Mystery Friday Foto #2 Solved: A Large Automobile Gathering at the Petit Trianon in Ronkonkoma
Can you identify the location of this large gathering of autos?
Identify;
- The building and location
The Petit Trianon at the eastern Motor Parkway terminus at Lake Ronkonkoma.
- Approximate year
1911-1912 Based on the immaturity of the foliage around the building, this would have been around the time of its completion.
- Who was the photographer
Robert S. Feather (1861-1937) a jeweler and watchmaker who arrived in Smithtown after 1900. Robert was a prolific photographer and had a photography store in Smithtown called "Feather Touch" in the early 1900's
- Kudos for any identifiable automobiles
Most notable is a Ford Model T 3rd from the left.
Comments (5)
Congrats to Steve Lucas, ErnieM, and Frank Femenias for identifying the Petit Trianon. Kudos to Steve for 3 automobiles.
Greg O.
Closeup
Al Velocci provided this postcard presumably from the same day being that the chauffeur standing in front of the Petit Trianon from the mystery photo is also present in this photo.
Comments
Saratoga
I’m pretty sure that’s the Petit Trianon at the eastern end of the LIMP at Lake Ronkonkoma. Beyond that, everything else is a guess. The date might be June of 1911 during the grand opening. The photographer was probably Al Velocci. As for the cars, I think I see a 1905 Rambler, a 1908 Ford Model T, and a 1909 Packard.
This is of course the Parkway Inn later renamed Petit Trianon. The photographer is looking north west in front of the building, across the circular entrance pavement.
As the Inn opened June 9, 1911, perhaps this is when the image was taken, or the day before when a special dinner reception was held.
Partial capture of the former Petit Trianon (1911-1958) restaurant and lodging facility at the eastern end of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma. View is looking north towards North Drive (still there) where the vehicles are parked. Part of Petit’s traffic circle (now extinct) can be seen along the bottom of photo. A welcoming guesthouse that included outdoor swimming for weary motorists, some traveling the full 45-mile length of Motor Parkway from Queens County. Petit was designed by John Russell Pope who also designed the first 6 Motor Parkway toll houses (one remains intact today in Garden City at 7th St).
Below are insider views of Petit Trianon’s interior, hand-drawn sketches by childhood resident Bob DeStefani.
3rd floor: The lodging rooms
2nd floor: Bathrooms and Balcony
1st floor: The reception area
more info here à
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/new_series_an_inside_look_of_the_petit_trianon_in_lake_ronkonkoma
The Petit Trianon’s dining room including 2nd floor balcony, courtesy Gary Hammond
Greg, Always wondered where postcards of the Motor Parkway and the Petit Trianon were sold from. I now know of a one location and that the Petit Trianon itself. They were sold at the reception desk and as a courtesy, if so desired by the buyer, they would be mailed from the Ronkonkoma Post Office for an additional one cent. But even bigger news, one could also purchase a “flag” which was a pennant featuring the Petit Trianon. Never even knew there was such a thing. Anybody ever see one ? Income from these and possibly other souvenirs constituted about 1percent of the yearly gross income.