Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Long Island Cloverleaf that destroyed the Hamlet of Jericho
Did you solve the final Mystery Foto of 2020?
Answers to the Mystery Foto questions
Identify the following:
- The location and major roads
In Jericho where Route 106 and Route 107 intersect with Jericho Turnpike. In the Mystery Foto, south is on the top of the aerial and north on the bottom. In the below Close-up, the Mystery Foto is vertically flipped. In 1958, New York State Department of Transportation demolish the hamlet of Jericho to build this cloverleaf.
- The historic buildings
Jericho Friends Meeting House (1788)
Quaker School (1793) where Elias Hicks taught
Maine Maid Inn (now One North) (1800)- The home of Valentine Hicks
Milleridge Inn- A section of the house dates back to the Willets family in 1672.
Malcolm House- Built in 1757.
- A historic cemetery
The burying ground for the Jericho Friends Meeting House
- The prominent Long Island family that owned the property on the right corner of the Mystery Foto
Underhill family.
New York Times May 16, 1999
In the Region /Long Island; In Jericho, a Developer Is Buying a Rural Legacy
By Diana Shaman
TIME is soon to catch up to a 19th-century farmhouse, several barns, and the nine acres of fields and paddocks surrounding them that have survived as a rural oasis on busy Jericho Turnpike just east of the Route 107 cloverleaf. They have been owned by members of one of Long Island's older families, the Underhills, for almost 130 years.
But economic realities have persuaded the four owners that renting the property to a boarding stable known as Jericho Run Farms no longer makes good sense.
Samuel Underhill Mitchell, 68, his 97-year-old mother, the former Alice Underhill, and Mr. Mitchell's two cousins, Phebe Alice Apgar of Burke, Va., and Morley L. Smith Jr. of Montreal, have signed a contract to sell the parcel to a Manhattan developer, Forest City Daly Housing, which has proposed developing it for 20 houses and a 90-unit assisted-living residence. Under the sales agreement, the farmhouse must be preserved. But even so Mr. Mitchell, a direct descendant of Capt. John Underhill, who founded the family in 1661, said it was painful to part with the property. ''It is full of fond memories,'' he explained. His great-grandfather, Samuel S. Underhill, purchased the house along with 160 acres in the mid-1870's. His mother and her sister, his aunt Phebe Underhill Smith, grew up there. He remembers playing there as a boy and spending his summers helping his grandfather, Samuel S. Underhill Jr., work the farm, which originally extended east to Robbins Lane and south to the Long Island Rail Road tracks.
Most of the land was sold off in the 1950's, as farm after farm in the area gave way to development. To the west there is commercial development, including a motel and a gas station a half-mile distant near the cloverleaf connecting Jericho Turnpike to Route 107. To the east are office buildings, a shopping center and an industrial park. To the south, high ranches and colonials occupy quarter-acre lots that were once part of the Underhill holdings. To the north there are more houses.
Link this location to the Vanderbilt Cup Race(s)
The Vanderbilt Cup Races ran through the hamlet in Jericho (where the cloverleaf is now located) for the 1904, 1905 and 1908 courses.
Kudos question: Identify the former homes of a Vanderbilt Cup Race official and an automotive inventor
The Malcolm House was the home of Dr. William Jackson Malcolm, staff physician for the 1905, 1906 and 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Maine Maid Inn was the former home of Harrison Hurlbert Boyce, the inventor of the Boyce Moto Meter, a device that read the temperature of a radiator's vapor. Patented in 1913, the Boyce Moto Meter dominated the automobile gauge industry for two decades.
Comments (15)
Congrats to Al Prete, Joe Oesterle, Greg O., Brian McCarthy, Ernie, Frank Femenias, Steve Lucas, Art Kleiner, Paul Parisi, George Philippides, Steven Vilardi, Al Velocci (my favorite co-author) and Giarratana for identifying the infamous Jericho cloverleaf.
Kudos to Brian McCarthy and Steve Lucas for identifying Jericho resident Dr. Malcom and Harrison Boyce.
Shout outs to Rosemary Lucas and Al Velocci for the special comments.
Thanks everyone for participating participating in the 52 Mystery Fotos of 2020.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Close-Ups
Original Photo
Original glass plate negative caption: 2-2-84 Jericho Turnpike 107 RTE
Image flipped vertically with north on top.
Comments
Location: the interchange of Jericho Turnpike and Route 106/107 in Jericho. South is at the top. Major roads: Jericho Turnpike, Route 106/107. At the bottom of the picture, Route 106 goes to the left, and Route 107 (Cedar Swamp Road) goes to the bottom.
Historic buildings: The Milleridge Inn, and the Maine Maid Inn. Prominent family: The Hicks family. The Maine Maid Inn was once the Hicks homestead. Also, Maltby’s Garage, aka the Locomobile Headquarters.
Historic cemetery: The Quaker cemetery.
VCR link: The Hicks homestead was a primary grandstand viewing area for the races.
