Vanderbilt Cup Races

Looking west over Northern State Parkway in 1952
LIMP bridge is topmost bridge left to right
The Sperry parking lot on the left is full of autos
Long Island Jewish Hospital is under construction, top left
The golf course is Deepdale

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Hundreds of Automobiles Seen in This 1952 Lake Success Aerial

Well 1st off, I don’t think that the center right side of the pic is a full 500 feet south of last weeks Great Neck Lodge in snow Mystery Foto #10!

We’re looking west, southwest at the Northern State Parkway in Lake Success. The lower overpass bridge (white) is Lakeville Road. Just above that (darker) is the abandoned LIMP bridge, to the left of the trees, at a diagonal to the top left corner of the pic is the route of LIMP. Not sure of the name of the golf course above that, I think Glen Oaks, but that’s where the hi-rise North Shore Towers is now. Back down toward the bottom, this eastbound Lakeville Rd exit out to Marcus Ave. was built in 1952. Before that it was just about 2 car lengths this side (east) of the Lakeville Rd bridge. I’ve seen pics during the construction of this exit/entrance with all of the heavy road grading/earth moving equipment, contractor sheds, etc. quartered on the east side of it & it looks like the ground is still scarred from it there. Also looks like a remnant of the original exit (dirt maybe) is still seen just this side of the bridge so I’m gonna guess the pic is from 1952 or ‘53. The UN went to Fresh Meadows in 1951 so the parking lot at left is Sperry Gyroscope, changed sometime in the ‘50s to Sperry/Rand Corp., bordered by Lakeville Rd. The triangle between Lakeville Rd. & LIMP is the Schumacher farm. To it’s left would be the start or expansion of the L.I. Jewish Hospital (formed 1949).

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Hundreds of Automobiles Seen in This 1952 Lake Success Aerial

Please provide some help.  Is the picture in Mineola at the press box a mirror image of reality.  You say the picture is looking east.  Yet, the based on the way the crowd is facing, it appears the photo is looking for the cars coming from the west.
I am trying to figure out exactly where the photographer may have been standing.
-joe o.
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Howard Kroplick

Joe, the Mineola press box is on the left and the grandstands on the right.  A racer has just passed the drow who are looking easterly down Jericho Turnpike.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Vanderbilt Cup Race Scrapbook Discovered in Garden City

In this photo we’re over the Lake Success area looking west with the entrance / exit ramp of the Northern State Parkway onto Marcus Avenue in the foreground. The abandoned LIMP bridge over the NSP can be seen just above the Lakeville Road bridge with a LIMP remnant heading toward the upper left corner. This section of Lakeville Road was part of the course for the 1905 VC race. The cars in the parking lot probably belong to Sperry Gyroscope workers or possibly U.N. delegates (or workers) during the time that the U.N. temporarily used the Sperry plant for its headquarters. The facility under construction is the L. I. Jewish / Hillside Hospital. I think the golf course was the Glen Oaks Golf Club. Judging by the hospital construction and some of the visible cars, the photo is probably from the early 1950’s, maybe 1952.

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Hundreds of Automobiles Seen in This 1952 Lake Success Aerial

Northern state parkway, lakeville rd overpass, motor parkway overpass just north of it. Sperry property with the cars parked, LIJ hospital being built? 1945?

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Hundreds of Automobiles Seen in This 1952 Lake Success Aerial

-Identify the location and orientation of the aerial
Above the Northern State Pkwy looking West down at the two Robert Moses bridges built over the pkwy in Lake Success. One for the LIMP, the other for Lakeville Road.

-Relate the aerial to Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races
The bridge farther away is a LIMP bridge, as well as Vanderbilt original Deepdale estate being off to right of the photo.

-Why are hundreds of automobiles parked in the Mystery Foto?
Parking lot for the Sperry Plant ( where my Grandfather was employed as a gyroscope engineer)

-What facility was being built in the aerial?
The beginnings of The Long Island Jewish Hospital.

-Identify the golf course.
The former Glen Oaks Club is now the golf course for North Shore Towers.

-What year was the aerial taken? Provide a rationale.
1952 -starting construction of LIJ, Sperry plant, and original exit/entrance ramps help date the photo. It also helps that the aerial has been used numerous times in other posts.

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Hundreds of Automobiles Seen in This 1952 Lake Success Aerial

Northern State parkway looking west, at Lakeville Rd.  The LIMP bridge can still be seen crossing the NS.  The picture is before 1969.

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Hundreds of Automobiles Seen in This 1952 Lake Success Aerial

I’d love to know about the planned drivetrain and how it matches up to original plans.  Air cooled?  Front or rear engine?  Trannie?  Modern disc brakes?  Etc.
_______________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick

Ron, good suggestion. I will cover it in a future post.

