Vanderbilt Cup Races

Willie K’s guest house at the Deepdale Estate.  And the NY State Police Headquarters.  Was along the Northern Parkway / Grand Central Parkway just west of today’s Lakeville Rd, on the north side of the current highway.  NO.  Not standing.  It was removed when the NSP was widened about 1969.  This picture is looking North and slightly west.

We are looking north or maybe a little northwest at the guest lodge that Willie K. had built around 1915 on his Deepdale Estate in Lake Success. Later on, probably around 1930 when the Northern State Parkway was built through the estate, it was repurposed as the barracks for the NYS Parkway Police. It had direct access to the parkway as I remember driving in there one day in 1964 when I first got my license but never got out of the car. Sadly, it was torn down in 1967 during the widening of the parkway. Regarding the car, I’m guessing a 1936 Ford.

Guest lodge at Willie K’s. Deepdale estate, and the New York State Parkway Police barracks.
Lake Success, looking north from the Northern State Parkway.
1915
The building was demolished in April, 1967 to make way for the widening of the Northern State Parkway.
Not sure of the make of the car, but I believe it was Al Velocci’s who stopped by the lodge to help clear the snow. 

It’s the guest house on Willie K Vanderbilt’s Deepdale Estate, 1902-1910, looking NW, located 1/5 mile south from the mansion. The same structure would later serve as the NY State Police barracks with quick access to Northern State Parkway. Heat pipes were installed beneath the shoulder in 1950 to prevent freezing on the steep hill. The guest house was removed in 1967 for expansion of today’s NSP westbound lanes.

Hey Art, You got me ! But the snow removal gig was only a cover for my real purpose to be there. After the first of the year was when the new Motor Parkway porcelain plates were issued.  Since I couldn’t access the Lodge’s parking lot at the rear of the building, I parked in the front, put my shovel on my shoulder, went to the parking field , made note of the cars that had the previous year plate went up to the toll lodge gave the numbers to the lodge keeper, got the new replacement plates, back to the parking lot, took off the old plates, put on the new ones, got tips, which i gave to the toll collector…and kept the old plates. No longer have the Ford, replaced with a Porsche with the money from the sale of the plates.

Greg, The overriding reason for the demolition of the Guest Lodge was due to the construction of the west bound entrance to the Northern State Parkway from the west side of Lakeville Rd. when the Parkway was widened in the 1960’s. Prior to that time the only westbound entrance to the Parkway from Lakeville Rd. was on the east side of that road. I suggested to “Bob”  (Moses that is, ) to leave it opened as it was safer for both north and southbound Lakeville Rd traffic wanting to go west. Yea, your right he said, it didn’t occur to him because Moses never held a driver’s license.

Al, wow - I always wondered how you were able to get the Porsche!  I have to try that sometime.  My Camry is getting a bit old.