Vanderbilt Cup Races

We all know the LIMP was just N/O Union Tpke at the tunnel location. But the tunnel access just N/O the LIMP ROW provides a good refrence point to possibly find any LIMP pavement, etc.

I’ll just say the obvious. This tunnel was utilized by hospital employees, patients. The Creedmoor Highway bridge that was just to the east served a similar purpose. But capable of supporting vehicles, etc.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Looking Great!
Fantastic car to display and great history !
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From Howard Kroplick:

Perry, thanks! Sorry I missed the Clor meeting.

From 99.1 PLR Radio: AJ's Car of the Day 1963 Ford Mustang III Concept Show Car

Seeing the big field in the background and maybe some airplane hanger rooftops, I’m curious as to the orientation of the car, which direction it was traveling and could it have had something to do with the curve south of Roosevelt Field that made the car turn over ? A circle and arrow overlaying the aerial photo would be awesome.  The lack of shadows indicates a midday photo which makes placing the location a mystery to me. Also an in a slightly unrelated tidbit of interest the lobby at Winthrop Hospital (formerly Nassau Hospital) has 2 marble plaques on the wall reading “Nassau Hospital Erected 1900” with all the donors names from that time, reads like a who’s who of the early days of the people involved with the Motor Parkway and Roosevelt Field. Again, great stuff (except for the victims of the crash).

From An Accident on the Motor Parkway in Garden City on July 8, 1931- Updated: 10/17/16

Russell Rd or Roosevelt Airfield in the back. All four men appear to be clowning around.

From An Accident on the Motor Parkway in Garden City on July 8, 1931- Updated: 10/17/16

Be curious to know exactly where that is on the MP and what direction the direction the pic was taken…
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From Howard Kroplick:

I was wondering the very same thing- difficult to determine. There seems to be a road in the background, Meadow Brook Polo Field or the Old Westbury Golf Club.

From An Accident on the Motor Parkway in Garden City on July 8, 1931- Updated: 10/17/16

I was thinking about Dad, Shailer L Bass, putting a silicone rubber roof on his St. John home with the help of Fritz Schulz, and wanted to interview Fritz about it, and Hugh Nutting about its destruction in a hurricane. I have a cousin living on the island who knows the present owners of the house.

From From the Hugh Nutting Collection: Insight into the Woodies of Huntington's J.T. Cantrell and Company

Nice work everyone.  I need to check it out personally.
Great seeing others share the exploring bug!

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Brian, you’re right on! Looking deeper at the Construction Details diagram above (the first schematic), the white railing in the photo is the temporary wooden staircase that was built at midpoint during construction. Looking further at the schematic, inside the tunnel there is a sliding door at midpoint leading to this staircase up to Union Tpke, which now raises another question. Is there a second metal grating on Union Tpke’s north sidewalk leading to this staircase? And what condition is the wood after 84 years in the underground closet? Need to pay a visit there soon.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

I know ZIP about burrowing tunnels, especially one of this length. That fenced off area you point out, Frank; made me curious too. It would seem that this was a midpoint area in building of the tunnel. I’m thinking this because Union Tpke eventually was expanded over the original section of LIMP, and the end result aerial shows tunnel access S/O Union Tpke, and N/O the new LIMP section.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Hi Frank. Thought I’d mention the older aerial with the LIMP? looks to be about where the Bloomingdale Rd bridge was. They must of demolished that bridge promptly at that time.

Needless to mention everyone, but I can’t help but say the Westbury Ave bridge is seen as well. Unless you really want to, Frank; don’t feel the need to revise your findings just because of the bridges I mentioned.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Taking another look at the photo with both LIMP roadways, the white railings are set in Union Tpke’s ROW yet to come. Underpass entrance here is incorrect. The railings appear to be at the underpass’ midpoint, where there should be street above. Perhaps a temporary underpass entrance for construction purposes.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Whoo, these new aerial pix are hard to follow foe us non-L’townwers!  Hurrah for the LIACC!  Interesting conjunction - snooty LIACC and viciously-prejudiced Levitt.  Richard, the hangar was NOT bulldozed; one segment was dismantled (as Steve notes) and re-erected south of the intersection of Schneider Lane and Revere and Lexington Avenues, backing on the LIRR’s Central Branch, in downtown Bethpage.  It still stands and is currently marked “Best Market HQ” on Google Maps.  It’s fully documented on my site but I’ll be hang(ar)ed if I can find where!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Good grief, Charlie Brown (or George Zink)!  Your “lamp post” is the VENTILATOR!  See the drawing above.  What a find!  This whole post is quite a revelation; Mother Nature hasn’t gotten ahead of us here (yet).  If crawling into the Wheeler Farmway Bridge isn’t bad enough, <http://sbiii.com/limp-qn3.html#wheeler>, now we’ve got this one to find a way into - go, Frank!  As to my pages, Brian, thanks but I missed this gem; never even knew of it.  Sam, III

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Awesome post! I’ve passed this but just assumed it was Hospital related - some sort of former walkway. Love this stuff. Will have to check it out.

Did you go down the steps and take pics inside? What’s in there????

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

I guess you’re right about that Frank. A lot of findings and still more,it never ends does it? Keep on looking guys.Doing great so far,as usual.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

A+ on your coverage of this tunnel, Mr. Zink. Your photos exhibit that this tunnel was built to last. And Howard’s aerial clearly shows the N and S entrances. My mom was an aide with the Central Islip Psychiatric Center until it closed. She then worked for Creedmoor for a few years until retirement. I’ll have to ask her what she may know about this underpass. I wouldn’t venture in there without a buddy or protection.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Great job George, and James you’re right about conditions that would’ve existed. Now, how to enter the tunnel. I have a flashlight!

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

Howard, about to send a photo of the ped underpass but George already nailed it. Great observation George! See above photo.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass

The photographer was over East Meadow looking east showing Levittown. The roads that were used for the Vanderbilt Cup races are: Hempstead Turnpike (1904), and some remnants of the LIMP (1908, 1909, & 1910). Since the building of the homes for Levittown has progressed significantly, and I think I can see the structures at Aviation Country Club are still intact (portions of which were moved in 1950), I’m going to guess 1950 as the year of the photo. As to other large buildings, not too sure, but I believe that’s Bethpage Park & golf course in the upper left corner.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Brian,
The bridge on the Creedmoor property was a highway bridge, not a pedestrian or a farmway bridge
Al.

From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass