Long Island Motor Parkway
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 From the Pardington Papers: Original Parkway Names and Toll Gate Locations
One of the real research treasures of the Long Island Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Races can be found at The Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana located in the Long Island Room at the Smithtown Library.The collection includes the historical documents of A.R. Pardington, the general manager of the Motor Parkway, and a Smithtown resident. Here are two orignal nuggets from the Pardington Papers:
Saturday, March 6, 2010: Then and Now: The Long Island Aviation Country Club on the Motor Parkway
Most Motor Parkway fans know our favorite parkway surrounded one of the world’s most famous airports -Roosevelt Field. But, many LIMPers do not know that the Motor Parkway also bordered on another airfield- the Long Island Aviation Country Club. (Remember to click on the photo to enlarge the image).
Friday, February 26, 2010: The Two Deadman’s Curves in Bethpage (Central Park)
A famous feature of the Vanderbilt Cup Course in 1908 was the Deadman’s Curve located in Bethpage, then called Central Park. However, few people know that there were two “Deadman’s Curves” in this area. Here’s the proof:
Sunday, 2/21/2010: A VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: 1910 Plans for the Ronkonkoma Motor Speedway
Beginning in November 1906, officials acquired the Motor Parkway right-of way from property owners and farmers from Queens to Riverhead, typically purchasing 1 to 20 acres of land. By far the largest parcel purchased was 891.21 acres in Ronkonkoma from Charles Wright. I always assumed that the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc. needed to purchase the entire Wright property to connect to Lake Ronkonkoma. However, research indicates that William K. Vanderbilt Jr. had much larger plans for future development in this area. (Reminder: As with all VanderbiltCupRaces.com photos, click on the images to enlarge them.)
Thursday, 2/18/10: The New NYC Parks & Recreation Motor Parkway Historical Marker in Queens
As noted on December 16, 2008, through the efforts of historian Bob Miller, New York Parks & Recreation has placed new plaques celebrating the Long Island Motor Parkway on the Queens Greenway section. Remember to click on the photo to enlarge it.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010: Long Island Business News Article “Hope for the Vanderbilt”
Long Island Business News has published an article on the Motor Parkway Trailway based on the January 2010 press release issued by the engineering firm VHB:
Friday, February 5, 2010: Motor Parkway Trailway Update
As reported last year, the contract for developing a master plan for a Motor Parkway Trailway in Nassau County has been awarded to VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C. Members of the Long Island Motor Parkway Panel, including myself, met with VHB, LIPA and Nassau officials yesterday to provide input and the comments submitted on VanderbiltCupRaces.com.
Sunday,1/31/10: Historic Views of Roosevelt Field, the Motor Parkway and Lindbergh’s Takeoff
As shown in this 1938 aerial, the Long Island Motor Parkway was located to the west and south of the historic Roosevelt Field airfield. Here are other historic photos of Roosevelt Field and the Motor Parkway
Tuesday, January 26, 2010: A Motor Parkway Sign in Suffolk County
Throughout the Long Island Motor Parkway, there were signs providing directions and “No Trespassing” signs. This photo shows a typical Motor Parkway sign placed in Suffolk County.
Friday, January 22, 2010: Then and Now: Petit Trianon
As described yesterday, in 1911 the Long Island Motor Parkway Inc. built the Petit Trianon Inn as an attraction to the eastern terminus in Lake Ronkonkoma. Today, the Petit Trianon receives the “Then and Now” treatment with images from 1911 to 2008.
Thursday, January 21, 2010:The Motor Parkway’s Petit Trianon at Lake Ronkonkoma
When the Long Island Motor Parkway route was completed to Lake Ronkonkoma in 1911, officials decided to build a first-class dining facility and half-way stop for travelers.William K. Vanderbilt Jr. once again commissioned architect John Russell Pope to design the Parkway Inn later renamed Petit Trianon.These two rare photos show the Petit Trianon under construction in early 1911.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010: The Motor Parkway Tollgate Inns That Were Never Built
In October 1906, William K. Vanderbilt Jr. and his associates announced “the first automobile speedway ever constructed in this or any other country”.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010: The Motor Parkway Weathervane
Walter, as discussed last week, in 1929 a new Garden City office was built for Alfred J. Kienzle, the Motor Parkway’s General Manager from 1911 to1938. As seen in this December 2009 photo, the building, now a private residence, does not currently have a weathervane.