From The Dream of the Tucker Torpedo Concept Car Is Becoming A Reality

Knowing how loud the Black Beast is, it’s amazing that the horse was [at least appears] calm as these cars passed under full throttle! Combustion engines were a new, unknown sound at that time making even more amazing they didn’t bolt into a field!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Vanderbilt Cup Race Scrapbook Discovered in Garden City

Great collection of photos! Interesting to see very small children so close to the roadway in one of the 1905 race pictures. A bit risky if you ask me. I don’t think I’ve seen such small children in any race pictures. I don’t think that’s a horse in that picture either!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Vanderbilt Cup Race Scrapbook Discovered in Garden City

Is that really a horse?
__________________________________
Howard Kroplick

I am tempted to say “Nay”, but it is a horse.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Vanderbilt Cup Race Scrapbook Discovered in Garden City

Fabulous looking place….Enjoyed seeing it…Shame it didn’t survive….

From An Insider’s Look into the Petit Trianon Part III: Inside the Building

Mr. DeStefani…..Thanks for drawing the sketch of The Petite Trianon. You growing up literally right down the street from the Inn and your memories are better than any old aerial or photo can provide.

I’ll be 50 at the end of the month, so I have to rely on aerial maps, etc. I guess the Inn was completed demolished sometime after 1966?

Our family grew up in Brentwood/Central Islip. We used to go to the Islip side of the lake to swim,etc. ( I’m guessing it was safe to be in the lake then? ). I now live in Lake Ronkonkoma with my family. There’s all kinds of warning signs not to swim in the lake.

From Femenias' Findings:Finding Petit Trianon, the Annex & the Petit Trianon's Lake Stairway Updated 3/12

Ah, the ol’ chimney trick. You’ve got me this time, but I’ll be back! ‘Till we meet again…....

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

That’s a big Twinkie!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: A Motor Parkway Treasure Chest Found in Malverne

Dean, If you want me to send you some information I noted in my comments you can contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  One other piece that you may consider that could be worked back into the “rich are different” theme was an article by Robert Caro about RM in the the New Yorker (1-5-98) about how Otto Kahn, a wealthy landowner on the gold coast secretly paid for his own $10,000 Northern Parkway alignment survey, (and RM accepted it) to avoid a private golf course that Kahn had just constructed. This lead in part to the southern shift in the alignment that resulted.  Hope to attend the next LIMP meeting. If you are going to attend let me know I can bring the big stuff that is too large to scan. All the best, Bob
__________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Here is a link to a 2014 New York Times article by author Robert Caro “The Power Broker, 40 Years Later”

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/books/review/the-power-broker-40-years-later.html?_r=0

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

From Al Velocci:

The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success circa 1939-1940

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

It looks like the Great Neck lodge off Lakeville Road constructed by John Russell Pope after it was used as a private residence with a vehicle parked in the portico, about 1940.

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

-Identify the lodge. Provide a rationale.
One of the original lodges, Great Neck lodge built in 1909. Recognizable by the portico and chimney positions.

-Who was the architect for the lodge?
John Russell Pope

What is the approximate date of the photo? Provide a rationale.
1940- already in use as a private home and the car under the portico.

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

Dean,

Overall I really loved the video and thought it was very well done. I enjoyed the historic narrative (very well written) and the pics / video that went along with your words. Well done!

Constructive criticism portion: I feel like you were your own worst enemy as far as “professionalism” and the attempts at humor and interjections. You would have wonderfully long sections of factual and well written information interrupted by attempts at humor like the “Jesus H Christ” splurge, my son looked at me funny when you did that - like it made no sense to him! All of the attempts at humor were not good—just remove them…this is not a comedy, it’s a professional presentation about LI history and a very good one. The imaginary land transaction exchange was not funny either - at all, nor was your head popping from side to side on that one section, and being a historical movie you focused way too much on your personal Ronkonkoma story….if you are making this for your own use then that’s great, but if this is meant to be shown/distributed in any way take that all out.

But that’s it….the idea/narrative/pics/words, everything was great except for these little lapses that could be easily fixed/edited. Sammy and I were both very into it and were mad when there was no PART IV to see so that is a great sign, you had us both into it! I loved the Robert Moses discussion you present, I disagree with Bob’s critique above on that.

And like others I’ll volunteer my services if you need/want: I have pics of anything/everything LIMP related in terms of what things look like NOW. Nothing old, just now stuff if you need anything Howard knows how to get me.

Let us all know when Part IV is ready!

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"