By Lenore Person
Buried on an island in the Hudson, beneath the brittle body of century old castle walls and thin hair of tangled vines, lie Civil War bayonet scabbards and the ashes of Irish linen bed sheets.
This is the remnant of a Scotsman's fortress called Bannerman Castle -- built not as a home, but as an arsenal for his immense collection of weapons. Public access to this island has had a small window of opportunity, curtained by Native American and Dutch settler's fear of resident spirits and goblins, and then restricted since 1900 for more contemporary safety reasons.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the island being owned by the People of the State of New York, and it is one group's vision that the public will soon regain access to this legendary site.
Bannerman Island: A Mystery Island on the Hudson | Historic Sites | Historic Hudson River Towns
Buried on an island in the Hudson, beneath the brittle body of century old castle walls and thin hair of tangled vines, lie Civil War bayonet scabbards and the ashes of Irish linen bed sheets.
This is the remnant of a Scotsman's fortress called Bannerman Castle -- built not as a home, but as an arsenal for his immense collection of weapons. Public access to this island has had a small window of opportunity, curtained by Native American and Dutch settler's fear of resident spirits and goblins, and then restricted since 1900 for more contemporary safety reasons.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the island being owned by the People of the State of New York, and it is one group's vision that the public will soon regain access to this legendary site.
Bannerman Island: A Mystery Island on the Hudson | Historic Sites | Historic Hudson River Towns
