Probably can’t be repaired…
Been working on a new series for the Beacon Dispatch called The Highland Wanderer, which is going to be a monthly feature about the outdoors in and around the Hudson Highlands. For the first piece I took a kayaking trip down the Hudson, with Hudson Valley Pack and Paddle to a place called Bannerman Castle which sits on Pollopel Island. Presently the property is State Park land that’s only legal to land on if you’re on a tour. But, even though the old castle is literally falling into the ground, the architecture is still quite interesting. Even more interesting is the fact that this place is quite literally held together by Civil War garbage. Instead of the 19th century equivalent of rebar, there are old Civil War cots holding the concrete together. No wonder then that this place is falling into the ground.
The island is covered with trails and gardens that were created by the Bannerman family and which the Bannerman Castle Trust is now restoring. Most of the trails had names and markers and it’s clear that it was once an absolutely gorgeous place. While the castle seems beyond repair, the old homestead, which itself seems to be a small castle, is likely to be the only building that can be restored.
For your viewing pleasure, here are a couple of photos of the place. If you want some more detailed information on the Castle and the attempt to revive the old buildings on the island, check out the Bannerman Castle Trust’s official web site. For more info and history you can check out Lenore Person’s article on the Hudson River dot com web site, which includes some Quicktime panoramas of the island or you can also have a look at the the Hudson Valley Ruins web site.
A real renovator’s dreamhouse, no?
