Goblins of Bannerman Castle, Pollepel Island, Hudson River, New York

About 50 miles north of New York City, there sits an island nestled close to the eastern shore of the Hudson River. For centuries, Native Americans feared the island believing it to be possessed by evil spirits.  They refused to visit the island after the sun went down.  If they were hunting or fishing there, they would leave and return when it was light. They knew something that European settlers would later learn the hard way. There would be a string of tragedies throughout the years that would solidify the island's reputation.

Bannerman Castle sits on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River, New York.  It is thought to be haunted by a malevolent spirit which caused a series of disasters over the ages, including the destruction of the castle. Photo: Wikipedia public commons

While the colonies were being populated and shipping steadily increasing up and down the Hudson River, the Dutch seafarers would refer to the spirit which haunts the island the "Heer of Dunderberg".  They believed that the Hudson from the point at Dunderberg Mountain, to Pollepel Island about fifteen miles further north, was haunted by a spirit who would send his Storm Ship manned with his goblin minions to raise havoc upon that stretch of river. Over the years people referred to this spirit as The Storm King. But that is a story in itself.  They believed that the island was his northernmost outpost on the river and that the Heer of Dunderberg was responsible for any misfortune on the island.

There is a legend that states the island was named for a heroic event that took place there.  It was thought by some that a minister from New Amsterdam named Paul Vernon, who was staying with the Pell family, was walking along the river while the young Mary Pell and her love interest were on a sleigh ride on the frozen river. The ice broke and the sleigh fell through the ice.  Hearing the accident, Paul made his way to the scene and pulled them out of river and they made their way to a nearby island.  Mary and her lover were so taken up with emotion for each other having survived the accident, they asked the minister Paul to marry them on the spot there on the island.  After since that day, folks referred to the island as Paul Pell Island which eventually became Pollepel, or so some say.  Others disagree and believed that the island was named for another tragedy that happened at the island which will be mentioned shortly.  Most likely, the name was derived from the Native American name.
   
The young Francis Bannerman VI and his family came to America in the late 1800s. He and his father started gathering surplus supplies, arms, and munitions from the military.  It slowly grew as a business.  They became quite successful as after the Spanish American War, they purchased the majority of the surplus military goods from that war. They created a mail order catalog which became world famous as a weapons guide as it was had detailed illustrations for each item that they sold.  Eventually Francis took over for his father and continued the success. They had a warehouse in New York where they kept all of their munitions. The city forced them to move it out of the city, aware of the danger that it posed. Bannerman purchased Pollepel Island in 1900, which until then was only used by smugglers, hunters, and fishermen.  He began constructing a castle like fortress on the island as well as a personal residence.

Haunted Bannerman Castle can be seen on the right of Pollepel Island in the Hudson River, New York in this view from atop a nearby mountain.  The rail road line that runs along the eastern shore of the Hudson can be seen in the foreground and offers one of the best views of the castle from the shore.
Photo: Wikipedia public commons

This is when the real torrid history of the island begins. Bannerman Castle and the accompanying munitions warehouse were completed in 1908 and was known as the Bannerman Island Arsenal.  Sadly, Francis Bannerman VI only enjoyed his creation for ten years as he passed away in 1918.  The family kept the munitions business going, but tragically two years after Francis' death, there was a tremendous explosion at the island warehouse destroying a good portion of it. It is believed that a lightening strike touched off the explosion.  It was still somewhat operational however, and the business kept going and the family still used the island castle as a residence.

In 1950, the ferryboat Pollepel which serviced the island, exploded and crashed into the island. Once again, this incident happened during a storm. Many believe that this disaster is where the island got the name, not as result of starry eyed lovers. This ended use of the island as an arsenal.  The Bannermans closed down the munitions supply business totally around 1959. The family still used the Pollepel as a summer retreat and then eventually gave it up, selling it to the State of New York in 1967.  All munitions were removed from the warehouse and the island was put into use as a tourist attraction and tours were given of the lavish estate.  Then, just two years later in 1969, another tragic event ensued when a fire broke out destroying much of the structure.  Only the walls remained and the island was closed to the public.

The island remained in this state for almost forty years.  A historical society worked to restore the castle to its former grandeur. Private paid hardhat tours were given of the island and structures.  Progress towards the restoration were well underway when again, tragically in 2009, a sizable portion of the castle walls collapsed in a pile of rubble.
       
So when you are driving or taking the train along the East side of the Hudson River and see the ruins of Bannerman Castle, remember the Heer of Dunderberg is watching over the river.   It seems that over time, the Goblins of Bannerman Castle have been very busy indeed.  Now, once again the island sits vacant in its wondrous solitude on the Hudson River and left to the mercy of the spirits that dwell there.

