Vanderbilt Cup Races

Those Midtown Tunnel construction photos are amazing; what a massive project it was to build.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

Hi Howard, I was quite surprised to learn that was taken from Hollis Court Blvd as the road is clearly macadam and Hollis Court Boulevard is a 30 foot concrete roadway.  If you look at the NYC Archives Records with the following hyperlink, you will see the picture.  I don’t doubt the correctness of the response being the 73rd ave bridge, but how does one explain the macamized surface of hollis court blvd (as opposed to concrete) in the photo?

http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~32~32~1205401~130170:bpq_7051-g?qvq=q:hollis+court;lc:RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~7~7,NYCMA~2~2,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~31~31,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~22~22,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~33~33,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~29~29,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~30~30,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~32~32,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~13~13,NYCMA~1~1,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~17~17,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~6~6,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~8~8,RECORDSPHOTOUNITBRO~4~4,RECORDSPHOTOUNITBRK~1~1,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAN~2~2,RECORDSPHOTOUNITQUE~1~1,RECORDSPHOTOUNITSTA~1~1,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~36~36,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~20~20,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~35~35,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~16~16,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~1~1,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~5~5,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~2~2,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~6~6,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~15~15,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~24~24,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~9~9,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~19~19,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~21~21,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~34~34,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~5~5,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~9~9,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~4~4,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~26~26,RECORDSPHOTOUNITMAY~3~3,RECORDSPHOTOUNITARC~25~25&mi=0&trs=248

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From Howard Kroplick

Michael, excellent point. The caption in the photo is very clear and indicates it is associated with additional parcels to Cunningham Park.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

From Michael Dickson:

I incorrectly indicated Springfield Blvd in the first picture. It is Union Tpk, 25C looking east toward the Grand Central Parkway and Creedmore.  Cambridge Hall Apartments are at the location in the right side of the photo from the 1930s, during the Union Tpk widening project in the 30s.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

From Michael Dickson:

I believe that this is looking at the Springfield Blvd (Rocky Hill Road) Bridge looking North from Union Turnpike in Oakland Gardens constructed in 1926.  The NYC government site has a photo that shows Union Tpk looking east from the location of Mystery Photo.  The east view I posted contains the same Type of lamp post.  Although I can’t read the state shield sign on the lamp post in your picture, I would bet it indicates NY 25C.  Union Turnpike was also known as NY 25C in the 1930s and 1940s. The sign for the Queens Midtown Tunnel is indicating Left (to the west) so the view in definitely looking North.  The Queens Midtown tunnel did not open until 1940.

I date the mystery photo to the 1940s.  Union Turnpike was widened to a dual carriage road in the mid to late 1930s as part of a WPA project and based on the Queens Midtown Tunnel Sign.  Two other similar bridges exist on 73rd Avenue, but 73rd Avenue is not a dual carriage road.  Secondly, it’s not the bridge at Hollis Court Blvd since Hollis Court Boulevard was a 30 foot wide triple slab concrete road as was Springfield Blvd south of Union Tpk until both roads were covered with asphalt when the city widened the roads in the 1950s.  The road in the mystery photo is macadam. Finally, I doubt it is the Winchester Blvd bridge since this bridge was very close to Union Turnpike

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

great job guys,wish I still lived on LI, miss the history. Wow, Lester Cutting (from Huntington)? A name from the past, cool.

From Update: The Continuing Amazing Restoration of the Historic Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

I think the photo was taken from a few feet south of Union Turnpike looking north along Rocky Hill Road (Springfield Blvd.) with the Rocky Hill Road bridge in the background. It looks like the road curves slightly to the left (northwest) just past the bridge which I think Springfield Blvd. still does today. Also, could that be a part of the Rocky Hill Road kiosk on the right-hand edge of the photo? That could mean the photo is from early 1941 since I believe the kiosk was removed that year. Just a guess but the car could be a 1941 Ford.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

I believe it is Long Island Motor Parkway Rocky Hill Road (Springfield Boulevard) Bridge in Queens. The car looks like a 1940 Studebaker to me. I can’t really date the photo.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

A really nice job and great pictures to go with it.  Keep up the good work.

