Vanderbilt Cup Races

Meant to say when “all of you” cleaned the parkway west of Roslyn Road. Not Al and you.

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

A short movie “The Stain” in which Theda Bara appeared as an extra featured location scenes at the Petit Trianon at Lake Ronkoma.

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

The LIMP is still very evident east past the sump on the Golf Course before it turned south through same. Much of the original road with extensions are used by the Golf Course for maintenance vehicles.

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

Gram and I can’t wait to hear about observations on the artifacts. This was one of OUR favorite sections of the roadway!

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

great work, I think you found transmission parts.  Enjoy the series very much

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

Howard, I had stop by your garage in Roslyn the other day, looking through the garage door window the view of the back of the Tucker, the paint is peeling on the trunk and on the top right rear fender. Did not notice in the photos you had posted. NEEDS RESTORATION!

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

I remember playing over there, and exploring as a kid.  Back in the late 1970’s.  The East side of Roslyn Road, before they built the house, looked much like the west side.  With a waist high stone wall built across the road.  The area was a gradual downhill, down to the sump, and the back entrance of WHGC.  We used to laugh as kids.  Because someone put up a sign near the side road to the water district that said “missile silos.”

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

Brian - I also measured 1000 ft west of OLD Rosevale Ave (according to “The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway and Their Gatekeepers’ Lives” book). The original lodge still shows up west from its current location. We’re on track here. Still searching for a clear aerial of the lodge in its heyday, so to pinpoint its location on the LIMP.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures:#19 and #20 The Ronkonkoma Toll Gate & Ronkonkoma Lodge

Sam & Dave…try beginning your next exploration off of Executive Drive.  There is an Old Courthouse Road listed on modern maps where an existing bridge over the old MP still exists…you can begin here and progress all the way to where you ended up in this post.  Great job documenting the remaining history, guys!

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

Brian - According to Harolds post, the walkway entered the lake “when the level was high.” It may have been intended as a boat launch. Not sure about the level rising and falling. I’ve read the lake acts as a water table level indicator as it’s connected underneath to other water bodies in the area, possibly Long Island Sound as well. There are 4 or 5 holes at its bottom with the deepest at ~70 ft at its SW section.

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

Mystery Foto# 6…. I can’t really connect Theda Bara directly to the Motor Parkway but I do find that she made her screen debut in a silent movie called “the Stain” cast as an extra in the role of a Gun Moll. And this movie was shot on location at Lake Ronkonkoma. Ronkonkoma being the eastern most terminus of the Motor Parkway.
Whether that is the connection or not remains to be seen in our Monday night reveal. She had three different names over time…Theodosia Goodman, Theodosia De Cappett and of course Theda Bara.

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

From Michael L:
Thank you so much for the wonderful story about Lindbergh’s flight and the priceless film that goes with it.  I blew the dust off my Peter Helck books and read them again.  Wonderful books, and a wonderful story. Thanks again, Michael.

From Helck Family Collection: George Robertson's Eyewitness Account of Lindbergh's Journey to History

From Arlene S
Holy cow Howard!  Is that gorgeous TUCKER yours?!  Phew!  congratulations!  It’s a beauty!!! All of Long Island will have a treat this summer for sure!

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Absolutely, Frank. The 2nd drop/stairway closer to the lake is likely Ron’s 4th photo ( crumbling steps ). And looking at Sam & Daves 1/28/17 blog, I also believe the “concrete/cement slab” is a continuation ahead of the 2nd drop/stairway. I like to think that this slab used to continue towards the lake as a small boat launch. The lake itself was a big attraction back then for recreation, etc.

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

After reading comments from Sam III, Dale, and Gary, I can now picture two drops in the 1912 photo of the circular walkway leading to the lake (photo attached). The drops were not apparent at first sight.

