| POLLEPEL -
AN ISLAND STEEPED IN HISTORY by Jane Bannerman, Courtesy of The Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc.
History reveals a connection to the American Revolution in attempted defense of the Highlands against the British fleet in 1777 using the famous "chevaux de frise". This was a device including mettle points to obstruct the passage of ships up the river, built by men commandeered from the local prison. The attempt was however, unsuccessful, as the British took to flat bottom boats and by passed it. One of the "points" is now on display at Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh, New York. Since the time of the revolution there have been only five owners - William Van Wyck of Fishkill, Mary G. Taft of Cornwall, Francis Bannerman of Brooklyn, New York and The Jackson Hole Preserve (Rockefeller Foundation), who donated the island to the people of the State of New York. (Taconic Region of New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.) Francis Bannerman (Frank) was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1851 and came to the United States to live in Brooklyn, at the age of three. His father took up the business of selling goods at Navy auction. Young Frank, while still in school, began to collect scrap from the harbor, then full of sailing ships. He was so successful at this that it soon became a business. At the end of the Civil War he increased his wares by buying surplus stock at government auctions. This source continued even after the Spanish American War. In 1872, on a buying trip to Ireland, he met and married Helen Boyce. Subsequently they had three sons; Francis Vll and David Boyce joined him in the business, and Walter became a doctor. The business, known everywhere as "Bannerman's" was founded in 1865 in Brooklyn. As more and more material was acquired, it moved several times, it finally arrived at 501 Broadway, in Manhattan. From the Spanish War so much equipment and ammunition was bought that the laws of the city forced them to look for storage outside the city limits. By Chance while canoeing on the Hudson, David Bannerman noted the island. The Bannermans purchased it from the Taft family in 1900 as a safe storage site. Mr. Bannerman began construction on a simulated Scottish castle and simple residence in 1901.
Many tales both serious and comic have been told about this place over the years, some recounted in a pamphlet by Frank's grandson Charles, who wrote prophetically in 1962 - five years before the island was sold to the Taconic Park Commission, and seven years before the great fire that caused such destruction "No one can tell what associations and incidents will involve the island in the future. Time, the elements, and maybe even the goblins of the island will take their toll of some of the turrets and towers, and perhaps eventually the castle itself, but the little island will always have it's place in history and in legend and will be forever a jewel in it's Hudson Highland setting." Bannerman Castle
Trust, Inc. is hopefully its future. Since this article was written in 1993, The Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. has become the official New York State Park Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation's "Friends" organization for Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island. Jane Bannerman is a member of The Bannerman Castle Trust Board of Directors and an accomplished artist, whose paintings can be bought through the BCT. The Trust is dedicated to bringing together the resources and funding to stabilize the buildings on Pollepel Island. The Trust aims to raise awareness and educate the public and government organizations on the value and history of the island. The Trust aims to raise the funds for preparing the island, creating a master plan and eventually stabilizing of the island structures. The Trust is working to make the island safe for volunteers to work on the island and eventually safe for the public to enjoy the island as an educational, cultural, historical and recreational facility promoting heritage tourism in the Hudson Valley. For information on how to become a "Friend of the Castle," a volunteer, or if you are interested in Bannerman books and merchandise that support the preservation efforts call 845-831-6346, or write to The Bannerman castle Trust, Inc., P.O. Box 843, Glenham. NY 12527-0843, or visit our Web Site at bannermancastle.org. |
A
tiny jewel in the setting of the Hudson Highlands is called Pollepel,
now familiarly known as Bannerman Island. Once an uninhabited place,
accessible only by boat, it was considered haunted by some Indian
tribes and thus became a refuge for those trying to escape them.
These superstitions and others promoted by later Dutch sailors make
for many fanciful tales. Even the name Pollepel (Polopel) originated
with a legend about a young girl named (Polly) Pell who was romantically
rescued from the breaking river ice and landed on the island shore,
where she was promptly married to her sweetheart, who rescued her
and her companion. The island was thereafter called Pollepel. 
Equipment
of every description as well as ammunition were shipped there for
storage until sold. Although Frank Bannerman was a munitions dealer,
he titled himself to be a man of peace. He wrote in his catalogues
that he hoped that his collection of arms would someday be known
as "The Museum of the Lost Arts". He was a devoted church
goer, a member of the St. Andrews Society, founder of the Caledonian
Hospital, and active in a boy's club - often taking them on trips
to the island in the summer months. In W.W.I he 
