New York State Apples: From Tree to Hand

Apples Schmapples

This fall when fighting traffic to get out of the city for some serious apple picking, I hope you get a chance to visit Fishkill Farms, Mead Orchards or Montgomery Place Orchards.

Usually anywhere from 5 to 10 dollars for a sizeable bag will get you about 20 apples. Where people often fall short is the unfortunate picking of the tasteless apple.  Yes, they do exist.  Primarily used for cider’s and baked goods, there are a lot that stand on their own for a simple snack.

So it is important to know when picking through rows and rows of apple trees which variety you should concentrate on.

New York State has about 50 varieties amongst the hundreds that exist in our country today, believe it or not.

The tastiest I have come across for pulling right off the tree and hiding from the rest of the tourists, hunkered down under a tree like a thief in the night, are as follows:

• ·      Braeburn
• ·      Camero
• ·      Cortlandt
• ·      Empire
• ·      Fuji
• ·      Gala
• ·      Golden Delicious
• ·      Granny Smith

These are just a few of what you can find upstate. Eating out of hand or paired with some cheese, you maybe bold to set up a picnic in the middle of the orchard, be my guest and please send photos.

Note: In fact, all the apples listed above were engineered over the past hundred years by farmer’s.

For example, on February 12^th 2016 Cosmic Crisp entered the apple family. Farmer’s have recently been partnering with universities to get these new varieties.

So when enjoying that apple pie this Fourth of July, remember the apple picking season is just a few months away.

Bannerman Castle, Beacon, New York

A Place of Lore in the Hudson

Somewhere north of the city, about an hour away, lies the ruins of the Bannerman legacy on the island of Pollepel. Known as Bannerman Island, there stands a castle-like structure leaning over the river's edge.  Covered by vines and other beautiful flora, this island across from Beacon, New York, is a great hiking spot for newcomers to the area.

Take note: You can get a glimpse of this wondrous sight if you are traveling by train between Cold Springs and Beacon.

The island itself has inspired literature, films and television backdrops of the location.

I was curious to see what Wikipedia had to say about this historical landmark.  Here's what I found:

Pollepel Island is a murder scene in Linda Fairstein's murder mystery ''Killer Heat''Fairstein, Linda. ''Killer Heat''. Doubleday, 2008 and the site of a series of abductions in Kirsten Miller's book ''Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City''.  

In Philip Kerr's ''The Day of the Djinn Warriors'' (2004), Bannerman's Island appears in the itinerary of the Djinn Twins. The castle is visited and described in depth in William Least Heat-Moon's travel log titled ''River Horse: A Voyage Across America''.  

Bannerman's Castle (called the Hammer Armory here) was the site of clandestine human experimentation by the villainous Talia al Ghul and Dr. Creighton Kendall in issues #145 (published August 2008) and #146 (September 2008) of the (defunct) ''Nightwing'' ongoing series from DC Comics (in a story arc titled "Freefall," written by Peter J. Tomasi.   

I was surprised there was no mention of Eleanor Seeland of local Bannerman Castle fame who spent the first 12 years of her life on the island.  Her manuscripts and journals have influence local authors such as Wesley and Barbara Gottlock who have spent the better part of their retirement as school teachers writing about local early American history.

I always make it my business to visit the island on the Hudson because of its beauty and charm.  For myself it seemed important enough to mention the Gottluck's in one of their many contributions to the isle of Pollepel's history.

Here's what I added:

Wesley Gottlock and Barbara H. Gottlock authored a children's book called, "My Name is Eleanor." It is based on photographs, interviews and journals of Eleanor Seeland. Seeland, an Ulster County resident, lived with her family who were residents of Pollepel Island in the early part of 20th century. Seeland's father was contracted by the Bannerman's for about 12 years. 

The fictionalized version of Seeland's life chronicles an encounter with children from modern day taking a class trip to the island. The children's book itself is a variation of fantasy and true personal stories of Seeland, which vary from taking a row boat each morning to the river’s edge to attend school to spending winter's on an isle in the middle of the Hudson River.Gottlock, Barbara H., and Wesley Gottlock. My Name is Eleanor, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
(Wikipedia-Pollepel lsland)

I hope it is still on the Wikipedia in a few month's as it is relevant to Bannerman Castle in general.  When I recently made a trip to the island and was able to purchase the children's book by Wesley and Barbara H. Gottlock.  I was surprised not to see their names listed in Wikipedia so I made it my business to make the edition.  The couple have written numerous books, which such themes as the history of the Bannerman's the relationship of the island between Newburgh (home of Washington's headquarters) and the American Revolution.

The Gottlock's are volunteers on the island and member's of the association Bannerman Island Trust. The trust preserves the island for guests and future cultural events by conducting walking tours and concerts. The island has been under state protection since it was presented for preservation in the 1960s.