Then & Now: Krug’s Corner in Mineola
Krug's Hotel, on the north-west corner of Jericho Turnpike and Willis Avenue in Mineola, was a favorite viewing site for the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races. This Then & Now look found a rarity- A building on the Vanderbilt Cup Race course that is still standing!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Then: 1905
Roslyn photographer William Pickering captured the #7 Locomobile driven by Joe Tracy and Al Poole passing the hotel, looking west.
The Krug's crowd watching the 1905 race was captured in this 1906 postcard.
Then: 1906
Trade magazine Motor World called the Jericho Turnpike section of the course as “ that living, craning, waving lane from Mineola to the stand.” As the race began, spectators ventured on to Jericho Turnpike.
Camille Jenatzy driving the #3 Mercedes. Note how close the race official with the megaphone was to the car.
William Luttgen driving the #7 Mercedes. The mechanician was leaning to balance the car.
Maurice Fabry driving the #19 Itala. Krug's was also the headquarters for the Thomas Flyer cars competing in the race.
In both the American Elimination Trial and the Vanderbilt Cup Race, William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and Dr. Louis Lanehart jumped into Willie K's 1903 Mercedes to check out crowd conditions and potential accidents. The Mercedes was the same car that broke the one-mile land speed record in January 1904 going 92.4 mph at Ormond-Daytona Beach.
The winner #10 Darracq driven by Louis Wagner passing the north east corner of the intersection. Two spectators had a great view on top of the telephone pole.
This gentleman managed to keep his balance and keep score of the 1906 race.
Then: 1908 .
Traffic was so insignificant at the intersection that cars could park for a photo without a problem. Note the building on the left across from Krug's Hotel.
Then: 1910
Approximately two miles from the 1910 course, Krug’s Hotel was still a great place for friends to gather, swap stories and leave in groups for choice vantage spots around the course. Note the Vanderbilt Cup Race pennant on the car.
As identified by the Krug family, Jane Molitor Krug, Frank Krug's wife, can be seen driving her car in front of the hotel.
Then: 1920s
A view looking north and west. Note the trolley track on Willis Avenue and the "Jerico" spelling on the signpost.
Now: 2012
The north west corner is now the location of "The Shower Door" building.
A car making the turn from Willis Avenue similar to a race car during the 1906 race.
The view looking east at one of the busiest intersections on Long Island.
The view of the north east corner. A neat discovery: The building at 136 Jericho Turnpike occupied by Atlantic Travel was on the Vanderbilt Cup Race course. Compare the windows and chimney with the 1908 photo.
Comments
Howard,
Great research, both historically and at the present time.I look forward to visiting that corner.
I went exploring the LIMP yesterday at Westbury Avenue where the overpass and found a lot of concrete, markers, and such.
Great posting Howard. I live about 1/4 miles from the site of the Krug’s Hotel. I never realized that the old building next to the Mineola Diner was there in the day. Good Work!
This is among the most fascinating group of photos I’ve seen on the site. The panoramic shot from 1910 is incredible. Despite the charming Mineola Diner, it’s hard to look at what this area turned into.
Great Work! I knew there was something about the building that houses the travel agency, that makes it so vintage
looking at and comparing photos in a great book I just received as a gift .Mercedes Benz the first one hundred years..Thanks great website