My character Mila travels to the Hudson Valley from post-war Europe and might see this gem tucked away on Pollepel Island (aka Bannerman Island), sixty miles north of Manhattan. Like her story and ours, there’s more to this curious place than what made up its past. These ruins hold wonders to explore.
Scottish-born munitions dealer and Brooklyn resident Francis Bannerman purchased the island in 1900 and began construction on this gem in 1901. Bannerman had been collecting and selling surplus military equipment since the 1800s. He needed to store his expansive arsenal away from New York City, where it had become difficult to keep that many explosives around so many people.
Bannerman and his wife, Helen, also had a house on the island that they used as a summer home. She was an avid gardener and added beautiful flowers and shrubs throughout the landscape. Some of those still grow today.
The island had a curious history even before hosting an American castle. Its name, Pollepel, came from a legend about a girl named Pell (Polly) who was saved from unsteady river ice. She ended up on the island’s shore, and soon after she married her rescuer.
Besides the Bannermans, four other owners have claimed the island since the days of the American Revolution. As might be expected for such a mysterious place, tales of hauntings have followed it through the generations.
A fire in 1969 destroyed much of the castle. But that wasn’t the rest of its story. Volunteers of the non-profit Bannerman Castle Trust have worked to save the island and make it accessible to the public. Today, visitors can take kayak and walking tours around the island. Find out more about the Trust here, and here’s a YouTube video to keep learning about this American marvel.