The Planned “Automobile Boulevard” in Riverhead (1907-1908) Updated: 12/4/16
Following a spectator death during the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, a privately owned 60-mile speedway to connect Queens and Riverhead was proposed by William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and his business associates . With the assistance of Art Kleiner, here are details on the section of the Motor Parkway from Lake Ronkonkoma to Riverhead that was planned but never built.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Update: December 4, 2016: Art Kleiner has added articles and a map (1907-1911).
October 1906 Planned Route of the Motor Parkway
As published in the October 25, 1906 issue of The Automobile, the plan "provides for a straightaway road of 65 or more miles that will extend from Floral Park through the center of Long Island to Riverhead. Note: The proposed loops in the Hempstead Plains (Hicksville) and Riverhead.
The front page of the October 21, 1906 issue of The New York Times headlined a "60-Mile Road to Cost $2,000,000...No More Racing Dangers. Speedway to be for All Who Pay Toll."
August 13, 1907 Map Showing the General Route Between Lake Ronkonkoma and Riverhead for the Motor Parkway
This 1907 four-foot map showed the property from Lake Ronkonkoma to Riverhead in which the 32-mile additional route would be planned.
This early map did not indicate the planned route for the Motor Parkway.
Lake Ronkonkoma to Middle Island.
Calverton and Riverhead.
August 1907 Riverhead Surveys
A survey of the planned "Automobile Parkway" just west of Riverhead.
Two of over 35 Brookhaven/Riverhead surveys in my collection of properties purchased by the Motor Parkway for this section.
September 1908 Planned Route of the Motor Parkway from Floral Park to Riverhead
One of the few known maps showing the planned Motor Parkway route to Riverhead.
The proposed route of the Motor Parkway from Floral Park to Lake Ronkonkoma. Note the outline for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race course.
The proposed route of the 32-mile section from Lake Ronkonkoma to Riverhead. The land was acquired and later sold when the Motor Parkway here was not built.
1908 Ad for Liberty Heights Improvement Company in Riverhead (Courtesy of Art Kleiner)
Art Kleiner has discovered this ad for a Riverhead property owned by Liberty Heights Improvement Company. it was printed in the Trow 1908 Copartnership and Corporation Directory.
The ad featured this cartoon map of the route of the LIRR route from Brooklyn to Montauk and the proposed "Automobile Boulevard" (Long Island Motor Parkway) from Queens to Riverhead. Note: The proposed loop in Riverhead corresponds with the above October 1906 plan.
The ad promoted the value of the Motor Parkway passing "Liberty Heights".
"The $2,500,000 Automobile Driveway from New York City- the finest and costliest in the World- will pass through Liberty Heights. This one feature alone will double the value of lots within the year."
Kleiner's Korner (Submitted by Art Kleiner)
Kleiner's Korner (Submitted by Art Kleiner)
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 4, 1907
A.R. Pardington makes a presentation in Riverhead describing the future Motor Parkway plans in Suffolk County.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 13, 1907
Ad promoting the benefit of purchasing 73 acres in Riverhead adjoining the Motor Parkway.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 20, 1907
Riverhead Board of Trade actively working to secure 12 miles for the Motor Parkway right-of-way.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 20, 1907
The resolutions passed by the Riverhead Board of Trade:
"We recognize that the Long Island Motor Parkway is an enterprise big with possibilities of development and advantage to Riverhead..."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 28, 1907
Riverhead property owners consent to give 2-3 miles of the right-of-way for "the big automobile parkway."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 28, 1907
Motor Parkway bridges were planned for seven Riverhead roads. A.R. Pardington indicated the Vanderbilt Cup Race grandstands could be relocated to Riverhead.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 11, 1907
800 acres purchased by a syndicate of Motor Parkway directors around Deep Pond. "It is said that the grandstand for the Vanderbilt Cup races and other automobile contests will be located on this plot."
1909 Belcher Hyde map showing the property purchased by William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and H.P. Whitney.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 11, 1907
The racecourse loop of the parkway comes into Riverhead Village by way of the Country Road and Raynor Avenue.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 22, 1907
9 1/3 miles of the right-of-way in Riverhead were secured. "The announcement that the automobile highway will surely come to Riverhead has brought joy to the hearts of residents."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 2, 1907
Tract of land purchased at the terminal of the new motor parkway in Riverhead.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 30, 1907
Real estate ad promoting "Right near Riverhead, the end of the Great Motor Parkway, destined to become the most beautiful and valuable boulevard in the World."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 8, 1907
Motor Parkway surveyors begin work in Riverhead.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 4,1907
Plans to build garages in anticipation of the Motor Parkway.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 29, 1907
Right-of-way for the Motor Parkway was complete from Wading River to Riverhead. However, the route was still not completed in Brookhaven.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 16, 1910
W.C. Reeves purchased 15,000 lots in Wading River on both sides of the Motor Parkway.
"The large demand for good-sized plots near the water and along the Motor Parkway has induced the company to enter the field as developers of their own property."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 22, 1911
The Long Island Motor Parkway sold 3,804 acres to MMH Dayton.
Comments
Very interesting…..
Can some Identify this as a racecar trophy