Kleiner’s Korner: The Queensboro Bridge Connection to the Motor Parkway (Part 1)
The construction of the Queensboro Bridge (aka the Blackwell's Island Bridge,59th Street Bridge and today named the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge) connecting Manhattan with Queens County offered numerous opportunities to expand NY's economy and provide additional leisure activities to millions of people.
A main benefit of the bridge was the ability of the automobilist to reach previously hard to reach locations. This was possible due to roadways connecting the Queens side of the bridge and the Motor Parkway. In recognition of the bridge's impact on the automobile, the opening celebration in June of 1909 included an automobile committee to plan interesting and unique events. Motor Parkway official Arthur J. Pardington was selected to lead this committee and William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. was chosen as a member.
Sources: Automobile Topics, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, The New York Times, The Sun, Record & Guide (1909)
Art Kleiner
The Motor Parkway Connection-1909
A grand celebration was planned to publicize the opening of the bridge. Recognizing the influence of noted auto enthusiasts bridge officials offered Arthur J. Pardington the role of heading the automobile committee, of which he accepted. Willie K. was also on the committee.
Jefferson DuMont Thompson, Treasurer of the Motor Parkway, noted that the parkway's route in northern Queens would be in proximity to the new bridge which would have a "special roadway for automobiles".
The bridge extended the reach of the motorist eastward onto Long Island! (G. W. Bromley & Co., 1909)
". . . the Motor Parkway will undoubtedly play a very important part." Driving from the bridge through Long Island City motorists would easily find the entrance to the Motor Parkway which could take them all the way to Lake Ronkonkoma; "as pretty a spot as could be found in the entire island".
Prior to the opening of the bridge, looking east from the Manhattan approach.
The same location on Opening day - March 30, 1909.
A Celebration is Planned
Even though the bridge officially opened on March 30, the celebration commemorating "the automobile bridge" occurred on June 12-18, 1909 with several unique automotive events planned.
Along with Pardington and Willie K. other notables on the committee included: Alfred Reeves, General Manager of the American Motor Car Manufacturers' Association; Robert Lee Morrell, third VP of the Automobile Club of America; H.B. Fullerton, LI farmer and experimenter; and Fred J. Wagner, starter of auto races.
History of the Queensboro Bridge showing the celebration to begin on June 12, 1909.
Largest Map of the World
As part of the celebration, the largest map in the world was to be constructed. Hanging from the bridge the map would use colored lights to indicate Long Island and its towns and cities. And the celebration's motto was also to be displayed: "The Heart of the Nation, The Hub of the Nation".
Wonder where this map is today - my guess its in Howard's basement!
Part 2 of this series will detail activities planned by Arthur J. Pardington's automobile committee to be held during the opening ceremony.
Comments
From Greg O.
Great post Art! I too would love to see that map! I’ve checked the basement, with no luck! I’ll have to check the survey boxes at the waterfront. Ha!
Its a shame there aren’t any 1909 photos of the map on the bridge.
Howard… you forgot ??? The last time the map was on display it was hanging from the south side of the old Roslyn Viaduct Bridge. It was taken down when construction of the new Viaduct began. It was lowered onto a barge and towed out to the Vanderbilt Museum in Centreport. There it was placed on the roof of the seaplane hanger. Weather permitting, it is scheduled around April 1st, to be hung on the new Viaduct Bridge.
The map is/was like 3/4 of a mile in length, that’s amazing.
I remember comedian Steven Wright saying he had a map that was actual size. It took him an entire summer to fold it. Lol.
Great post Art, thank you for sharing!
I’ve yet to encounter the electric map on any Queensboro Bridge photo as of yet. The 1909 opening day photo does not reveal the map from that angle, but it’s there! If a photo of the electric map was ever captured, the photo likely was taken from the East River on a boat. Blackwell Island access was restricted at the time.
a replica photo of the toll sign, courtesy of Win Egan Siroka
Art, I believe the Queensboro Bridge was the first bridge designed with the automobile in mind. The Motor Parkway organizers were early backers of the Queensboro Bridge. The 1906 Parkway prospectus makes mention of the “Blackwell Island Bridge”. In 1908 Wille K. was asked to serve of the all important Executive Committee, his response, “I shall be delighted to do so and you may rely on me to everything in my power to help this committee achieve it’s end”. Jefferson De Mont Thompson was also involved as representative of the Vanderbilt Racing Commission.
Frank- Yes, the Queensboro was designed with autos in mind, but the Brooklyn Bridge started automobile traffic in 1901 before any other bridges were built across the East River.
In 1903, the first automobile broke down on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Construction start-Opened
Brooklyn Bridge 1869-May 24th 1883
Williamsburg Bridge 1896-Dec 20th 1903
Queensboro Bridge 1902-March 30th 1909
Manhattan Bridge 1901-Dec 31st 1909
I’m just curious about the toll sign Frank Femenias submitted- was the 59th St. Bridge a toll bridge at one point? If it was, was the Brooklyn Bridge a toll bridge at any point? It would seem, although lightly trafficked byways could be tolled, a heavily used multi-lane bridge might be very difficult to collect tolls on with the technology of that day. And if it was tolled, when and why did it stop being tolled?
Thanks, Bob Allen
Bob-
There were tolls on all of the East River crossings at one point or another.
https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/july-19-1911-the-day-east-river-tolls-melted-away/#:~:text=Tolls%20were%20imposed%20on%20the,a%20penny%20for%20a%20pedestrian.
Greg, thanks for the education. I’m a bit surprised.