Vanderbilt Cup Races

For Sale: "Idle Hour"

The Motor Parkway was shown as one of three automobile routes to the Vanderbilt estate, "Idle Hour" in Oakdale.  This advertisement by the E. A. White promoted its development surrounding the estate.  (Brooklyn Eagle May 9, 1926)

The "Idle Hour E. A. White Special" took potential purchasers by train from Manhattan and Brooklyn to the estate for a day long look.  (Brooklyn Eagle May 9, 1926)

The "Famous" Motor Parkway

The "famous" Motor Parkway noted here as providing "the greatest amount of pleasure in driving"! (Brooklyn Eagle May 30, 1926)

A full view of the map that accompanied the prior newspaper clipping.  (Brooklyn Eagle May 30, 1926)

A close up of the route of the Motor Parkway.  (Brooklyn Eagle May 30, 1926)

Two Proposed Roads on Long Island

A roadway expressly for commercal vehicles was proposed from Flushing to Riverhead and was to partially follow the route of the Motor Parkway.  (Brooklyn Citizen May 2, 1926)

An easterly extension of the Grand Central Parkway "for pleasure cars only" was proposed to follow the Motor Parkway towards Garden City and then rejoin it after Manetto Hills and continue to Lake Ronkonkoma.  Leaving the Motor Parkway it would end in Montauk Point.  (Brooklyn Citizen May 2, 1926)

A Packard Demonstration

$950 would have gotten you a late model Packard that was demonstrated to go 70 miles per hour on the Motor Parkway.  Wonder what that would be worth today!   (Brooklyn Eagle May 5, 1926)

"Pa" Austin's Commack Gas Station

"Pa" Austin's gas station on the Motor Parkway was mentioned in an "allenation of affections" lawsuit brought by "Pa", better known as Lou W. Austin of Commack.   An interesting lawsuit containing abuse allegations against "Pa" and possibly "rumrunning" by grandmother Mrs. Eva Austin.   Austin's gas station was mentioned as selling "three kinds of ginger ale on tap".  More research is needed to determine the outcome.  (Brooklyn Eagle May 15, 1926)

Lou ("Pa") Austin's Socony gas station on the Motor Parkway in Commack.  Much has been written in this blog about Austin and the property on which the station sits.  

Don't Believe Your Road Maps

Misleading maps, including one which shows the "Motor Parkway close beside the Eastport railroad station" were noted by the Long Island Real Estate Board as a way for developers to wrongly show their property in close proximity to New York City.  The Board took steps to discourage this.   (The County Review May 20, 1926)

The Eastport rail road station was definitely not near the Motor Parkway, especially since the Parkway was never extended that far east!   (E. Belcher Hyde, 1916)

Accident Near the Motor Parkway

Three people, one serioisly, were injured near the Motor Parkway and Wheelers Road; the car was almost completely wrecked.  (The County Review May 20, 1926)

A Forest Fire Near the Motor Parkway

Firefighters from three departments were needed to put out a fire which spread from Plainveiw to Melville, presumably near today's Route 110.  (The Long-Islander May 14, 1926)

A follow-up post will highlight real estate transactions on or near the Motor Parkway in May, 1926.  Happy reading!