Vanderbilt Cup Races

YOU have impeccable taste in automobiles.

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Howard you’ve certainly impressed us all with this acquisition. One of the most collectible iconic automobiles of all time. Mazeltov and happy driving.

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Those ARE guardrail posts as noted by Brian. This is the first time I’ve heard of a parkway bridge going over Rosevale Av (it seems logical as Willie K wanted to avoid all grade crossings). But if true, these posts may have been delivered to the bridge site that was never built, right down the block of DeStefani’s house (built 1928), later to be used for? Monumental purposes? How did it serve the DeStefani family? The puzzle continues.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Brian - the Winding Rd fill is 2.7 miles from the mystery photo, more reasonable than Mt. Corona’s 18mi distance. And it still stands tall at ~100 feet. But neither fill lines slightly west of the Massapequa/Hicksville Rd bridge (Rt. 107) as seen in the mystery photo. Back then, one could see far distances as the view was unobstructed and the island still undeveloped. This mound is a tough one.

From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A View of #54 Lancia Crashing at the Massapequa-Hicksville Road Turn in 1910

Great find Brian - the Suffolk website is an amazing tool loaded with information. When I first encountered the lined paths near the lake they appeared as proposed roadways, yet mysteriously they’re still labeled today as Beach Rd, and the shorter - due east path, East Dr.) Viewing the website, it’s now clear they serve as zoning boundaries. As Harold indicated, the beach behind the Inn does not belong to the new homeowners (who unwittingly and illegally dumped the concrete walkway into the lake). The Inn’s beach/lake section north of East Dr (2.88 acres total) belongs to the County of Suffolk. The remaining beach/lake section south of East Dr. - and then much more (21.61 acres total), belongs to The Town of Islip. The Petit Trianon’s beach now has two owners. Who would’ve known the future of that beautiful Inn.

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

Frank… As always, you do a superb job re-aligning the old and new aerials/locations of LIMP, etc. Found myself viewing the Basemap Gallery on the “gis3.suffolkcountygov/gisviewer/” of this area. Up until the 2001 aerials of this area, #75, 85, and 95 homes weren’t built yet; it was all pretty much woods. So, these homes were built sometime between 2001 and 2004. As you zoom in to this area, there’s a “lined path” extending between the east ends of North and South Dr. And pretty much smack in the middle of this “lined path”, there’s another “lined path” due east to the lake. If Lake Dr. didn’t deadend at Washington Ave, it would head east directly to the “lined path” to the lake. These 2 “lined paths” don’t appear as actual roads on the aerials. These paths are just outside the property boundary of #95 North Dr. ( Like Harold was stating, the residents in this locale don’t own the “lined path” areas ). I know this blog is figured out already, but I felt compelled to express further.

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

Hi Art and anyone who are fans of ‘The Curse of Oak Island” series on the History Channel. The latest episode has Rick Lagina and Doug Crowell meeting up with Zena Halpern ( at her residence in Roslyn, NY ). She’s a writer/historian who researches the presence of the Knight Templars in Nova Scotia and nearby Oak Island. I think it’s neat that their research led them to our Long Island!

From The Second 2016 Kleiner Tour of the Long Island Motor Parkway

1928 aerial over Wyandanch
Circular road area became Pinelawn in 1935.
Little East Nexk road bridge visible

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

In my previous comment, I referred to walking along the N/S of the lake ( which I’ve had ). I also walked along the W/S of the lake, just not up to this location. The W/S has the abrupt drops from land to shoreline. And it gets a bit hairy on the W/S.

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

I’m observing Ron’s 1st and 4th photo circa 1981. The crumbling steps in the 4th photo appear to be ending at the shoreline. They don’t look to be a continuation of the steps from the 1st photo. In the rear of the Petit Trianon, the land is sloped to the lake.

