Vanderbilt Cup Races

For many years, this well-known photo of William K. Vanderbilt Jr. from his land speed record setting day at Ormond Beach Florida in 1904 has hid a mystery. Who was Willie K.'s riding mechanician in the 90hp Mercedes within the photo? The only clue was a set of initials under Willie K.'s that read; 'R.C.W. Jr.'.

The mystery was solved in an August 2021 mystery photo post by Vanderbilt Cup Race detectives, Art Kleiner and Steve Lucas who uncovered the mystery mechanician to be Robert Campbell Watson Jr. (1879-1925) longtime friend to Willie K., and later, Motor Parkway Treasurer.

Courtesy David Watson

Courtesy David Watson

From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and NY Times courtesy of Art Kleiner

Courtesy David Watson

At left, from the Vanderbilt Museum Collection is this photo of Watson taken by Willie K. in October 1903. Note Willie K.'s familiar shadow on the ground.

From Great-Grandson David Watson;

"Background

Robert Campbell Watson, Jr (1879-1925) was the son of Robert Campbell Watson, Sr (1849-1906) and Jane Painter Elder (1849-1929). His paternal grandparents William Watson (1812-1877) and Maria Campbell immigrated from Northern Ireland. William was the youngest son of a linen manufacturer in Lurgan, Ireland.  While his older brothers stayed in Northern Ireland, William left for New York and created a dry goods business around Wall Street. He kept in close touch with his family in Ireland and appears to have imported linens manufactured by his brothers and cousins. While William did well for himself in dry goods, he did even better by investing his profits in real estate. He owned many properties around Manhattan and then bought over 250 acres along the Bronx River in what is now the Bronx. Today, the former property is bisected (not coincidentally) by Watson Avenue. RCW Jr's mother was part of the Elder family, who, together with the Havemeyer family founded Havemeyers & Elder Sugar, which later became Domino Sugar. His parents married in Stamford, Connecticut and settled in New York City. The family had a summer home in Hunts Point and their primary residence was likely in Manhattan. At some point, they moved to Islip. This may have been after RCW Sr. died in 1906." 

Long article on RCW Sr. and family attending all NY Giants baseball games at the Polo Grounds on the next 3 panels.

-The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana • Mon, Sep 24, 1888

"Robert C Watson

RCW Jr. was born in 1879, the youngest of three brothers. Why the youngest brother became his father's namesake is not clear to me. The family enjoyed sports and there is a wonderful article from 1888 describing the family's love for the New York Giants. They were said to attend nearly every game and to be well known to the stadium staff and the players. Young RCW Jr would have been about 9 years old when this article was written. In 1893, the oldest son, William developed a chronic illness and the family temporarily moved to Menton in the French Riveria in hopes that the good sea air would heal William. Unfortunately, it did not and William died in France at the age of 17. The family then returned to New York. This left George Elder Watson (1877-1953) as the oldest brother in the family.

RCW Jr was about the same age as Willie K. Vanderbilt and they both attended St. Marks School, a boarding school in Southbridge, MA. This is likely where the two met.  RCW's brother George and some of his first cousins also attended St. Marks. At St. Marks, RCW Jr, excelled in sports. He was the baseball team's third baseman, the captain of the football team and he won trophies for lawn tennis. Based on the trophies and newspaper clippings I have found, he was a tremendous shooter of clay pigeons, an excellent golfer, an avid automobile enthusiast, a fisherman, and a sailor. It seems he spent most of his time as a young adult living in Islip, where he met his wife, Alice Marion Pepper, who was known as Marion. Marion was from Philadelphia, but her family had a summer home in Bellport. During one of the summer visits, RCW Jr. and Marion met and in 1905, they married. The young couple traveled extensively, showing up in the Society Pages in West Palm Beach, Saratoga and Newport. RCW Jr. was occasionally listed as a stockbroker for H. B Hollins & Co. He likely got this job through his connections, as H. B. Hollins Jr. was a good friend and golfing buddy. In 1910, he was serving as secretary of the USGA and from 1915-1916, he served as president. The couple's two boys were born in 1908 and 1911, both on Long Island. In 1915, the family was living in Islip and in 1920, they were living in Philadelphia with Marion's family. At some point, they divorced and Marion re-married in 1923. The two boys were primarily raised by their mother and step-father.  RCW Jr. died in Manhattan on May 20, 1925."

"Other Tidbits

Together with his cousin, John Caswell, Willie K. Vanderbilt, August Belmont, A. P. Gardner, H.B, Hollins, and Roy Rainey, RCW owned a stake in the massive Rimouski Preserve in Quebec. They hunted and fished there and built log cabins. I have a few photos if you are interested. The Washington Post article claims the Preserve was nearly 400 square miles in size.

RCW Jr. appears not to have changed his will after the divorce. In the will he left most of his remaining assets to his ex-wife.

His older brother George E. Watson was also a fantastic golfer and may have been better. He was more focused on having a career and played less as an adult than his younger brother."

As mentioned by great-grandson David, R.C. Watson Jr. was a very skilled golfer among other sports as well and even worked his way up to becoming U.S. Golf Association President in 1913.

The New York Times, March18, 1913.

Willmount - home of RCW Jr's grandfather, William Watson Over 250 acres In West Farms, now Bronx, NY, along the Bronx River.

Courtesy David Watson

R.C. Watson Jr. with his two older brothers.

Courtesy David Watson

1913

Courtesy David Watson

President of the United State Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) 1913-1914

Unknown date

Courtesy David Watson

R.C.W. Jr. Trap shooting

Courtesy David Watson

Some of R.C.W.Jr's trap shooting and golf awards.

Aiken Gun Club Pinetree Cup March 1909 Won by R.C. Watson 29 Yards Score - Killed 23 Missed 2

Courtesy David Watson

Shinnecock Hills Tournament 1899

Courtesy David Watson

Cataret Gun Club Garden City, LI New Years Day Trophy 1906 Clay Bird Shooting Won by R.C. Watson Jr Score 48 out of 50

Courtesy David Watson

Courtesy David Watson

Ormond Beach, Florida, 1904, R.C.W. Jr. standing on the Renault in the background with Virginia “Birdie” Vanderbilt in front of him watching Willie K. break the land speed record.

From Willie K's personal scrapbook. R.C. Watson Jr. at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, October 24, 1908, R.C.W. Jr. second from right.

Being a lifelong friend, travelling companion, and occasional mechanician to Willie K. Jr., it's no surprise that Watson would eventually end up first, investing in the Motor Parkway, and later, bcame  the Treasurer of the Long Island Motor Parkway Corporation.

Here, in a letter dated December 8, 1916, we see 'R.C. Watson Treasurer' in the letterhead from the Mineola Motor Parkway office. It is unknown how long Watson held the position.

R.C.Watson Jr. died in Manhattan on May 20, 1925 at the young age of 45. 

RCW left guns to friends W K Vanderbilt and Roy Rainey.

Courtesy David Watson

Possibly the last known photograph in Englewood, NJ before his death at 45.

Courtesy David Watson