Comments on: Pollepel Island (Island week 2)

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:32:26 +0000

Just in case you’re curious… Tours have resumed, and will be open again in May 2009…

By: George Myers

George Myers — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:06:00 +0000

I read while staying at the Hudson House and working on the remediation design of the Marathon Battery Superfund EPA site in Cold Spring, in the Foundry Cove between the village and Constitution Island across the Hudson River’s westside, West Point Military Academy that the author Harriet Beecher Stowe (when introduced to then President Abraham Lincoln, he remarked it’s said, “So here’s the little lady that started the war” or something like that) was inspired by the legend and used it in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” though differently. The Stowes were noted abolishionists especially in Brooklyn, NY. The scene later recreated in early silent film.

By: Bill Parco

Bill Parco — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:58:22 +0000

Thanks for posting this site. I’ve allways enjoyed sailing past the island especially in fall. A true Hudson River jewel.

As for the island name “Even the name Pollepel (Polopel) originated with a legend about a young girl named (Polly) Pell who was romantically rescued from the breaking river ice and landed on the island shore, where she was promptly married to her sweetheart, who rescued her and her companion. The island was thereafter called Pollepel.”- Bannerman Castle Trust

Enjoy!

By: Chris W

Chris W — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:45:12 +0000

“complete with lookout turrets and a moat” – Surely the moat was a bit over the top, it is surrounded by the Hudson river after all.

By: sirflow

sirflow — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:14:16 +0000

actually, unlike the Wikipedia explanation, “pollepel” means as much as wooden spoon in Dutch. Strange name for an island, especially as it isn’t quite spoonshaped…