Vanderbilt Cup Races

I’ve been too busy this summer and haven’t had time to research mystery photos as much as I’d like to, so it’s nice to see when I can answer them mostly off the cuff!

Identify the historic building in the aerial.
-United Nations original, temporary location, (then later, Sperry where my Grandfather was engineering, designing and building gyroscopes for flight systems.)

How is this building related to Israel?
-The U.N. established Isreal. From Wikipedia;
On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Partition Plan for Mandatory Palestine. This specified borders for new Arab and Jewish states and an area of Jerusalem which was to be administered by the UN under an international regime. The end of the British Mandate for Palestine was set for midnight on 14 May 1948. That day, David Ben-Gurion, the executive head of the Zionist Organization and president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, declared “the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel”, which would start to function from the termination of the mandate. The borders of the new state were not specified in the declaration

What is the orientation of the aerial?
-Looking South/SouthEast

What is the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.
-It was the U.N. from 1946-1952. I throw a guess out there, go in the middle and say 1948.

How is this aerial related to the Long Island Motor Parkway?
-The LIMP ran close by. The Moses N.State parkway bridge in the very lower right of the photo.

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

Anything to do with Grumann?

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

Hi Frank Femenias. Hoping the surgery you had went well. After reading Frank Drebins comment about the location of the 1973 photo, it made more sense to me. 99% sure this photo is facing to the SE ( existing towers still on S/S of PSEG ROW ), and the Jewish Center building is visible on the Eastside of Old Westbury Rd. The pole with the street lamp is intended for Old Westbury Rd. There’s 2 woodpole lines parallel on the N/S of the ROW, the pole line w/3 xarms each is no more. And in the distance, I see the R/O the Newbridge Rd PSEG substation. If I was standing on the LIMP pavement seen, it would be right where the condo/apartment complex is on the SW intersection of Salisbury Park Dr/Old Westbury Rd.

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

From Jan H:

Gonna be some great clambake!

From Vanderbilt Museum Clam Bake on July 23, 2016: Willie K's Great-Great Granddaughter is Special Guest

From Sam Coleman:

1?
2 east to west looking north
3 looks like in the late 40’s cause of the confidential they were making a lot of war products, lakeville road is still 2 lanes,
4 northern state is right there, was that the base for the Long Island Motor Parkway at that point

sam colman
now from NC
was from NHP

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

From Len Williams:

Howard,
      I believe this is the Sperry Gyroscope property which was also the first location of the United Nations immediately after World War II. I think this is where the UN voted on the formation of the State of Israel.
      The photo was taken looking southeast.
      It was taken sometime before 1953 because ground had not yet been broken for the Lake Success Shopping Center.
      The northern State parkway runs left and right across the bottom of the page and the LIMP bridge crosses the Northern State at the lower right corner of the page.
Sent from my iPad
Len Williams
McCready & Rice Plumbing Inc.

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

Another give-away!  Sperry Gyroscope plant in Lake Success looking SSE.  On 29 Nov 1947 and 14 May 1948, while it was the temporary home of the UN, Palestine was to be partitioned and Israel was then formally partitioned out of Palestine.  Probably taken sometime between 1942 and 1945 (WWII security classification).  NS Pkwy across bottom, with Marcus Ave. just beyond; Lakeville Rd. at top right and lower right with abandoned LIMP bridges over NSP and Marcus at far lower right; Hillside Ave. is beyond plant with Union Tpke. and Jamaica Ave. (to right/W)-cum-Jericho Tpke. (to left/E) in far distance.  Oval driveway at 1111 Marcus Ave. still there in front of former Sperry office building which once housed UN.

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

That’s the Sperry Gyroscope building located at 1111 Marcus Avenue in Lake Success. From 1946 to 1951 it was the temporary headquarters for the United Nations. In 1947 the U.N. General Assembly passed Resolution 181 which divided the British Mandate of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab sections. This was the legal basis which lead to the establishment of the independent nation of Israel. The orientation appears to be south-south-east. Since the photo is marked “confidential” because Sperry was an important defense contractor during World War II, yet the parking fields don’t appear to be completely full, I’m thinking the date is 1945-1946. Along with Lakeville Road, Union Tpke., Marcus Avenue, and Northern State Pkwy. (top to bottom), there is the Long Island Motor Parkway going over the NSP in the lower right corner.

