adults suffer from hoarding.
The Collyer Brothers Park at the former site of the row house once occupied by the Collyer brothers.
Photo credit:Matt Green/Flickr
Policemen applying an axe to the front door of the Collyer Brothers house.
