Vanderbilt Cup Races

Great work Howard.  How does one go about determining locations?  Is there a “key” somewhere?  Anthony Brucia
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From Howard Kroplick

There is not key to the 1938 Nassau aerials.  However, the aerial numbers are in sequence from north to south. For example, 4-24 is just south of 4-25.

From The 1938 U.S. Department of Agriculture Aerial Suvey of Nassau County #2: Garden City to East Meadow

Another great, tricky mystery with only vague clues to go by. So need to wild guess three possibilities here;
a.  It appears we’re on top of a ‘parkway’ bridge, and a ‘highway’ bridge with writing is up ahead.
b.  This place seems too desolate for ’55 Queens (more likely Nassau or Suffolk).
c.  Those two power lines on left look familiar in East Meadow / Salisbury.
d.  The ‘bridge’ pillars down the road look like those of a Queens Motor Parkway bridge.
e.  I’m lovin’ it! (not McDonalds).

Less likely:
1. We’re on top of Wantagh Av bridge in Levittown, looking West at the abandoned Bloomingdale Rd bridge. (Unlikely, this place was flooded with Levitt houses in ’49)

More likely:
2. We’re on top 73rd Ave bridge in Queens, looking North at the abandoned North Hemp Tpke bridge. PS 179 (not visible) was built in the same year, 1955.

Most likely:
3. We’re on top of Westbury Rd bridge in East Meadow/Salisbury, looking West at some structure that looks like a bridge.

Once again looking forward to this week’s answers.

From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: A 1955 View of the Old Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge

It sounds like you already located where the LIMP is situated within the Nassau County series, Howard. For my own curiosity, I located the LIMP east of Garden City and northwards towards Bethpage State Park basically. It’s the last two numbers of the 1938 series that change according to the area, I jotted them down. There’s a whole lot of Suffolk County maps to view as well. I’ll start with Lake Ronkonkoma and head west. Like you said, the maps don’t appear to be in order; so it’s takes time.

From The 1938 U.S. Department of Agriculture Aerial Suvey of Nassau County #1: Searingtown to Garden City

Always enjoy the then and now photos,,,

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures: #18 The Brentwood Lodge at Washington Avenue

My brain is taking a break from the 1973 Newsday photo article. After poking around a bit, I’m thinking this is the LIMP bridge over Old Westbury Rd. The view is facing west. Wood pole line and tower line S/S of bridge. Took a look back at the 10/22/13 LIMP Bridge Series #38 Westbury Rd Bridge in East Meadow. “Ground Image Photo-1950’s” is facing south. Sometime after 1955, certainly by 1966; Old Westbury Rd between Carman Ave and this bridge became Salisbury Park Dr ( LIMP roadbed would be south of here between these points ). And after the demolition of this bridge, Salisbury Park Dr continued east on the LIMP roadbed. Also noticed pipe railings match with 10/22/13 main blog photo. Curious about the double garage looking building in the distance. Maybe part of the corrections facility property?

From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: A 1955 View of the Old Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge

I knew once you took a good look at all of this, your mapping skills would put this in perspective; Frank Femenias. Quite surprised to see the map I sent to Howard. According to the PC, there was in error in sending. Glad you received the transmission, Howard; thank you. And a thanks to Frank Drebin. Without his initial input, this location may be still a mystery. Comment #24, over and out.

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

I would guess this is Levittown looking West because the telephone poles are on the left.  Based on the angle of the tracks meeting up with the roadway, we are probably east of the grandstand and pressbox, so the bridge is probably Bloomingdale Road, Wantagh Avenue or rt. 107.

From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: A 1955 View of the Old Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge

