Suffolk County Airmap 1930 Aerial Survey #1: Ronkonkoma
In 1928 Suffolk County commissioned an aerial photography company to create a comprehensive record of their roads, terrain and properties. Two years later, the Airmap company photographed the entire county including our favorite historic road; the Long Island Motor Parkway. Courtesy of the Suffolk County Department of Planning, the first in the series of Suffolk county Airmaps highlights the Ronkonkoma area:
The circular drive of Petit Trianon Inn can easily be seen in the aerial.
In between the yellow highlights was a black line crossing the Motor Parkway. Was it the Ronkonkoma Lodge?
The Long Island Motor Parkway had purchased 891.2 acres in Ronkonkoma to complete the road and build a large race course for future Vanderbilt Cup Races. Following two fatalities and multiple crowd problems with the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Race, plans to build the Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway fell through and were replaced by another Long Island housing development.
Future aerials from the Suffolk County Airmap series will reveal previously unseen Motor Parkway lodges and bridges!!
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com :
A VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: 1910 Plans for the Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway
Then & Now: The Ronkonkoma Lodge
Archives: Long Island Motor Parkway- Suffolk County
Featured 2011 Car Event of the Day
Lozier Centennial Celebration, Plattsburgh, New York, Saturday- Sunday, August 13-14, 2011, Sponsored by the Adirondack Coast Region HCCA.
Calendar of 19 Upcoming 2011 Events (Updated Daily)
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From Margaret V:
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