Pollepel Island
Pollepel Island /pɒlɪˈpɛl/ is a 6.5-acre (26,000 m2) uninhabited island in the Hudson River in New York, United States. The principal feature on the island is Bannerman's Castle, an abandoned military surplus warehouse.
Description
Pollepel Island has been called many different names, including Pollopel Island, Pollopel's Island, Bannerman's Island,[1] and Bannermans' Island.[2][3] Pollepel is a Dutch word meaning "(pot) ladle"
The 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 covers about 6.5 acres (26,000 m2), most of it rock.[3]
Early history
Pollepel Island was encountered by the Europeans during the first navigation of the Hudson River by early Dutch settlers in the
Bannerman's Castle
Bannerman's Island Arsenal | |
NRHP reference No. | 82001121[7] |
---|---|
Added to NRHP | November 23, 1982 |
Origin
Francis Bannerman VI was born on March 24, 1851, in Scotland,and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1854. His grandfather was from Dundee, Scotland where he worked as a 'linenman'. The family moved to Brooklyn in 1858 and began a military surplus business near the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1865 purchasing surplus military equipment at the close of the American Civil War.[8]
In 1867 the business occupied a ship chandlery on Atlantic Avenue engaged in the purchase of worn rope for papermaking. The store on the 500-block of Broadway opened in 1897 to outfit volunteers for the Spanish–American War.[8] The business bought weapons directly from the Spanish government before it evacuated Cuba; and then purchased over 90 percent of the Spanish guns, ammunition, and equipment captured by the United States military and auctioned off by the United States government.[2][9] Bannerman's illustrated mail order catalog expanded to 300 pages; and became a reference for collectors of antique military equipment.[2][8]
Bannerman purchased Pollepel island in November 1900,
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
Circa 1900–1910 the US Navy re-gunned a number of older ships. Bannerman bought the old guns, presumably at scrap value. In 1917, following the
Construction ceased at Bannerman's death in 1918. In August 1920, 200 pounds 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, which took possession after the old military merchandise had been removed, and the relics given to the Smithsonian. For a short time, tours of the island were given in 1968.[5] However, on August 8, 1969, fire devastated the Arsenal, and the roofs and floors were destroyed.[4] Following the fire, the island was placed off-limits to the public.
Current status
In the 21st century, the castle is the property of the
Sometime during the week before 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 fell. The collapse was reported by a motorist and by officials on the Metro-North.[17]
On April 19, 2015, the island was the destination of a kayak trip taken by Vincent Viafore and his fiancée Angelika. Viafore drowned, and Angelika was charged with his murder. On July 24, 2017, she pled guilty to criminally negligent homicide and served a short time in prison.[18][19][20][21]
On June 28, 2015, the
Currently (2021) the island is under the care of "The Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc." which is a non-profit organization of “Friends” of volunteers who work with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation. The Trust is dedicated to pooling resources and funding to stabilize buildings on Pollepel Island and to raise awareness and educate the public and governmental organizations about the island's value and history. The Trust is making the island safe for volunteers and the public to enjoy as an educational, cultural, historic and recreational facility that promotes historic tourism in the Hudson Valley. Bannerman Castle Trust
In popular culture
In literature
Bannerman Castle by Barbara Gottlock and Thom Johnson was released through Arcadia Press in August 2006.[23] The book contains almost 200 vintage photographs, and the authors' text documents the island's growth and decline. Proceeds from the book go to the Bannerman Castle Trust in its ongoing efforts to preserve and improve the island's structures. Wesley Gottlock and Barbara H. Gottlock authored a children's book called, "My Name is Eleanor."[23] It is based on photographs, interviews and journals of Eleanor Seeland. Seeland, an Ulster County resident, lived with her family who were residents of Pollepel Island in the early part of 20th century. Seeland's father was contracted by the Bannermans for about twelve years.
The main characters in Adventures of a Cat-Whiskered Girl by Daniel Pinkwater (2010), set in the 1950s, visit Pollepel Island and hang out with a family of trolls who are squatting in the abandoned castle.[24]
The novel The Devils That Haunt You (ebook 2016 and paperback 2018) by Rick Hoffman, takes place in part on Pollepel Island and features a fictionalized account of its construction and history.[25]
References
- ^ "Bannermans' Island Photographs". Archived from the original on 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bannerman Castle Trust". Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ a b c d e f Beattie, Rich (2006-07-28). "Kayaking to Pollepel Island". The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ a b c "Explosions on Bannerman's Island". Archived from the original on 2004-06-14. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ a b c "Bannerman Island History". Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Underwater Legacy". Archived from the original on 2006-09-17. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Bannerman, David B. (1954) Bannerman 90th Anniversary Military Goods Catalog Francis Bannerman Sons, New York
- ^ "Joseph E. Persico, "The Great Gun Merchant", American Heritage June, 1974". Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ^ "Bannerman's Arsenal". Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Visit to Bannerman's Castle". Archived from the original on 2006-10-15. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
- ^ Crowell, Benedict (1919). America's Munitions 1917–1918. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. pp. 73–75.
- ISBN 978-0-7643-5049-8.
- ^ "Panorama from Bannerman's Castle, South Terrace". Archived from the original on 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Ghostly Castle Beckons Again". Times Herald-Record. June 5, 2004. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Bannerman Island Tours". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- ^ "Walls collapse at Bannerman Castle; officials hope to assess damage as soon as possible". The Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- New York Times. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
- ^ Foderaro, Lisa W. (2015-11-07). "On '20/20', Woman Charged in Fiancé's Kayak Death Denies She Killed Him". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- New York Times. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- ^ Stoeffel, Kat (February 26, 2019). "Angelika Graswald Went to Jail for Letting Her Fiancé Drown. The Real Story Is More Complicated". ELLE.
- ^ "Local Artist Debuts Constellation Light Display at Bannerman's Castle". Hudson Valley Magazine. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ a b "Child's life on Bannerman Island inspires book". Poughkeepsie Journal. Gannett. September 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021.
- ^ Gibbons, Ann (June 17, 2010). "Unusual writer, unusual fiction". Daily Freeman. MediaNews Group. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021.
- ^ "The Devils That Haunt You by Rick Hoffman". Goodreads.