Vanderbilt Cup Races

Pillar on the left is fully formed. The pillar on the right doesn’t appear wide enough towards the base, yet. This makes sense since the bridge construction is still in process. Perhaps this image was cropped for mystery purposes? Find out on Tuesday. Great image, Gordon.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

I love when 2 historic ‘loves’ collide. My whole life (at least since 9 years old) I have been fascinated by the Brooklyn Bridges’ story and it’s history. Learning Washington Roeblings’  nephew’s association with the Vanderbilt Cup Races is my nirvana!

From Correcting the Vanderbilt Cup Race Record of Washington Augustus Roebling II

Seth G:

I read these each week, but usually don’t attempt to answer.

Considering the early year (assuming they started construction in Queens), the parkway elevated, the sun appears to brighten the area in the distance & there are a lot of trees… It could be at 73rd Ave looking East (if it’s in the morning) looking towards what is now Cunningham Park.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Upon investigating this week’s photo it seams that the bridge has an extended section of concrete with a single pillar which is on the right.  If my belief is correct, there were 2 bridges on the LIMP that had this design.  The 2 bridges were the Broad Hollow Rd bridge in Melville and Westbury Ave bridge in Carle Place/Mineola.  It could not be the Broad Hollow bridge since it was built in 1910.  The Westbury Ave bridge was built in 1909 the same as the bridge in the photo.
I compared the photo and its design with the other bridges built on the LIMP in 1909 and found that the only other bridge it could be would be the Willis Ave bridge.  In the only known picture of the Willis Ave bridge it appears that the span on the bridge was wide and possibly a single pillar bridge.
The only problem with the Westbury Ave choice is that I do not see any signs of the N.Y. and North Shore trolley line.
The terrain of the photo matches that of Westbury Ave more than Willis Ave.  The shadow of the sun on the bridge appears that the ROW of the LIMP is in a north south direction. 
The photographer would taking the photo facing to the east since the smaller passage way under the bridge was on the right side for the trolley.
So my educated choice would be the Westbury Ave Bridge.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Orientation - Facing south on Clinton Road, MP running east to the left.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Looks like the Clinton Road bridge in Garden City based on the height and the support structure design, leaving room for the existing sidewalks.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

I’ll go with the Westbury Avenue as there appears to be a Lane for a
Trolley Line.  Also the telephone poles seem to be placed correctly.  View looking
West. 

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

I’m not 100% certain but it sure looks like a two pillar parkway bridge so I’ll guess the Clinton Road bridge. Based on the shadow from the sun, I think we’re looking south.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Artie, I am disappointed that old Westbury car meet is schedule the same time as the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance meet, both good car meets but I prefer the Greenwich, try to leave Greenwich early enough for a stopover at Old Westbury on my way back home to L.I. but some of the of vehicles are on there way out. PLEASE RESCHEDULE FOR FUTURE EVENTS, So I can enjoy both events at a leisurely pace.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Polls (Latest Poll: April 13, 2026)

This bridge appears to have a pillar on the right, and telephone pole(s) on the right behind the construction.  My guess is the Broad Hollow Road bridge (110) looking north in Melville.

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

???  Walt, the Plymouth PA was a 1932 model first built on 01 May 1931 and introduced on 11 Jul 1931.  Sam, III

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

Would you believe?  I have in my hand my original 1947 Chrysler Corporation book about that very B-29 engine plant, Dodge-Chicago, “Great Engines and Great Planes”, by Wesley Stout.  [I also still have the three companion volumes, about Chrysler-built tanks, Chrysler’s war contracting, and Chrysler’s work on the atomic bomb.]  Dodge-Chicago, the world’s largest plant when built in 1942, turned out 18,413 2,200HP 18-cylinder Wright Cyclone engines for the B-29 before Tucker got ahold of the property.  All Tucker’s hoo-hah about the plant was actually a tribute to Chrysler.  Sam, III

From 1947 Tucker Franchise Plan Sales Tool Part III: The Plant, Indy Track Testing and the Executive Team

Can’t remember and can’t make out something vertical in the distance which I believe is the vital clue.  However, this is EXACTLY the kind of works progress picture Willie took or had taken in profusion and printed in the missing booklet I note at <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy0.html#limpbklt>.  Has anyone actually visited the Hempstead Public Library to search for it in the archives?  That would be one of the LIMP finds of the century!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

...love the comparison to all the MLB stadiums combined!

From 1947 Tucker Franchise Plan Sales Tool Part III: The Plant, Indy Track Testing and the Executive Team

Strike 1 for me, trickier than I thought. A 1909 Parkway type bridge running east –west (photo looking south), with power lines running perpendicular to LIMP, along the west side of the roadway below.

Two possibilities with such an arrangement; Willis Ave and Round Swamp Rd.

Since Round Swamp Rd had a hill below it’s curved bridge, I’ll go with Willis Ave parkway bridge. Good luck on this one folks

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Howard - In your last paragraph before the profile, you give his winning date as November 11, 1911. Since the prior error was copied for years, you don’t want a typo to start a new sequence of errors. As always, I enjoy your Sunday posts. Ken
___________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Ken, good catch. Copy has been corrected.

From Correcting the Vanderbilt Cup Race Record of Washington Augustus Roebling II

*ID LIMP bridge/rationale:  My personal best guess is the soon to be Half Hollow Pkwy Bridge in Wheately Heights. This overpass was completed “around 1910”.

*Likely orientation of photographer/rationale:  East or West. East sits right with me after viewing the aerials on the site here. Some of you excel at figuring sunlight and shadows with these images, but not I.

Happy Memorial Day to All!

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

the car is indeed a 1931 Plymouth model PA. My first car purchased in 1963 was a similar car , with a rear mounted spare. 4 cylinder, juice brakes and all steel body. Very well built and fast for a 4 cylinder car.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Lodgekeeper's Family Archives-The Garden City Lodge

Clinton Avenue Bridge looking north?

From Mystery Foto #21 Maybe Solved: The Clinton Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge Under Construction in 1909?

Mr. Roeblings assistance in guiding passengers to safety was alike to Mr. Vanderbilt’s actions on the Lusitania. Real courage in the face of tragedy.

From Correcting the Vanderbilt Cup Race Record of Washington Augustus Roebling II