Updated: Documenting the Zinzi home in the Massapequa Lodge: Deed and rare film
Lodge keeper descendant Arthur Mauriello has provided a rare deed of sale and film of the Massapequa Lodge.
A big 'Thank You' to Arthur for allowing us to document this important record of sale of Motor Parkway history posted here on VanderbiltCupRaces.com.
Arthur's Grandparents, Thomas and Josephine Zinzi, bought the lodge from the Long Island Motor Parkway Corporation on June 20, 1938 after the Motor Parkway had closed. If the Zinzi name sounds familiar, it's because Thomas Zinzi was Badge #1 of the Motor Parkway Police Force, while Arthur's grandmother Josephine Zinzi was the lodge keeper before the lodge closed for good in 1938.
As presented below, when the Parkway closed, the lodge keepers were generously offered to purchase the John Russell Pope-designed lodges and others to convert into permanent, private homes. Several lodge keepers took up Vanderbilt's offer, including Thomas and Josephine Zinzi.
Update September 6, 2026: Credit and date revised for the 1959 photo of the Massapequa Lodge.
Greg O. and Howard Kroplick
During the Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Era 1908-1938
The original .448 Acres survey of land purchased from Joseph Walsh on July 15, 1908 for the location of the Massapequa Lodge along what is today known as Hicksville Road (Route107) on the north side of the Motor Parkway. Previous to the Walsh ownership, the land belonged to Alexander Turney (A.T.) Stewart.
Construction of the John Russell Pope-designed lodge in 1908.
During the 1908-1910 Vanderbilt Cup races, the Massapequa Lodge was a popular vantage point to see the race as the cars turned off here onto a small, temporary road back on to the public roads portion of the course.
The eventual winner, the Alco Black Beast, taking the turn off the Motor Parkway during the 1909 race.
Thomas Zinzi, badge #1, was a Long Island Motor Parkway Patrolman. His wife Josephine, took on duties as lodge keeper at the Massapequa Lodge. He and Josephine were integral in the day to day operations of the Motor Parkway.
One of the only known photos of Zinzi during Motor Parkway patrols. Often times, photos of other officers are mistakenly identified as Zinzi.
Thomas Zinzi was not only an officer on the Motor Parkway Police Force, but he also provided personal security for Willie K. himself. Here, Thomas Zinzi can be seen overseeing the gates at Willie K's Centerport estate, Eagle's Nest.
Arthur Mauriello has informed us that his grandfather not only worked at the Long Island estate, but would travel with Vanderbilt on his yacht to his estate on Fisher Island in Miami as security.
Celebrities and the wealthy started hiring more personal security for themselves and family after 1932 when Charles Lindbergh's 20-month old son Charles Jr. was abducted in the historic, well publicized tragedy that year.
The Purchase of the Lodge from the Motor Parkway
Front and back of the deed in which the Zinzis purchased the Massapequa Lodge.
This original 2 1/2" x 7" deed dated June 20, 1938 generously provided by Arthur from his family archives. With very few properties sold off by the Motor Parkway Corp., this deed is about as rare as one can get collecting Motor Parkway memorabilia.
Official Corporate seal and Motor Parkway Manager acting as Notary, Alfred Kienzle's signature
The terms for the sale as per the deed. Although the deed states the transaction price at $100, that was for deed purposes only. It was common as it is now, to not put the actual selling price on the deed transfer for many various reasons.
The text of the deed close up.
Possibly the only known document signed by both Alfred Keinzle and Willie K. Vanderbilt (who had dropped the 'Jr.' by 1938)
From the Al Velocci files;
An important page from the ledger books documenting the sale of properties and lodges of the Motor Parkway. Underlined is the August 1938 sale of the Massapequa lodge and 1.3 acres of land the lodge sat on at that point. The sum of $3,000 (the equivalent of $71,000 today) was about the average price for a home of that size in 1938. Of note is Walsh's name as the former property owner.
Zinzi Residence (1938-1960's)
The Zinzi's enjoyed almost 30 years in the lodge raising a family there in the process.
Note how the Zinzis expanded the home by enclosing the porte cochere. The term comes from the French translation of "coach door".
Arthur Mauriello has provided this rare film documenting the Zinzi home in 1953.
The Zinzis can be seen with their daughter Francine on her wedding day leaving for church. The film was edited by Gram Spina.
March 27, 1959
As noted by Gary Hammond's below Comment, the photo was taken on March 27, 1959 by a Nassau County Department of Public Works photographer Bob Donahue. He snapped this photo of the lodge to document future project sites and captured the decaying pavement of the parkway.
At this time the Zinzi's were still in the lodge, but only for a couple of more years. The Lodge was torn down in the 60's to make way for the eventual Nassau County Police Eighth Precinct building and Crescent Woods Garden Apartment complex.
Now
The old Motor Parkway right-of-way now serves as the entrance to the police precinct. The Zinzi home was located on the right.
The aerial view today with a circular marking for the approximate location of the lodge.
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