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

I didn’t see this until it ended, but as historian of The First Presbyterian Church of Newtown I can confirm that is the church’s former cemetery, begun 1822. Vandalized and full it closed in 1909, but the land was not sold until the late 1950s. The 1787 Old White Church across the street (which had been saved, forcing the move of the new church) actually burned down in 1927, torn down 1928. ...An old time resident (descendant of the 1652 Moore family founders of Newtown) tells me the store was later Weber’s Hardware. Queens Blvd. (Hoffman/Road to Jamaica as mentioned) was then only 2 lanes wide - on the north side. When it was enlarged to 12 in 1924, the church was given 3 choices - 1) Be an island in the middle of the road (That would have been fun getting to church!); 2) Tear down its still existing historic 1787 Old White Church Bldg. (across the street) AND its 1822 cemetery and graves, or 3) Move the new church back the equivalent of 10 lanes of traffic. Public outcry over the possible destruction of the historic 1787 church & burial ground forced the move of the new church, built 1895. It did have beautiful steeple once that DOUBLED the height of the present church. (We have a couple photos- beautiful!) The steeple did not fall in the move; the engineers were wise enough to know it wouldn’t withstand that. Instead, it was purposely taken down and all the stones numbered for reassembly later. Unfortunately that did not happen. Although the city paid some of the cost, the church still had to take out a $37,000 mortgage to cover the cost of the move. It took 30 or 40 years to repay. For a move they didn’t want!! Costs became so high they could not afford to reassemble the steeple. I often wonder if those stones are fill under Queens Blvd. No one knows where they went. The small room (not bldg.) removed at the side of the church I don’t think was damaged, but part of the plan. Too difficult to move, and the church later hoped to build an attached larger educational bldg.- which it did much later. The moving itself was considered a wonder of the world, reported even in Scotland. Before modern equipment, the church ( estimated 5 million lbs.) was hoisted onto greased huge logs, which were turned with hand winches,- so slowly and smoothly movement could not be seen. And the valuable 1895 stained glass by former Tiffany designers Sellers and Ashley did not break, except in a couple small areas. They still are there! The logs that moved the church along also still exist, under the church basement.
____________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick:
Marjorie, thanks so much for providing the historic information on the church. Much appreciated!

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: A Motor Parkway Sign at Queens Boulevard and Grand Avenue Circa 1928

I agree with you on that Gary. The lower wall looks newer than the top steps. Probably a later renovation. Some remains of landscaping walls built at other Pavilions around the Lake in the mid 1920s are built in this block style. This lower wall at the Trianon looks to be slightly newer,possibly mid 1930s. I hope to find a brick with the makers name on it when i visit there next week.

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

Missed a point - that cartoon is NOT of a 27 S-modell!  It depicts a much older race car, ca. 1910.  And Morticia predates ANY Mrs, Addams!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: Charles Addams and his wife Barbara Jean in Southampton Updated:10/30/16

From Gary Hammond:

A thought about the Petit Trianon steps remains - the concrete blocks with the bricks cemented on top don’t seem to be of the right period to be original to the 1911 time frame.  The 1911 photos show only concrete, so does Ron’s one photo of the original steps in the woods.  They seem to be solid, probably poured in wood forms, not concrete blocks with caps.  Concrete blocks were being made at that time period, but probably not used for landscape walls at the Petit Trianon.  Would be interesting if any of the bricks are marked with the maker - would help to date the age of these remains.

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

Sam,
The photos taken prior to the flight with the “Spirit” missing the spinner & prop are taken at Curtiss Field where the plane was housed.  It would take off from the field to the east - Roosevelt Field.  As per the NASM website: “While Lindbergh was flying the “Spirit” on its maiden flight from San Diego to Long Island on May 12, 1927, a crack developed in the aluminum behind the propeller, forcing him to replace the propeller spinner and nose cone just before his historic flight from New York to Paris.”  The original damaged nose cone is in the NASM collection.

From Helck Family Collection: George Robertson's Eyewitness Account of Lindbergh's Journey to History