Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
I challenged you to solve the first Mystery Foto of 2019.
Answers to the Mystery Foto questions:
- Identify the exact location of the Mystery Foto
View looking east on Jericho Turnpike at the LIRR crossing in Locust Grove , close to Syosset.
- Which Vanderbilt Cup Race(s) was run on this section of the course?
1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes and the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
- Which race car(s) caught fire in this section
#3 Mercedes driven by Emil Stricker
#18 Mercedes driven by Foxhall Keene
Comments (10)
Congrats to Greg O., Brian McCarthy, Steve Lucas and Art Kleiner(see Kleiner's Korner) for identifying the Locust Grove section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup course.
Kudos to Art Kleiner for discovering that two Mercedes caught fire at Locust Grove during the 1908 race.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Close-Up
Then: 1908
Now: 2018
The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course
Tom Montalbano: After passing the Woodbury Turn, the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup right-of-way continued west Jericho Turnpike, passing Jackson Avenue and the LIRR crossing near today’s Underhill Boulevard before exiting the Turnpike at what is now Ellison Avenue in Westbury. The LIRR crossing on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, still at street level in those days, was the only interruption of its type along the course. However, as seen in the Mystery Foto (facing east on Jericho Turnpike, toward the present-day overpass), activity at this locale was minimal.
Ariejan Bos: 1907 Garford Touring Car
Keiner's Korner (Submitted by Art Kleiner)
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 24, 1908
The New York Times, October 25, 1908
Comments
-Identify the exact location of the Mystery Foto
The LIRR crossing on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, facing east on Jericho Turnpike in 1908, toward the present-day overpass.
-Which Vanderbilt Cup Race(s) was run on this section of the course?
1908 VCR
-Which race car caught fire in this section
#3 Mercedes driven by Emil Stricker
*Location of Mystery: I believe this is Jericho Tpke facing west in Locust Grove. The car is eastbound approaching the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch.
*VCR that involves this location: October 24th 1908
*Race car that caught fire in this area: #3 Mercedes, driven by Emil Stricker. “Caught fire at Locust Grove, his car finished in 6th place”.
Brian Part II: I just watched the 1908 VCR YouTube video. This same image is displayed as Jericho Tpke Railroad Crossing, Locust Grove. This may be facing east.
I think that’s Jericho Turnpike facing east in the Locust Grove area, near Syosset, about 200 feet east of Underhill Blvd. Along with the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 24, 1908, the five Sweepstakes Races held two weeks prior also used this section of Jericho Tpke. They included the Nassau, Jericho, Garden City, Meadowbrook, and Motor Parkway Sweepstakes. During the Cup Race, the #3 Mercedes, driven by Emil Stricker, caught fire along this section of the course.
IU Willets Rd
Not fair if I answer this one, but let me know if nobody else gets it!
Identify the exact location of the Mystery Foto:
Looking east, LIRR crossing Jericho Turnpike in Syosset (Locust Grove)
Which Vanderbilt Cup Race(s) was run on this section of the course?
1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes and the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Which race car caught fire in this section:
Actually two - Foxhall Keene’s #18 Mercedes (Finished 11th) and Emil Stricker’
s #3 Mercedes (Finished 6). Maybe there should have been a Mercedes recall due to the fires.
1908 cup race, crossing central park X’ing
James ryall number 7 matheson car
Not being a location expert, I would like to say only something about the subject in the photo which is my expertise, which is the car and which appears to be a 1907 Garford touring car. Probably the same car features on another photograph in an album on the building of the bridges of the Motor Parkway, which appeared on this site some time ago. Unfortunately the resolution of both pictures is not high enough to get a clear view of the logo or script on the radiator, so I hope a better scan can be shown of this car to see what it looks like. The presence of this car on the mystery photo probably places the scene in (the summer of) 1908.
I believe this photo is looking north with RR track curving slightly on the east side. If true, the only possibility is Jerusalem Ave, Hicksville with auto heading south. The 1904 VCR was the only event that passed through here. If not looking north, my answer is incorrect.
Impossible to guess photo’s location without the Vanderbilt race course hint, but what a fantastic view of old Long Island as it was. Great stuff! Thanks Howard.
Nice job, Art! I was looking around for an old image, glad you located one. See that this branch was named Wading River. Know the LIRR abandoned the service east from Port Jefferson and the rest is history
Art - As per Brian, ditto, another great find. Thanks!
Brian - Wading River line? Never heard of it. So much hidden stuff
Thanks for the nice words, Frank and Brian. Yes, the LIRR had a Wading River extension from 1895-1938/39 going east from Port Jefferson. Lots on the internet about it, some railroad fans would probably enjoy tracing its route. Here’s one site.
http://lioddities.com/transprotation/lirr-wading-river-branch.html
Just to let you know that the present day photo of Jericho Turnpike and RR crossing (redone in recent times) is where I past thru to go to Home Depot on the left side other side of track. Sad that the beautiful bucolic scenery beyond the track of the old photo is all gone. Progress?