Vanderbilt Cup Races

Brian - The retaining walls of the east abutment are now exposed? Both? Is this due to the construction going on?

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

The Motor Parkway has “NINA” written all over it. Wild guessing the author was American caricaturist Al Hirschfeld. Hirschfeld lived most of his life in NYC

From Mystery Foto #36 Unveiled: Christopher Morley's Cat Teaches How to Draw A Map of Long Island in 1927

Sam III….The lower walls that Dave is explaining about are shown on the 1928 photos, extending on each side of both abutments. You realize how long each lower wall is after zooming in. The lower walls on the east abutment are visible presently in the r/o Pell Terrace. So the east side is MUCH LESS buried under than the west side. Dave has been steadfast on his thoughts about the west abutment, and it’s FINALLY making sense to me. I’m also keeping in mind that both abutments were not straight across from each other, the entire west abutment is further south than the east one.

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

Dave - When the crew visited last year, there was evidence that the top lip of the west abutment was trimmed down at some point. You can see the rough cut on the photo where Steve is standing, and only the half closer to Steve was smoothed down. Weird indeed. 

BUT, there’s an easier way than digging to be sure, but it’s prohibited. The east wall’s top lip (Art’s friend) should still be fully intact, but it’s totally covered in vine, and the owner wanted to leave everything undisturbed. We could go back and hand feel the size of the lip. Going to need permission (Art?) and a ladder to get up there. From the old photo, the lip appears about 24in

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

Dave is quite right about that lip!  Weird!  I would swear on a stack of Bibles that those were the abutments, not just walls, that I saw back in 2008 and 2017!  What walls, other than the retaining walls-cum-abutments, Dave?  That paving, assuming it survived, is very-much far under the grass; the RoW dipped ‘way down below grade at that point.  Howard, Al, HALP!!!  Are there any plans to show what was what there?  Sam, III

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

I taught art to children ages 5 to 12 for nearly 40 years, I am also the appointed village historian for about 20 years. This map from 1927 could be updated and be used again today. the current roadways could be stripes ! There is no where near enough appreciation for art, maps, and local history. There is a lot to cover in a years curriculum but if more local awareness could be included I think it would have a very positive affect and make the kids proud of where they live and the fine heritage of of their community and long island. Perhaps it would even rub off a bit on their parents as well. I used to give a talk on this in the school I taught in as well and you would be totally amazed at the smiles and “gee I didn’t know that” reaction I would get.  Walt G.

From Mystery Foto #36 Unveiled: Christopher Morley's Cat Teaches How to Draw A Map of Long Island in 1927

My parents (Cloonan family) bought this home in the mid 1950’s shortly after I was born. We resided in this home for 5 or 6 years. My father who was a NYC police detective said he had found evidence that he felt it was also a speak easy back in the day. He also realized it was a “drive in” restaurant but found evidence of a speak easy.

It was a beautiful home and have many memories of this home . 
___________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Jean, thanks for the background. Do you have any early photos of the house? If so, please forward to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

From Was the First Parkway Fast Food Restaurant Located in Central Park (Bethpage)?

Look at the old pictures. From the top of the abutment that first “lip” is very thick. Look at the newer pics. That same lip is nowhere near as big/thick. There is no way around that. I dont think this was the bridge abutment! I think this was the wall that was clearly on both sides. I think the pics I submitted show the LIMP remnants that they dug up. The fragments are right along the ROW. They didn’t dig down 15 feet. This LIMP was not far under the grass.

I admit it’s very ironic that both sides of the wall remain(ed) on both sides at that location.

The only way to prove this is to get out the shovels one day and go Art’s buddy’s house on the eastern side and get digging!

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

Getting late. After several hours, all research has led to dead ends. I give up.
Looking forward to the answer.

From Mystery Foto #36 Unveiled: Christopher Morley's Cat Teaches How to Draw A Map of Long Island in 1927

Negate Michael

Kreighton, he is one of our contemporaries and not of 1927 ...Midnight in Paris thing

From Ten Tucker Photos from Kimball Studios, Courtesy of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Are my eyes decieving me? If I zoom in on the simple map it appears as if that dot is not fitzgeralds house but possibly the late Dr. Michael Kreightons (Jurassic park and Andronomous Strain author) home in Roslyn. Did this author mention of this fish thing in his book “Travels”

From Mystery Foto #36 Unveiled: Christopher Morley's Cat Teaches How to Draw A Map of Long Island in 1927

I agree young and old should do a bit more penciling and map making. Years ago I tried to start a class on mapmaking with homemade and simple household tools. I had one student. The class was a failure for me. It seems people on the whole do not care where they are. GPS is a wonderful tool but that and cheap Asian shoes (that rarely come in widths) will probably be greatly contributory to the downfall of this nation.

I’m not going to do any web research on this mystery but I believe the fish is an F Scott Fitzgerald innovation from his book the great hats you. Somewhere in the book northern Blvd was described as a major north shore artery to the Gold Coast.

The small dot on one of the fins is the actual location of fitzgeralds real house in great neck. I know the house but I have not been there in more than thirty years. Nearby is a snakes and steep road that has lots of confusing chain accidents every time there is an ice storm.

From Mystery Foto #36 Unveiled: Christopher Morley's Cat Teaches How to Draw A Map of Long Island in 1927

I posted a current satellite view on my LIMP Bridges page:

  http://sbiii.com/limpbrdg.html#gardcity

for the record (for whatever that’s worth - not much, but it’s there).  Sam, III

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

The East Abutment has yet to fall, still vined and tall.

Residents of the new homes should be relatives or friends, those house’s are quite close to each other.

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

These photos are fabulous!  Congrats again!

From Ten Tucker Photos from Kimball Studios, Courtesy of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

What is the number (360 on the can I have) stamped on tag mean?

From Mystery Foto #86 Solved: Antique Five Gallon Can Manufactured by George D. Ellis & Sons, Inc.

  My pure guess is James Thruber by virtue of the simplicity of the drawing…

From Mystery Foto #36 Unveiled: Christopher Morley's Cat Teaches How to Draw A Map of Long Island in 1927

Wah!  Just a reminder, though, that there are some Jan 2008 pix and an Aug 2017 satellite view at:

  http://sbiii.com/limpbrdg.html#gardcity

Sam, III

From Update #1: Time to Wail: The Western Wall of the Mayan Ruins is Gone

Update: September 8, 2018

Close-Up of the likely location of the Ronkonkoma Lodge.

From Mystery Foto #16 Solved:1930 Aerial of the Long Island Motor Parkway at Lake Ronkonkoma-Updated 9/18

Sinking of the Lusitania: An American Tragedy, was aired on the Smithsonian Channel recently. I was quite surprised there was no mentioning of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt and Ronald Denyers assistance with passengers. Episode was well done otherwise.

From Five More Vanderbilt Cup Race Photos from the Pickering Collection