Jericho Tpke. The new cloverleaf still shows the old Jericho Tpke. This old Turnpike was part of 2 VCR Courses.
-The location and major roads
North towards the bottom of the photo at the 106/107 split in Jericho. Jericho Tpke horizontal in the center, 106/107 vertical.
-The historic buildings
Maine Maid Inn, Milleridge Inn, many Quaker structures including the Elias Hicks homestead.
-A historic cemetery
The Jericho friends Quaker meeting house cemetery where Elias Hicks is buried is at the left edge of the photo.
-The prominent Long Island family that owned the property on the right corner of the Mystery Foto
Unsure. Was that also all part of the Hicks property?
-Link this location to the Vanderbilt Cup Race(s)
The 1904,05,06 &1908; Races all came through this area on Jericho Tpke.
-Kudos question: Identify the former homes of a Vanderbilt Cup Race official and an automotive inventor
I’ll keep searching, but for now, not coming up with anything.
This is a broadly south view of Jericho, NY. The marked aerial below has most of my answers. The 1906, 06 & 08 VCR included Jericho Tpke here. The Malcom House was the home of Dr. William J. Malcolm, who participated as a race official in 1908. Harrison H. Boyce resided in today’s Main Maid Inn. He invented the Boyce Moto Meter, which was a gauge atop the radiator that would warn the driver of overheating before disaster may occur.
>> The location and major roads:
Looking down Jericho and Jericho Turnpike and the current 106/107 or Jericho & Oyster Bay Road. South is at the top of the image.
>> The historic buildings:
On the SE corner (top left) we have the Millerage Inn which was initially constructed in 1672 and had since been expanded several times. Several historic buildings remain at the NE corner (bottom left) as does the cemetery but I do not know much else about them.
>> A historic cemetery
The area was first settled in 1653. Center left side is the Quaker Cemetery.
(40.794692, -73.536164)
>>Link this location to the Vanderbilt Cup Race(s):
Several of the Cup races ran east on Jericho Turnpike and turned right or south onto Jericho & Oyster Bay Road where this image is taken.
I would appreciate if anyone can share any links to the history of this area.
Hi Howard
Just wanted you to know that I saw the ratings of your web-site and for the life of me I don’t understand why someone would even think about rating it less than excellent!! I’m shocked !! I’m wishing you and your entire family a safe & healthy 2021—-we’ve had ENOUGH (Steve has me hooked on the mystery photos)
Jericho, looking south (top of photo). Route 106-107 convergence, both traveling south under Jericho Tpke.
Jericho Friends Meeting House Complex (1788 Quaker meeting house, 1793 Schoolhouse, 1875 Gable roofed shed, and Friends’ cemetery).
Right corner property possibly owned by the Hicks family or the Underwood family.
Various Vanderbilt Cup Racers sped through this intersection before it was a cloverleaf:
1904 - racing east on Jericho Tpke, then south on Rt 106-107
1905, 06 - racing east on Jericho Tpke, then north on Rt 106
1908 - racing west through the intersection on Jericho Tpke
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
I believe we are directly over Jericho where Routes 106 / 107 intersect with Jericho Turnpike. South is at the top of the photo and north at the bottom. The historic buildings are the Maine Maid Inn and the Milleridge Inn. The historic cemetery is connected to the Friends Meeting House, adjacent to the Maine Maid Inn. I’m guessing the Powells are the prominent family since a Powell owned the Jericho Hotel which was located near the right corner of the photo. A visible portion of both Jericho Turnpike and/or Broadway (Hicksville Road) were part of the courses for the 1904, 1905, 1906, and 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races. The race official was Dr. William J. Malcolm who was the Staff Physician for several of the races and lived in Jericho. I’m stumped on the inventor.
Just found the inventor: Harrison H. Boyce, inventor of the Boyce Moto Meter whose former residence later became the Maine Maid Inn which was originally built by Valentine Hicks.
The location and major roads: Jericho - intersection of Rte. 106/107 and Jericho Turnpike. Old Jericho Turnpike, Cedar Swamp Road - I won’t say Merry Lane but that’s where the ballfield is and the home of the Jericho Library (where my wife works).
The historic buildings:Main Maid Inn, Milleridge Inn, Friends Meeting House, Malcolm House, Elias Hicks House, Friends School
A historic cemetery: Friends Cemetery
The prominent Long Island family that owned the property on the right corner of the Mystery Foto: Underhill
Link this location to the Vanderbilt Cup Race(s): 1904, 05, 06, 08 races.
Kudos question: Identify the former homes of a Vanderbilt Cup Race official and an automotive inventor: Race official was surgeon W. J. Malcolm.
See maps and pictures.
Forgot to mention the automobile inventor. Taking a guess here - the owner of the Maltby garage?
W. J. Malcolm is buried in the Friends Cemetery along with members of the Hicks, Underhill and many other early Long Island families. By the way he drove a Maxwell.
