Hudson Valley Ruins: Bannerman’s Island Arsenal by Rob Yasinsac

Day-trippers on the Hudson, be it by boat or by train, or across one of the many bridges, can marvel the majestic natural landscape of the Valley, all the way from the Palisades near New York City, up to the Hudson Highlands past West Point, and beyond.

Along the way, man made elements of the scenery will distract your eye from the river and the hills. The railroad takes you within a few feet of Washington Irving’s Sunnyside. Jay Gould’s Lyndhurst is visible from the river. And if you are driving east on the Tappan Zee Bridge, look to the top of the hill in the distance in front of you, and you can see Carrollcliffe, a castle that was built approximately the same time as Bannerman Castle.

Further up the river, at Garrison, Castle Rock, looking like it was transported from the middle of Germany, looms over Route 9 and looks across to West Point. Still in Garrison, Dick’s Castle rises up from the hills, renovated and sparkling white, white as the proverbial white elephant it is.

Just north of Cold Spring, the traveler passes Storm King on the west and Breakneck on the east. Ahead is Pollepel Island. The many prominent buildings I have mentioned were all built as residences. What sets "Bannerman's Castle" apart is that it was built as a warehouse. Only more glorified than a modern warehouse.

Bannerman's Island Arsenal was constructed in stages between the years 1901-1918 by Francis Bannerman VI. Bannerman started a business after the Civil War, purchasing military equipment surplus from the U.S. Government at scrap prices, through sealed bids. The business eventually outgrew the Bannerman warehouses in Brooklyn, where large stores of black powder may also have unnerved local residents. The Castle was never a museum, despite the interesting relics that could be found there. Nor was it a store; sales went through the New York store, or shipped direct from the island. So if this place was just a warehouse, then why the conspicuous construction? Certainly none of today’s major e-commerce retailers would waste so much effort and cost on fanciful building meant to temporarily store “stuff.”

Proud of his heritage, and with a strong interest in the antiquities, Francis Bannerman VI studied castles all over Europe, especially his native Scotland. Piecing together the many designs, some sketched on hotel stationery, the buildings were designed by Bannerman himself. You won’t find Bannerman's Island Arsenal in the architectural journals of the day because professional architects were not consulted in the design of the structure. There was a residence on the island, and several other buildings were constructed. Ever the astute businessman, Bannerman made his warehouse a giant billboard. Traveling along the river has always been popular; those going by boat or train cannot miss Bannerman's Island Arsenal . So Bannerman plastered his name all over the warehouse. Although the island is officially named Pollepel, Bannerman placed the legend “Bannerman's Island Arsenal’ on the north and east sides of the Number Three Warehouse. Privately, he referred to the island as Crag Inch, Scottish for "rocky island."

The Bannerman business used the island until the late 1950s, when the Castle was cleared of military surplus and live munitions were deactivated. Although a mishap or two occurred during the years of active operation, including the powder house explosion of 1920, it was not until after the State of New York purchased the Island in 1967 and a fire of undetermined origin in 1969 that the buildings fell into their present state of ruin. Now, a Friends organization known as the Bannerman Castle Trust is working with the State of New York towards the goal of stabilizing the Castle and possibly restoring the residence. With featured articles in the New York Times, among other newspapers, and successful ventures that brought artists, students and the public to the Island since the late 1990s, Bannerman’s Castle is getting much deserved attention. Thanks to the efforts of the Trust, the trails have been cleared, and the buildings are now more visible from the river and the railroad. Continued efforts of the Trust have made it possible that New York State has allowed the island to be opened for tours arranged by the Trust on a more regular basis during summer weekends.

-With information from The Story of Bannerman Island , Charles S. Bannerman, 1962

Crag Inch Tower, color infrared film.

View from the north.

Sunset through the windows.

The Bannerman Castle Trust
PO BOX 843
Glenham, NY 12527
phone:(845)-831-6346
www.bannermancastle.org - The official page of the BCT.

The Bannerman Castle Trust Inc, seeks to raise money to preserve Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island as an historical, educational and cultural site. Paths on the Pollepel Island have been cleared and views of the buildings have been restored, in hopes of allowing general public access in the near future. Access to the island is prohibited and New York State Parks police routinely patrol the Island for trespassers.

Other Contacts:
New York State, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Empire State Plaza, Agency Building 1, Albany, New York, 12238