New Book from Howard Kroplick and Al Velocci “The Long Island Motor Parkway”
The Long Island Motor Parkway made its appearance during a pivotal time in American history with the advent of the automobile. A daring enterprise at the time, it is unquestionably the forerunner of the modern highway system. Features such as the use of reinforced concrete, bridges to eliminate grade crossings, banked curves, guard rails and landscaping were all pioneered by the Parkway. Following a spectator death during the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and the race sponsors determined that the huge crowds and risks to the spectators precluded the race on public roads. Two days after the race, the concept for a privately owned speedway on Long Island was developed by Vanderbilt and his business associates- the first highway built exclusively for the automobile. Vanderbilt’s dream was to build a safe, smooth, police-free road without speed limits and a place where he could conduct his beloved automobile race, the Vanderbilt Cup Race, without spectators running onto the course. By 1928, the Long Island Motor Parkway would eventually connect Fresh Meadows, Queens, to Lake Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County, a total of 44 miles. Reflecting its poor profitability and the availability of new free state-built public parkways, the historic Long Island Motor Parkway closed for good on Easter Sunday, 1938. All author royalties from the book are being contributed to CAPS (Child Abuse Prevention Services of Long Island.)
Howard Kroplick has authored the Arcadia book Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island. He has lectured extensively on the Vanderbilt Cup Races and is a research volunteer at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. Howard is a member of the Vanderbilt Cup Race Centennial Committee and the Long Island Motor Parkway Panel. Al Velocci is author of the 2004 book The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway, and Their Gatekeepers’ Lives and a research volunteer at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.
Comments
Looks good, Howard! Congratualtions!
I’ll get a copy when its available. I continue to be impressed with this site.
-Mark
Mark:
Thanks for the feedback and all your contributions to the website and my first book!
Howard
Will you be having an in-store signing? I’ve pre-ordered the book already. Congrats!
Ken:
Thanks for the email and the book pre-order.
Al and I plan to have several book signings in the Fall. Keep checking this website for event updates.
Enjoy!
Howard
Ken:
Al Velocci and I will be discussing and signing “The Long Island Motor Parkway” on Thursday, October 30, 2008 ath Book Revue in Huntington at 7:00 PM.
Enjoy,
Howard
I really want to thank Howard and Al. This book and “The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway, and Their Gatekeepers’ Lives” by Al Velocci really got me through a history writing class I just took. The project was focused on the LIMP and Howard Kroplick, Al Velocci, and Sam Berliner were key sources for me.
Thanks guys! Great work!
Howard, I am the Schenectady County and City Historian, located where ALCO’s main HQ was. Is there a way I could get a copy of your video you did on the various models of ALCO cars. I am doing a piece on ALCO for my blog. Thanks.