Amazing.  Very nice find.  Way to go Mr. Velocci.
Ok.  The power lines pick up at the Albertson RR crossing.  They stay with the parkway all the way out until the Bethpage State Park.  And the bridge is the LIMP crossing over another road.  It is a standard bridge, and not the larger designs we have seen crossing Westbury Ave in Carle Place, and Clinton Ave in Garden City.  So let’s have some fun. 
Roslyn Road is first.  But the LIMP seems to be going straight for some distance.  It curves south shortly after Roslyn Rd.  The area does not look right either.  I do not believe it is Hillside Ave, the Roosevelt Field, Merrick Ave, or the Meadowbrook Bridge either.  Even though the terrain is nice and flat for Roosevelt Field.  But now it gets interesting.
It could be the Westbury Road in East Meadow.  And there is some evidence to support it.  Old pictures of this bridge show the railing low, just like your 1955 picture.  The large LILCO power lines are to the south of the LIMP.  So this picture would be facing west.  The older power cable poles would be there too.  Running along the old right of way for the LIRR.  I believe by 1955, after the completion of Levittown, the LIRR no longer used this line.  At least not east of the Nassau Community College area.  Hmmm.  This is looking like a real possibility.  But for all this to be true, the LIMP would make a significant bend to the northwest.  The 1955 picture is grainy.  It is hard to tell.  But these is one more piece of important information.  In the older 1908 era pictures of the Westbury Rd Bridge, the parkway immediately dips at it turns to the northwest.  And in our 1955 photo, I do believe I can see the same.  I am not saying this convincingly.  But with all the other information gathered, it looks like a real possibility to me.
I am strongly in the opinion that the older power lines are there as a remnant of the LIRR right of way.  Going further east along the LIMP, the only other bridges that could be placed next to the LIRR are Wantagh Ave, Massapequa Rd and Stewart Ave.  I believe the Stewart Bridge was already down by 1955.  The Massapequa-Hicksville Bridge would more than likely still show the Massapequa Toll Lodge or the Wantagh Ave Bridge.  And I do not see either in this picture.  My last possible bridge is Wantagh Ave.  But I will trust my instincts…..
Final Answer…. Westbury Rd Bridge.  Looking west toward what is today the Nassau County Jail, and Eisenhower Park.  The LIMP quickly dips and veers off to the right in this picture.  The LIRR ROW runs next to the photo, just south of the LIMP. 
Thank you guys so much.  I love this.
-joe oesterle

From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: A 1955 View of the Old Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge

I see it now!! Thanks for posting the street views guys. I also think Frank Drebin has nailed the location. Also true is the Historic Aerials ‘66 view of the mound with trees scattered that match in shape and configuration to the ‘73 article photo, where the photographer was standing and direction of photo. That Motor Parkway roadway dirt mound remained undisturbed for at least 7 years (‘66-‘73), and possibly up to 27 years when the coops were built in ‘93.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/555-Salisbury-Park-Dr-East-Meadow-NY-11554/83044318_zpid/

I’ve attached a current view of where photographer approximately stood comparing to the ‘66 dirt mound view. To exactly match the ‘73’s article view, a visit to the site would be required, and only if free of obstruction from the condo units. This could be a field trip worth taking with camera in hand. Guys- I’m In! Surgery went well and recovery is progressing smoothly. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

The Moon was one of Austin Clark’s favorite cars. I believe he gave the story of the car in his column “Young Nuts and Old Bolts” that he wrote for Old Cars Monthly (that publication eventually became a weekly) . Old Cars published a bound volume of articles that appeared in that newspaper and it is quite possible if anyone has that compilation that they could locate the article, the volume was titled “the Best of Old Cars”.
The Moon was on a Glidden tour revival in the late 1940s and was being driven by a friend of Austin’s and I recall Austin telling me “he not only wrecked the car once but twice on the same tour” I don’t imagine the car was badly damaged, but I shall be discreet and not mention the person who was driving the car . Austin had a filing draw in one of the cabinets in his library at his estate in Meadow Spring in Glen Cove that had a file folder for each car he ever bought and sold and the receipts, etc that went with the car. I am not sure if that file of all the cars went with the rest of his library to the Henry Ford Museum (now known as just The Henry Ford)
It is very nice to see after all these decades that the history if the car is finally being attempted to be sorted out; I only wish this had been done a quarter of a century ago when more people who were around and knew the car were still alive.
If Harrah’s bought the car from Austin, did they do it at one of the auctions he held at the L.I.A.M. ? if so it should be listed in one of the auction catalogs he published. I have most of these but at the moment am swamped with research and story commitments I have to finish to look further for those.

From The 1912 Moon Raceabout Owned by Henry Austin Clark Jr is heading to Pebble Beach (Updated: 7/19/16)

Always appreciate just how clear and detailed these older aerials are. I guess it also helps that there was a lot less of development, too.

From The 1938 U.S. Department of Agriculture Aerial Suvey of Nassau County #1: Searingtown to Garden City

Brian, I think it’s impossible to see this view from a current Google Map street view. I looked back at the 1966 aerial view, you can see the mound of roadway and trees where the photographer would have stood and how the angle would have show Salisbury Road rise over the Wantagh Parkway. It looks like it would have been where the entrance/exit and shuffleboard courts for the apartment complex are now.