Tuesday, January 5, 2009: The Vanderbilt Cup Races, LIMP and LILCO
Al Velocci and I enjoyed meeting 50 members of the National Grid Retiree Club and presenting “The Vanderbilt Cup Races, the Motor Parkway and LILCO”. Here are several photos and slides from today’s presentation:
Tuesday, 12/29/09: Then and Now: The Motor Parkway Office in Garden City
From 1915 to mid-1929, the first Long Island Motor Parkway Office was built in Garden City. In 1929, the small office was replaced by this attractive building which served as the office for General Manager Alfred Kienzle.
Sunday, December 27, 2009: Then and Now: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success
The Great Neck Lodge, located off Lakeville Road in Lake Success, was one of the six toll lodges designed by John Russell Pope. As shown in this photo looking east, Lake Success was the western terminus of the Motor Parkway in 1911. Note the barricade blocking access to the Lakeville Road Bridge which was under construction.
Friday, December 25, 2009: Today: Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Race Course Scenes
Happy Holidays and a healthy and joyful 2010 !
Howard Kroplick
Enjoy these photos taken on December 24, 2009 of Willie K’s former mansion, the Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race courses.
Saturday, December 19, 2009: 16 Photos of Motor Parkway Lodges, Gates, Kiosks and Entrances/Exits
As a follow-up to my 10/10/08 toll lodge post, here are photos of 14 of the 20 toll collection structures and 2 entrances/exits of the Long Island Motor Parkway (Updated: December 21, 2009):
Friday, December 18, 2009: The Mystery of the “Deer Park Lodge”
As seen here, most maps issued by the PR department of the Motor Parkway indicated the route and the location of the toll lodges including the Deer Park Lodge. However, as documented by Al Velocci’s excellent book “The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway, and Their Gatekeepers’ Lives” and my 10/10/08 toll lodge post, the Deer Park Lodge never existed. Here is further proof.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009: The Vanderbilt Cup Race Bridges
A unique feature of the last three Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island were the new Motor Parkway bridges. For the 1908 race, the course included 16 new bridges over a 9-mile parkway section from East Meadow to Bethpage. For the 1909 and 1910 races, the shorter course included the first10 bridges over the 5-mile parkway section from East Meadow to Wantagh Avenue in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown). For the first time, here are photos of the Vanderbilt Cup Race bridges:
Friday, December 4, 2009: The Planned Fresh Meadows Motor Parkway Western Terminus in 1912
As noted in earlier posts, the final western terminus of the Long Island Motor Parkway was located at the Nassau Boulevard intersection in Fresh Meadows. However, a review of original Motor Parkway survey maps indicate that this was not the original plan.
Categories
Recent Entries
- Sunday, March 14, 2010: A Tribute to Peter Helck (1893-1988), the Great American Artist
- Saturday,3/13/10: Vanderbilia to be Displayed at Upcoming Museum of the City of New York Exhibition
- Friday, March 12, 2010: March/April Long Island Automotive Events Update
- Thursday,3/11/10: Article “Driving The Ford” & the Future of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Winner
- Wednesday, March 10, 2010 From the Pardington Papers: Original Parkway Names and Toll Gate Locations
- Tuesday, March 9, 2010: The Alco “White Beast” at the 1910 Worcester Dead Horse Hill Climb
Feature
The 128-page book by Howard Kroplick, a researcher and lecturer on the races, contains rare images of the races from the archives of major museums, libraries and private collectors. The book Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island will be available from Arcadia Publishing in March 2008.
continue reading-->