Location: Hudson Island, NY Map
Area: 6.5 acres
Constructed: 1901
Bannerman's Castle is a castle ruin located on
Polepel Island near the city of Newburgh in New York State in the
United States. The castle is named after its original owner, Frank
Bannerman.
Bannerman bought the island in November 1900 as a
storage area for the ammunition he traded. In the spring of 1901 he
began to build the arsenal building. After Bannerman's death in
1918, construction ceased. In August 1920, approximately 200 tons of
shells and gunpowder detonated near the building, destroying part of
the complex. The island and building were purchased by the State of
New York in 1967. On August 8, 1969, a fire occurred and the
castle's roof and ceilings were destroyed. In 2009, part of the
castle collapsed.
The castle is currently owned by the New
York State Parks Department and is in ruins.
The Pollepel Island was first visited by the Natives. They never
actually settled the islands since they considered it a haunted place
unfit to live. The Dutch explorers also had similar sentiments about
this piece of land and left this “Northern Gate” of the Hudson Highland
unsettled. During Revolutionary War patriots attempted to prevent the
British fleet from moving upstream by placing 106 chevaux de frize
(vertical logs with iron tips) between the island and Plum Point. It did
not have a desired effect although remains of this logs are still
visible on the bottom of the Hudson river.
Bannerman’s castle was
build in 1901 by Francis Bannerman VI (1851- 1918) as a additional
storage arsenal for ammunition bought from US army upon conclusion of
the Spanish- American war. Businessman wanted to advertise his name and
words “Bannerman’s Island Arsenal” are still visible on a side of the
structure. The castle did not have a very lucky or very long history.
Two years after death of its founder 200 pounds of shells and powder
exploded destroying part of the structure. In 1950 a ferryboat Pollepel
that served the island sank in a storm and the castle was left
abandoned. In 1968 tours were given after removing military arsenal, but
fire in 1969 burned much of the structure. Today Bannerman’s castle is
property of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation Bannerman’s Castle Trust. Regular tours are held, but many
thrill- seekers still manage to trespass at night.
The castle is currently the
property of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation and is mostly in ruins. While portions of 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. 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. The castle is
easily visible to riders of the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line and
the Amtrak Empire Service. One side of the castle, which carries the
words "Bannermans' Island Arsenal", is also visible to southbound
riders.
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.