Some good news here for a turn. I have just received some photos from Wes Gottlock of the Bannerman Castle Trust that show the beginning of work being done to stabilize the tower of Bannerman’s Island Arsenal.
The arsenal, or castle as it is popularly known, consists of several contiguous structures built over a decade or so. The “tower,” the tallest building, was built in 1909 and its exterior walls stood until the winter of 2009/2010, when about 2/3 of it collapsed in two separate storms. The other buildings that comprise the castle include the Number 2 and Number 3 Arsenals, which stand more-or-less intact, and the Number 1 Arsenal and the Superintendents’ House, which have consisted of fragmentary ruins for the past few decades.
Scaffolding has gone up outside of and inside of the tower walls, and bracing will be installed to support the walls and hopefully prevent any further collapse. This is the second round of work to stabilize the ruins of Bannerman’s Island – in 2011 the Lodge (Bannerman residence) was stabilized.
Thanks to Wes Gottlock who took the photographs and for allowing them to be posted here.
To learn more about the Bannerman Castle Trust, visit www.bannermancastle.org.
Great photos!