Ken Harris

From Update: The Continuing Amazing Restoration of the Historic Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

Very historical presentations coming up. Hope you have big turnouts for all.Wish I could be their,to take in more memories of the past

From Roslyn News: Saga of 'Chrysler's Chrysler'

1.  I think it’s the Parkway Bridge over, what was then, Hollis Court Boulevard; I grew up in Fresh Meadows from 1953 on. However, my first inclination was Horace Harding Blvd. But, based upon the westbound Tunnel sign, this has to be wrong because the Parkway Bridge that it shown would then have been on the northbound side of Horace Harding.
2.  The orientation is looking north from the intersection of Hollis Court Blvd. and Union Turnpike.
3.  I don’t know the make of the car.
4.  I think the picture was taken between the end of 1940 until the start of the war. Regardless, it was taken during the winter.
5.  Rationale. The Queens-Midtown Tunnel opened in 1940. The cross street that is shown has a small concrete median, which was the way Union Turnpike looked at the time; the extension of Union Turnpike from it’s intersection with Homelawn St. and, what was then, Fresh Meadows Lane, started in the mid ‘30s as a WPA project.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

It was great seeing you guys at work cleaning up,it brought back memories when I cleaned up places with you guys.

From Update: The Continuing Amazing Restoration of the Historic Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

Easy one (I theenk).  1926 73rd Avenue bridge looking west from Francis Lewis Blvd. towards the “swoop” that’s still there.  See my LIMP Queens page 1, <http://sbiii.com/limp-qn1.html>, and specifically the same view I shot on 16 May 2002, <http://sbiii.com/limppix/mp199pk6.jpg>.  1940-41 Lincoln?  Hate these fuzzy pix!  Queens Midtown Tunnel (sign) opened 15 Nov 1940, so sometime thereafter.  Sam, III

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

Great job everyone.  Sorry I couldn’t be there with you.
All the best,
Rog

From Update: The Continuing Amazing Restoration of the Historic Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge

I’m guessing this is the long-gone second Winchester Blvd bridge (built in ‘31) looking North up Winchester from Union Tpke.
Unsure of the automobile, but I’m guessing again here on the date as sometime in the early 40’s.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

I really enjoyed the video. The presence of the 4 yr old girl was quite sad. In the past, it was common for people to pass on at such a young age, usually due to illness that people get presently. The medicines that we have today just didn’t exist back then. I hope the young girl that passed away has past family around her. It seems like the other presences just want to be acknowledged.

From A North Hempstead Halloween Video: Updated: 10/31/2016

Awsome Video Howard, in George Washington’s Long Island diary from his 1790 tour of LI he stayed at a home belonging to an Onderdonk, Probably from that area and maybe in that location. Any indication of the actual home he stayed on the property ? Love them ol’ ghost stories !!
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From Howard Kroplick

George Washington has breakfast at Hendrick Oderdonck’s home in Roslyn- “I was well entertained.” The home is now Henrdick’s Tavern.

http://www.pollrestaurants.com/restaurants/hendricks

From A North Hempstead Halloween Video: Updated: 10/31/2016

I’m going to take a wild guess and say 73rd Street west of the bridge. The existing bridge is still built the same way. There’s also a Queens-Midtown Tunnel sign on the corner for eastbound traffic, which I’d like to think is 188th Street, but that’d be too far west, and the car is an early-1940’s Ford.

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

Looking west at LIMP 73rd Ave. bridge (Black Stump Rd.) from Francis Lewis Blvd.
About 1941
1940 Ford

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

This appears to be the intersection of Hollis Hills Terrace and Union Turnpike looking northward,familiar to me from riding my bike through the neighborhood - and along the Motor Pkwy - and from letting my son practice driving in the area (it’s the road test site).Judging from the car and the road conditions it would seem to be a 1930’s scene. Car a Pontiac(?)

From Update: Mystery Foto #44 Solved: The Hollis Court Boulevard Motor Parkway Bridge in 1940

You guys almost make me regret moving off-Island!  I had some trouble finding the entrances by satellite; here’s my take:

  http://sbiii.com/limpqcpx/creedund.jpg

Corrections gladly accepted.

Have a ball tomorrow and next week!

Sam, III

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass