Vanderbilt Cup Races

Where did Sammy and Dave take these photos?  Practically in my backyard in Levittown! Salisbury Park Drive to be exact near the overpass for the Wantagh State Parkway.  Similar posts are also by the overpass on Stewart Avenue (shown in my 1939 map being sent to Howard as Hempstead Avenue).  I’ve driven by the posts for the last almost 34 years, sometimes multiple times a day. 

What was the reason for the unusual shape of these posts?  To hold wooden log type slats? 

What was the likely year that these posts were installed and by whom?
1937/1938 as part of the $4.4 million Northern State/Wantagh State Parkway extension being built by Moses, Robert that is!

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Motor Parkway Bridge Posts Near Wantagh State Parkway

Gary, no USA inscription on there. Just the numbers in both directions. I was just hoping this thing was somehow LIMP related. It seems like it’s not. I don’t really see how you could stick pipes in there as the bottom is not open. In fact when you look in there it almost looks like you put money in their, coins, and that would make sense with the number inscriptions. We were hoping it was some kind of primitive toll collection device. But I doubt it.

At the end of the day this section of LIMP was a great little discovery. I like these forgotten locations, undisturbed. History that will always be there for those who seek it out.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Levittown had easy VMP access under the power lines just northwest of the East Village Green stores back during the 50s and 60s.  It was a great place to collect praying mantis egg cases to sell to interested local gardeners. A Levittown Tribune column by Thomas Cullen’s mom brought this ten-year-old schoolmate lots of business and free advertising. There were also lots of caterpillars and cocoons to be found that sold for a buck apiece at the monthly Lepidoptera Society meetings up north on Jerusalem Avenue near Hicksville High School. https://www.lepsoc.org/ . Great Memories from my youth, now that I’m almost seventy!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure” VII: Westbury to Levittown

Dave,
Photo #4 (update 2/14) shows what appears to be markings including “USA” - can this be cleaned up any better without wearing down the embossed markings - might give a clue to maker or location made.  Of course this just might be wishful thinking!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Old school Pole Plate for Sidewalk Guying.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

It’s definitely heavy equipment. 
Another possibility, this could be an attachment for a supporting pole that are sometimes seen mounted on sidewalks (usually at a location that midly obstructs pedestrian right of way), that help stabilize the larger utility pole. Heavy cables are also used with this method of support.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Dave, a 1938 aerial (attached above) shows no access ramp there, but visible right across Roslyn Rd on the other side is the Roslyn Lodge access ramp.

Brian, Dave - That contraption will need some serious anti-freezing penetrant like liquid wrench for a few months :D

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Thanks for posting the additional photos of the mystery apparatus, Dave. Still don’t know what it is.

* It was definitely bolted vertically at the base. I now see there’s not drilled out holes, but 4 openings that would allow for maneuvering. The numbers are maybe like degrees, they seem to be in line with the openings.

* With the rectangular cutout at the bottom, whatever bar that was inserted was formed with a rectangular end. Seeing this ensures the bar is secured, the bolts would be tightened to the bar as an extra measure.

* Quoting Frank, the top rounded piece is designed to be adjusted ( You’d probably have to let this contraption sit in a bucket of WD-40 for a week to get any parts moving again )

Whatever this is, it appears heavy duty. If your on Facebook, post it so the whole world can see. Someone knows what it’s purpose is/was.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Howard,
Next time you communicate with the Eastman House ask about the provenance of their copy of The Stain.  I could be wrong, but I believe the copy that they have is the only known copy, and was the one found in Australia.
Gary

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: Theda Bara's Film Debut in "The Stain" Filmed at Petit Trianon

The first item you found definitely looks like a disposable propane tank. The other item looks like it could be a part from a well drilling rig being you found it near the water station. Those numbers 0-40 could be degrees of angle. The round flange with slotted holes meant it could be rotated on it’s mounting. The “cup” with the two set screws meant a large diameter steel pipe went in it. I believe there is a piece missing though. That part would have serrations to match the serrations on the piece you have. The bolt in the middle would have held them together, being able to adjust another angle.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

New pictures of object #2 are posted above. There are numerical inscriptions on there. Hoping someone can figure this out!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Nobody has commented on whether or not this “ramp” leading to the water station was perhaps a LIMP enter/exit ramp? I defer to the masters Howard and Al for some input? Is it possible? It just seems that this “ramp” is aligned perfectly with the existing posts which I guess is possible if the town people built the road and they just maintained the posts and left them alone? Or was this perhaps an entry or exit ramp?
________________________________________

Howard Kroplick:

Dave, it is likely this road was built after the Motor Parkway closed in 1938 in order to reach the pump station. The road was built within the right-of-way of the Motor Parkway with the posts marking the northern boundary,

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

I just sent Howard some more detailed pics of object #2. There are numerical inscriptions on there: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 at two locations in two directions each. Maybe this will help someone recognize it.

Brian—no metal detector. Not that crazy yet! I do plan to do that when I retire one day. I have several Gold Coast locations in mind to detect.

When we were digging just east of the house in the first location, we simply dug these items up. We sort of felt item #1 was nothing special, a glorified can of sorts, we left that one there on site. But item #2 was pretty unique so we took that one with hopes that it was unique in some LIMP way. It sort of looked like a trophy when we pulled it out!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Not sure about both artifacts but the first one does resemble a 1lb propane tank in comparison to Sammy’s hand size. The second with the large set bolts as Brian noted, is to accommodate and lock a large pole/rod, that also has an adjustable gear to angle into any position as needed, also with the holed base to mount onto a pole. The closest I can come to resemblance is an over sized, adjustable flag pole bracket. Unlikely though.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

My wife grew up in Williston Park on Yale St., and the ROW was behind her back yard (also behind her aunt’s, uncle’s and great-grandmother’s house over near Sigsbee Avenue).  At that time (late 1940s-1950s), the bridge over the LIRR was still intact, and she used to use it to go visit friends in East Williston.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Interesting adventure.  Funny that when I delivered mail on Robbins Lane never thought about the east side of Roslyn Rd.  I also think that second remnant could be connected to a gate.  Good stuff.  Bob

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

I can’t help but wonder how the Stickler/Eilerstsen marriage worked out. She being solidly grounded with Colgate and he coming back from the South Pacific perhaps chasing a dream for Marjorie and him with Tucker. 

From Tucker Dealerships on Long Island in 1948 Updated: 2/20/17

What role did the Motor Parkway play in the career of Theda Bara, one of the most popular film stars of her era?  Theda Bara, then Theodosia (Goodman) DeCoppett in 1914 portrayed a gang moll in the Frank Powell directed “The Stain”.  Filming was done near Lake Ronkonkoma so I would assume the Motor Parkway was used by the crew to get there. 

Hint: Billed under the name Theodosia DeCoppett, Theda Bara made her film debut as an extra in 1914.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: Theda Bara's Film Debut in "The Stain" Filmed at Petit Trianon

Eric—after the sump heading east there is one house and then the golf course. Using Bing Maps birds eye I can see the golf cart path there but it doesn’t appear to have the extensions or be very wide. Do you have pics you can send? We might have to investigate this one.

Brian—both of the relics were found on the elevated LIMP just east of the house on Roslyn road, very deep in the weeds. I’m sure these things haven’t been touched in a very long time. There was no house at this location, ever. Or any of the portion of LIMP that is related to this post.

Sam III—-two years ago Sam (mine) and I were at this location and one of the homeowners came out and met us as well. He was quite nice however and we talked history for a bit. He knew nothing of the history of his backyard, if it is in fact his land. He didn’t discuss that, more interested in what the heck we were doing! It is fenced in on both sides and elevated. Nobody goes in here. Even the kids haven’t figured this one out yet, no beer cans were observed.

Nature has taken this great spot over but it is all there to recover should that ever be an option.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Deeply buried? I thought you and Sam just came across these objects. Metal detecting, that’s dedication. You recall my email. With those 2 bolts on the side, and the round shape; I’m envisioning a pipe entering the top. And then tightening the bolts enough to secure a pipe. Does the base have holes? If so, then bolts likely secured the base to whatever structure. The one side has a cogwheel? The opposite side has like a half cog. The cogs obviously served a purpose. I’ll try my best, but hoping more experienced eyes here can help identify.    BDM

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road