About Bannermans' Castle

Pollepel Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The island and castle viewed from atopBreakneck Ridge

Pollepel Island /pɒlɨˈpɛl/ is an island in the Hudson River. Also known as Pollopel Island,Pollopel's Island, Bannerman's Island,^[1] and Bannermans' Island, is the site ofBannermans' Castle.^[2][3] Pollepel Island is about 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City^[4]and about 1,000 feet (300 m) from the Hudson River's eastern bank.^[3] It contains about 6.5 acres (26,000 m²), most of it rock.^[3]

The principal feature on the island is Bannermans' Castle, an abandoned military surpluswarehouse.^[2] One side of the castle carries the words "Bannermans' Island Arsenal".^[2][3] It was built in the style of a castle by Gilded Age businessman Francis Bannerman VI (1851–1918),^[3] who had purchased the island in 1901.

The name pollepel is a Dutch word meaning "(wooden) ladle". The Bannerman Castle Trust organization, however, ascribes the name to a folk tale about a young girl named Polly Pell having been stranded on the island. ^[5] The Castle View with the "Bannermans' Island Arsenal" visible is shown briefly during the Decepticon & Autobots Battle in the Movie "Transformers: Dark of the Moon!

Bannerman's Island Arsenal
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
View from the railroad on the eastern bank of the Hudson River
Location:	Pollepel Island, off NY 9-D,Fishkill, New York
Area:	13.4 acres (5.4 ha)
Built:	1901
Architect:	Bannerman,Francis VI
Governing body:	State
MPS:	Hudson Highlands MRA
NRHP Reference#:	82001121[8]
Added to NRHP:	November 23, 1982

Construction and decay[edit source]

Francis Bannerman purchased the island in November 1900,[9] for use as a storage facility for his growing surplus business.[11] Because his storeroom in New York City was not large enough to provide a safe location to store thirty million surplus munitions cartridges,[9] in the spring of 1901 he began to build an arsenal on Pollepel. Bannerman designed the buildings himself and let the constructors interpret the designs on their own.[12] Most of the building was devoted to the stores of army surplus but Bannerman built another castle in a smaller scale on top of the island near the main structure as a residence, often using items from his surplus collection for decorative touches. The castle, clearly visible from the shore of the river, served as a giant advertisement for his business. On the side of the castle facing the western bank of the Hudson, Bannerman cast the legend "Bannerman's Island Arsenal" into the wall.

Construction ceased at Bannerman's death in 1918. On August 1920, 200 tons of shells and powder exploded in an ancillary structure, destroying a portion of the complex. Bannerman's sales of military weapons to civilians declined during the early 20th century as a result of state and federal legislation. After the sinking of the ferryboat Pollepel, which had served the island, in a storm in 1950, the Arsenal and island were essentially left vacant.[4] The island and buildings were bought by New York State in 1967, after the old military merchandise had been removed, and tours of the island were given in 1968.[6] However, on August 8, 1969, fire devastated the Arsenal, and the roofs and floors were destroyed.[4] The island was placed off-limits to the public.

The castle today[edit source]

The collapsed wall viewed from shore
Today, the castle is property of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and is mostly in ruins. While the exterior walls still stand, all the internal floors and non-structural walls have since burned down. The island has been the victim of vandalism, trespass, neglect and decay.[13] Several old bulkheads and causeways that submerge at high tide present a serious navigational hazard. On-island guided hard hat tours were recently made available through the Bannerman's Castle Trust.[14] The castle is easily visible to the riders of the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson line and Amtrak. The sign is easily visible to southbound riders.

Sometime during the week before Sunday, December 28, 2009, parts of the castle collapsed. Officials estimate 30-40 percent of the structure's front wall and about half of the east wall collapsed. It was reported by a motorist and by officials on the Metro North Railroad, which runs along the edge of the Hudson River. [15]