Jericho NY. East/west (left to right) Jericho tpke. North/south rte’s 106 and 107, Merry Ln
Millerage Inn, Maine Maid Inn (now One North), Quaker Friends Meeting House, Friends Schoolhouse.
Quaker Cemetary
Former Valentine Hicks home
The Maine Maid Inn was part of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Jericho Turnpike crossing Rt 106 in Jericho. Also Old Jericho Turnpike
Historic cemetery is Jericho Friends Burial Ground
Jericho Friends Meeting House Complex is a historic Quaker meeting house complex located at 6 Old Jericho Turnpike in Jericho, Nassau County, New York. The complex consists of the meetinghouse (1788), former Friends’ schoolhouse (1793), a large gable roofed shed (ca. 1875), and the Friends’ cemetery. The meeting house is a two-story, gable roofed timber framed structure clad in wood shingles.[2] One of the people who helped build the meeting house was preacher Elias Hicks (1748 – 1830), who is buried at the cemetery within the complex.
Famous family is that of Elias Hicks. His home served as a “grand stand” for several Vanderbilt Cup Races
Re connection to Vanderbilt Cup races:
Maine Maid Inn, which is within this complex was located on the courses for the 1905, 1906 and 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Races and is adjacent to the Friends Meeting House.
Re VC Official, Dr. W. J. Malcolm was was a staff physician for several Vanderbilt Cup Races, likely including the 1905, 1906 and 1908 races which passed directly in front of the Malcolm House.
North is at the bottom of the photo. 106, 107 merge at Jericho turnpike. Millridge Inn
Howard,... Intersection of Jericho Tpke. and Routes 106 and 107., South at top. Historic houses. Milleridge Inn. Contains part of the Willets Family home. Malcolm House, #5 Old Jericho Tpke., (north side). today part of the Jericho Historic District. Timothy Tredwell Homestead, built around 1800. Best known as the Maine Maid Inn. Cemetery. Society of Friends, (Quakers). #4 Old Jericho Tpke. the cemetery reaching the north side of Jericho Tpke., The shadow of the water tower pointing at it. The cemetery also the location of the Friends Meeting House built in 1788 and also the Friends school house built around 1793. The Meeting House still in use today. Property, right side of photo…. north of Jericho Tpke.,... Underhill Family south of Jericho, ...Willets Family. Auto inventor. Henry Royce, of Rolls-Royce. His estate was located on the west side of the Friends Cemetery. the area today occupied by the 3 office buildings complex.
Today’s Route 106 was part of the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races. Howard, I was able to determine that the photo was taken at 2:52 in the afternoon by triangulating the water tower with the Milky Way and the fraternal equinox using the Fibonacci numbers as my base.
Giarratana
Mystery photo # 52
Jericho Tpke and 106 , Jericho NY
Map is upside down so it is confusing !
Millerage Inn owned by Elias Hicks
Jericho cider mill owned by Hincks ,I think !
Jericho Friends Cemetery, Elias Hicks buried there
1904 THROUGH 1910 race ran though from Queens to Jericho Diff routes
but always was on Jericho in the area of 106 and Jericho.
WOW! Great info by all. Love this website!
Giarratana
Mystery photo # 52
Jericho Tpke and 106 , Jericho NY
Map is upside down so it is confusing !
Millerage Inn owned by Elias Hicks
Jericho cider mill owned by Hincks ,I think !
Jericho Friends Cemetery ,Elias Hicks buried there
1904 THROUGH 1910 race ran though from Queens to Jericho Diff routes
but always was on Jericho in the area of 106 and Jericho.
The property in the lower right corner of the mystery photo was not the property Sam Mitchell’s family owned. That property was east of Rte. 107, and south of Jericho T’pke - it’s now a housing development. Unfortunately, the farmhouse was destroyed by fire. Several outbuildings from this farm were donated to the Old Bethpage Village Restoration - it was known as the S.S. Underhill Farm. The property on the lower right was also an Underhill property, having been in the family since 1793, and originally contained about 200 acres. It was owned by Henry Willets Underhill Jr. (1913-1990), a civil engineer, and Margaret (Peggy) Underhill (1912-1998). They gave an horsepowered treadmill and saw from the property to OBVR also. The property was then acquired by William H. Doremus (1938-2010). After his death the property was sold and is now the Bristal at Jericho assisted living. Prior to his death, I was able to acquire a collection of agricultural implements that had been used on the farm, including a wagon running gear marked with a Hicksville retailer’s name for the Nassau County Museum’s collection. What a beautiful property it was, but it’s development was very controversial as it sat on a very important water recharge location, and the possible location of Fort Nonsense. Much of the area became part of the Jericho Preserve in 1974, except the Maine Maid for economic hardship reasons. Attached are some photos I had copied from the museum’s files. The 2 color aerials from April 2,1985 show the areas included in the preserve. Notice the long gone ponds of the Malcolm farm. The B&W shows the former Malcom Barn which was destroyed by fire over 10 years ago.
Gary, Your first hand post was certainly enlightening and informative. Fort Nonsense ?, never heard of it, got more about it ?