Location:  41.455128 -73.989084
Eastern shore driving: 41.455314 -73.98887

Related Stories:

The Heer of Dundenberg - Hudson Valley Highlands, New York, USA
Ghostly Storm Ship of the Hudson River - New York, United States

 

 View the Index of Haunted Places

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannerman_Castle
http://www.cityofsmoke.com/archives/393

Ghosts of Mount Misery on Long Island near Huntington, New York

On Long Island, New York there is a place that has earned a reputation for being haunted or cursed since before the area was occupied by Native Americans.  Mount Misery it is called today and it as well as the surrounding area is one of the most haunted places on Long Island.

Mount Misery Road near Huntington, New York.  The area is thought to be a paranormal hotspot and is home to many ghosts.

Settlers on Long Island were warned by the Native Matnecock tribe to stay away from Mount Misery. The believed that the land was cursed.  It earned its name from the land itself. Very hard to navigate and no crops would ever grow on it and it has been the scene of many deaths over the years and very strange things have happened to many people here. Once in its history, a strange hermit like man was found wandering around Mount Misery with a basket full of human heads! Many ghosts haunt this place.

Mount Misery Road comes to a dead end and then there is nothing.

Lady in White 

A woman named Mary is said to haunt Sweet Hollow Road as well as a nearby cemetery where some say that she is buried.  It is thought that her name was Mary.  One night she had a fight with her boyfriend as they were driving down Sweet Hollow Road.  She jumped out of the car and was struck and killed by the car behind them. Now she is seen walking along the road at night wearing a white dress.

Men in Black 

Strange men in dressed in all black have been seen walking around the area.  It is unknown where they are from or what they want. They have been known to approach people and ask off the wall questions.

Hell Hound of Mount Misery 

A phantom dog has been spotted roaming these woods many times over the years.  It is said that the dog is black and has glowing red eyes and does not quite look the same as an ordinary dog. It is supposed to be an omen of death if you see it.

Phantom Policeman 

A phantom police officer is also said to haunt Sweet Hollow Road.  If you are pulled over by the police on this road, he may be a ghost.  If her turns to go back to his car and he has a hole in the back of his head, you've just had an encounter with a ghost!

Sweet Hollow Road 

Ghosts of kids who were killed there in the 1930s are said to linger near a bridge. A few boys were said to have been hung from the bridge that passes over Sweet Hollow Road.  Their shadowy forms can still be seen hanging occasionally.  Many strange occurrences have happened on Mount Misery Road as well.

Sweet Hollow Road is haunted by several spirits.  Photo by longislandpress.com

Mount Misery is near the section of Sweet Hollow Road between Jerico Pike and State Route 110 and is the highest point on Long Island.  Mount Misery Road, is the best way to get to the hill itself.

View the Index of Haunted Places 

Devil's Den at Gettysburg Battlefield - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Just outside of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the former Civil War battlegrounds there lies a valley strewn with large rocks and boulders that looks like the Devil may have designed it himself.  Long before the Battle of Gettysburg ever took place, locals have referred to this place as the Devil's Den.  Thousands of Civil War soldiers died in the valley where the Devil's Den is located.  However, not only is it said that many ghosts of the Civil War haunt this battle ground, but spirits from a time prior to the Civil War as well.

The Devil's Den at Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, PA

Long before the likes of Lee and Meade ever walked the Gettysburg Battlefield, a Native American battle took place here in which many warriors were killed.  Then in July of 1863 for three long days, the Confederate Army of the South met the Union Army of the North at this location as well as the surrounding hills in the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.  There were approximately fifty thousand casualties suffered on both sides including over seven thousand killed.  On the second day of battle, heavy fighting occurred at Devil's Den as the Union soldiers who held the hill defended against the attacking Confederates.  The Union troops eventually lost control of the hill only to retake it again after many were killed on both sides.  The valley which is home to Devil's Hill was nicknamed "Death Valley".  The dead lay strewn around Devil's Den for weeks and some were thrown into the rocky crevices instead of being buried.

The Devil's Den, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania as it appeared in the 1860s

The Devil's Den immediately after the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War

Throughout the early to mid 1800s, there have been reported stories from locals about hearing the sounds of Native American war cries coming from the Devil's Den.  Some claimed to have even seen the apparitions of warriors as if they were in the last death throws of battle.  After the Civil War battle at Gettysburg, reports started coming in of sightings of what many believe to be the ghost of a Confederate soldier roaming the Devil's Den.  It is believed that he is from the Confederate Army because the apparition is usually dressed in the style that the Texas regiment wore at the time of the battle.  He has been described as usually wearing buckskin clothes, and having long hair underneath a hat in the style that the southerners used to wear in that time period.  Some say that the apparition appeared to be barefoot.  Most of the Confederate soldiers had poor or no shoes and were raggedly dressed which matches the often rough or scraggly look of the ghost.  Many have nicknamed the ghost at Devil's Den the "hippie" because of the way he looks.