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

Seems odd that a top secret building in the defense business would house the UN, it probably would not happen that way these days, with all the turmoil going on around the world. But even back then why would they put internationals there at the start of the Cold War and Korea ?

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The Sperry Gyroscope Plant in Lake Success on September 27, 1952

Hi all,don!t have much time for mystery solving anymore,busy here almost every day,many activities during the day and also at night,I’m lucky I have a chance to check things out here,to keep up to date what’s going on. I’m really enjoying it here.I can amagine how you are enjoying Shorty Howard,showing it off and driving it to the car shows,I hope. I don’t know if you know it or or not,but they have Classic Car Golf Carts here,what beauties they are,Antiques too,there’s one with electric windows and I think it’s the only one in existence,what do you think about that?he rates like you Howard. They have shows,cruise ins and all,just like cars. Like I said before,This Is The Place To Be,everything at your fingertips and a golf cart away, what can be better than that?. I’ll keep in touch when I can.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The Sperry Gyroscope Plant in Lake Success on September 27, 1952

There’s others with worse medical issues than mine, Dave Russo. I just have to adjust and accept what I can and can’t do.

Glad you left the current street view of the 1973 photo. I was trying to match a street view on my PC today, but man; it’s frustrating to get it just right. Have to keep in mind this was more than 40 yrs ago. I hope whoevers paying attention agrees with the location of this 1973 photo.

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16

I realized after that my Grandfather was a gyroscope engineer at Sperry in the 30’s as well as post-war. I wish I had more memorabilia from his time there.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The Sperry Gyroscope Plant in Lake Success on September 27, 1952

From Gary Hammond:

Mystery Photo # 28 – Hammond’s Historical Happenings

ID of Building – Sperry Gyroscope Plant, Marcus Ave., Lake Success (bordered by Marcus Ave. / Lakeville Road / Union Turnpike; P.O. address is 1111 Marcus Ave.)

How is this building related to Israel? – The property was acquired in 1939 by the U.S. Government for use by Sperry.  The United Nations was established October 24, 1945; in August 1946 it moved to the Sperry Gyroscope plant in Lake Success; on November 29, 1947 a resolution was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly – “United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) Future Government of Palestine”, part of which included the boundaries of the Jewish State.

What is the orientation of the aerial? – looking South

What is the date of the aerial?  - circa 1945 (WWII) due to the Confidential marking, and the dark coloration of the buildings; no evidence of UN flagpoles in front; Sperry received at least four Army-Navy “E” for Excellence Awards during WWII

How is this aerial related to the Long Island Motor Parkway?  Bottom right hand corner shows the Northern State Parkway Motor Parkway Bridge

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The Sperry Gyroscope Plant in Lake Success on September 27, 1952

Walked by this location yesterday going to the KFC. Thought of these photos!

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

Those look like Robert Moses’ ‘twin’ bridges in bottom right corner that once stood apart just ~225’ above the NSP; the Lakeville Rd bridge (still there) and the abandoned, overgrown Motor Pkwy bridge (removed). So we must be above Willie K’s Deepdale Estate overlooking Lake Success towards the SE. Year is post 1938 after Motor Pkwy’s closing. That’s a rare view of the former Marcus Av/Lakeville Rd exit ramp off the NSP in bottom center. The historic building at center is Sperry Gyroscope Corporate offices but before it was used as United Nations HQ (1946-1952). So year of photo is 1938-1946. Today’s ramp was extended with NSP’s extension to handle heavier traffic.

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The Sperry Gyroscope Plant in Lake Success on September 27, 1952

This picture from the article is looking EAST at Salisbury Park Drive (which was basically the Motor Parkway) from where the Old Westbury Road bridge was. I sent Howard the current picture. You can see the house on the right is exactly the same. We are looking at current location where Salisbury Park Drive goes over the Wantagh Pkwy. The Suburban Jewish Ctr is just before the Wantagh straight ahead on the right. The power station is just over the bridge on the right side. Original wood posts remain on the right side over this bridge today.

To all you guys—-I love the back and forth and LI history discussion in general. I’d love to meet you guys one day. Maybe we could have a group tour one day going to a few/several LIMP locations and discussing each one on site. Brian I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Would love to meet.

From The Helck Family Memoirs: 1973 Newsday "What Ever Became of the Vanderbilt Parkway?" Updated 7/14/16