The 2 curved pathways meet into 1 short pathway. After this short pathway, the 9 steps are quite clear in the last comparison photo. And then a flat pathway continues on. Not too confuse anyone ( counting myself ), it seems like Ron’s 4th photo ( crumbling steps ) is/was a 2nd stairway that immediately led to the shoreline. It’s not too hard to imagine these crumbling steps to be of cinderblock construction filled in with cement/concrete mix, and then smoothed over with the mix. Maybe these steps are not original from the operational years? A straight path right to the lake continuing after the 9 steps could’ve been utilized as a boat launch? As Harold was saying, the path was removed by the area residents. And perhaps the steps in Ron’s 4th photo were installed afterwards to make it easier to access the shoreline. I’ve walked along the N/S of the lake, but not in this area. There’s quite a drop from the land to the shoreline I remember.

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

Dave,  The entrance to the Petit Trianon completely flat, no walls. However, there were entrances to the basement on both the north and south side of the Inn. Perhaps they were the side walls of one on the stair wells to the basement. Al Velocci.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

Hi Dave Russo, For more information regarding the Ronkonkoma Lodge, see my book. Al Velocci.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure IV: The Eastern Terminus of the Motor Parkway

That’s Pinelawn Cemetery at the bottom (starting at the upper right of the circle) and the land just above it became LI National Cemetery in 1936. So This has to be pre-1936.

The upper left is here Wellwood Ave and Little Neck Road meet just south of Melleville.

Not sure about the bridges.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

Identify the location of this aerial
-Long Island Motor Parkway in Melville and Wyandanch.

Identify the Motor Parkway bridges
-not seen, but on the very left edge would be the Rutland Rd bridge, then the Wellwood Ave bridge, and finally, the Little East Neck Rd. Bridge.

What is the year of the aerial. Provide a rationale.
-1928. I have this aerial in my archives, but also found it used for the Little East Neck Rd post on this site.

What other significant landmark is in the aerial?
-Pinelawn Cemetery and the Long Island National Cemetery.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

Pinelawn Cemetery, Colonial Springs Road Area.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

Ron’s 5th picture down is the exact same spot as my picture - 35 years earlier.

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

Fantastic work Frank. I love the different levels of exploration from initial discovery, inquisitive thought/idea/picture to extensive research to ultimate conclusion. Awesome stuff.

Harold—-there absolutely were steps in back of the Petit. Frank just forwarded a very clear old picture of the back of the Petit clearly showing steps which to me look exactly like Ron’s first picture posted above. I’m hoping Howard will post this picture that was just sent by Frank.

After studying Franks overlay on the current Google map the location where he shows the walkway is EXACTLY where I took my picture of what remains, right behind the easternmost house that is just south of North Drive. Now you might be correct, it might not have been “steps” in this exact location of my picture (Ron’s picture of the steps was right next to the Petit, further away from the water) which is very close to the water but clearly there was a retaining wall here (and is still here) and perhaps this was just part of the cement sloped path leading to the water at this spot. Perhaps my picture of the concrete on the sand is part of this walkway?

And clearly there were concrete blocks used as they are still there! These are certainly remnants from the Petit.

Was there any historical discussion with the homeowner of the Ronkonkoma Lodge prior to the extensive renovation making the house completely unrecognizable to it’s historical past? Were there any findings/relics inside?

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

Many thanks to Frank and Ron!

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

Getting more interesting all the time. After reading Harold’s comment I was convinced and disappointed that no rear steps ever existed. Then I came across a 1911 photo and there they are! It appears the rear walkway was replaced at some point including the elimination of steps. But all debris would’ve been entirely removed from the site. So where do today’s steps come from?
The low wall out front on Lake Dr may not have belonged to the LIMP. Although it lines up perfectly towards the former main entrance, another 1911 photo reveals grass where the corner wall should’ve stood (28 feet before the “This Way” entry sign). The space in the photo is greater. Perhaps Motor Parkway installed the wall sometime after? Also revealed in the photo is an earlier diagonal road heading towards the main entrance that no longer exists. That’s about where the wall should be on the left. 
Hard to come to a conclusion as things may have changed over the years while still in operation.

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

I remember Pine beach, Joan’s beach and Duffield’s beach all around the buildings at the end of Motor Parkway but don’t recall any steps. The lake was a beautiful resort at that time.

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