Kleiner’s Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
The Mineola Motor Car Co. was located on Jericho Turnpike and Willis Avenue, near Krug's Hotel. It advertised being on the Vanderbilt Cup Course and in articles noted its gasoline storage system was especially useful to drivers during the race.
Art Kleiner
1906
A crowd gathers in front during the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race. (N. Lazarnick, Detroit Public Library)
The proprietor and manager of the shop in 1906 was P.P. Easton. The gasoline storage system was prominently mentioned in the sign.
My best guess as to the actual location. Feel free to chime in after reviewing the next set of photos. (E. Belcher-Hyder, 1906)
The garage installed the Snell Gasoline Storage system with a capacity of 1,100 gallons. (The Automobile, Oct. 11, 1906)
The system was also installed by Issac V. Brokaw in his private 6-story garage in NYC.
1908
1910
Sometime after 1906, the shop was re-named Baker's Mineola Garage under the ownership of Edwin Baker. (Spooner & Wells, Detroit Public Library)
Mr. Baker's Accident and A. R. Pardington
Unfortunately Mr. Baker suffered a fatal automobile accident in 1909 while doing a favor to noted aeronaut Leo Stevens who had just flown across New York City and Long Island in a balloon. (Watertown Re-Union, Oct. 12, 1909)
More details concerning the accident in which A. R. Pardington acted as a good Samaritan. (The Long Island Farmer, Oct. 1, 1909)
Unfortunately, Edwin Baker did not survive the crash.
Comments
Art, I believe that the building shown in the 1906 photo is just past the building you circled in the 1910 photo. They are 2 different structures - the 1906 building was a frame structure, the circled building appears to be a brick structure. However, if you compare the window size & arrangement by enlarging the 1910 photo you will see the Mineola Motor Car building next door. The 1910 photo shows a angled flat roof building, which I believe is correct. However, the 1908 photo points to a peaked roof building which I believe is a totally different building. So, if you can definitely confirm the 1910 photo location, you can also confirm the 1906 location. What do you think?
Art, I took another look, and the turreted building in the 1908 photo also appears in the 1910 photo, but farther down Jericho Turnpike. Actually, both garage buildings appear to be on the southwest corner of Jericho, opposite, but west of Krug’s location, not on the southeast side as you suggested. If you check the attached photo from VCR blog 5/13/2013, I believe you can see the Garage just behind the peaked roof building on the left side. And if you look at the 1910 photo, on the far (left) side of the flat roofed building you can see part of the angled roof of the peaked roof building.
From Gary Hammond
The Horseless Age, Vol. 17, No. 25, June 27, 1906, p. 940 states: “The Mineola Motor Car Co., Mineola, Long Island, have opened a garage and repair shop on Jericho turnpike, opposite Krug’s Hotel. P.P. Easton is president and R.L. Hall manager.” I think this helps to support my opinion as to its location.
I know you figured out the location of the garage Gary. In Art’s 1910 photo viewing East, there’s the tree on the NS of Jericho ( obscuring Krugs ). The same tree is seen in your image viewing west. Below is a 1914 map showing McCord as the garage owner. Had trouble screenshoting a current street view, but there’s a long brick faced building on the SS of Jericho, no hint of the past garage.
Thanks for the additional info.!
I’m back again, Art. Don’t know why I didn’t think about this before, but the birds eye view below is more telling. All the buildings within the { } have a brick facade. The ‘Good Luck Discount Store’ has a long peaked roof. Perhaps the Auto Garage is part of this newer building?
Brian, The Nassau Co. Land Record Lookup states that the Good Luck Discount Store (#155 Jericho Tpke; S/B/L 9 405 156) was built in 1908, and the restaurant just to the west (#157-161 Jericho; S/B/L 9 405 158) was built in 1913. I had thought #153 (S/B/L 9 405 105) the Mineola Eye Services might be the site of the Mineola Motor Car Co., but listed as being built in 1930. How accurate these dates are is unknown to me.
Amazing info, Gary. I’ve looked through Suffolk County Land Records ( County Clerk website ). There’s no need for a username/password, just have to prove your not a robot : ) lol. If your looking for older records, a trip to Riverhead is needed. Is the Nassau County website easy to explore?
Brian, Here’s the website address: https://lrv.nassaucountyny.gov/. I find having a Sect / Blk / Lot to be the easiest way, as the address doesn’t always seem to work for me. But you can also access the 1926 and 1950 aerial photos this way. The more you use it, the easier it becomes. It took a bit of work for me to get the above information, but well worth it. When I worked for the Nassau County Museum, I did both title and surrogate searches in Mineola - back then the Clerk’s Office had hard copies of deeds, maps, the property cards, and microfilm of the Queens Co. Deeds. The Surrogates gave you the original files - wills, etc. to go through. I love examining original documents, but the convenience of searching from home is also appealing - can be done 24/7.
Brian, as Gary notes the Nassau County site is very useful - I use it all the time. Besides searching by address or section, blk, lot you can also go into the overall map and zero in to where you are looking. My mouse control zooms in and out. As you zoom in actual lots appear and you can just click on the lot you want more info. about. If you don’t know the address or blk info. it helps a lot.
Great documentation Art. I’m late here. Will chime in soon.
Thanks, Art & Gary! Wish Suffolk County Land Records had the exact format as the Nassau website. Suffolk is limited compared to Nassau. I was already aware of the old maps, but the detailed history is a nice surprise.
About a month ago, there was a fire at 155 Jericho Tpke., Mineola. The top floor was destroyed. Good Luck Discount Store is closed, probably permanently.
At one time in the late 40’s and 50’s it was Winters Garage. And his daughter lived upstairs.they were long time Mineola residents
I’m back here from almost 2 yrs ago : ) Howard has a 1928 Sanborn Map of this location, with building numbers. Map has #157 as a Garage, which is a Restaurant today. I screenshot your comment to me, Gary. Also the present birds eye view again, and so it’s easier to refer. Pretty much what we were saying lines up.