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

It is Sperry Rand in Lake Success. Photo taken from Northwest probably during WW2 so I am gong to guess 1942. This building was also the first home of the United Nations. Israel was declared a state in this building.  The company was assembling bomber gun turrets during the war.

Lakeville Road goes from the bottom of photo to right. The Long Island Motor Parkway ran along what is now Lakeville Road

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

Hi Brian, Dave, and Frank – Is the bottom photo of 1973 now being located as just SE of the Salisbury Dr / Old Westbury Rd split, and we’re looking NW from a still undeveloped (and possibly under construction) Old Westbury Rd, with a small piece of Salisbury Dr visible on top of the dirt mound? I’ve attached a Google street view photo where I think the location is of the new find. The different style utility poles seem to match but can’t get a clear shot in street view.

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

The view is south, southeast at Lake Success & New Hyde Park (approx. over the east end of the lake itself). The building above the circular (oval) entrance drive was the first temporary home of the United Nations at Lake Success (later at Fresh Meadows). Above that is the Sperry (Sperry/Rand) defense plant. Above that is it’s parking lot with entrances from Union Turnpike, crossing at right is Lakeville Road. 
Centered below the oval entrance drive is it’s entrance from Marcus Ave. Below that is the Northern State Parkway, which at the right is going under the Lakeville Rd (white) & LIMP (dark, looks tree lined) bridges. (LIMP over Marcus Av bridge is gone)
I don’t know the date but by 1952, Olive St. would be showing in the lower left corner (though without houses yet). Also that’s the original eastbound NSP Lakeville Rd exit starting right at the bridge out to Marcus Av. At some point, between 1950-52, it was moved about 500 feet further east.* If (??) the UN took over an existing Sperry headquarters building, then I’d guess the pic is during or right after WWII (hence the ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ ??) so maybe 1945,6,7.

* You have a 1950 aerial, viewN, showing the old exit at: http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/12-26-2007-09-13-19-128_edited-1.jpg
Also a 1952 aerial, viewE, showing the new exit, the old removed but not yet overgrown, plus Olive St. & the tail (east) end of Tanners Rd. at: http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/FNeg521891_LakeSuccess_10Ju-1.jpg

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

The building is the former Sperry Plant in Lake Success
It was used as a temporary headquarters for the United Nations and
it was there that the discussions took place for the creation of the State of Israel and its
recognition and admission to the UN.
The view is looking southeast, with the road running diagonally top left to lower right just below the circle being Marcus Avenue. Left to right across the bottom is the Northern State Pkwy.  It looks like a LIMP overpass at the lower right, just to the right of the Lakeville Rd. Overpass.
My guess would be 1946.

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

Here it goes, comment #17. Dave/Sam…I’m sure Howard and the rest of us appreciate you and your sons field work.And there are others doing the same. Because I worked in Nassau County, I became familiar with the LIMP and Central RR remnants. But I never thought to take photos, etc. Sam Berliner’s websiteshas lots of info, as well as some others. I’d like to get out there and re-explore; but my Parkinson’s symptoms have become an obstacle.

When you get a chance, Dave Russo; take a look at the Historic Aerials website. After viewing a 1966 aerial along with a 1947 topo; you’ll see the LIMP roadbed is just to the left/SE of Salisbury Park Dr between Carmen Ave and Old Westbury Rd. This makes sense of past visible LIMP remnants in this area before the building of the condo/apartment complex that is there presently.

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

NIce picture, Howard.  I’ll be sending some material for Kleiner’s Korner later

Identify the historic building in the aerial.: United Nations General Assembly during the period 1946-1952 when a permanent site was being decided.

How is this building related to Israel?:  Site of the UN Security Council vote to approve Israel’s admission to the UN by a vote of 9 to 1 (March 4, 1949) and then followed up by the General Assembly’s vote to do the same by a vote of 37 to 12 (May 11, 1979). 

What is the orientation of the aerial?:  South/Southeast.  Northern State and Marcus avenue of at the bottom of the picture, Union Turnpike in the middle, Lakeville Road and Motor Parkway bridges lower right corner. 

What is the date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.  1950-1951. Before the Episcopalian Church was built in 1952 across from the UN.

How is this aerial related to the Long Island Motor Parkway?  As stated above, Motor Parkway bridge shown at the lower right corner, leading into the Great Neck lodge area.

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

Sperry Gyroscope bldg. Served as United Nations temporary home from 1946- 1951. It was here that the United Nations council recognized Israel as a state. The picture was taken looking South- South East. Picture was probably taken in mid to late 1940’s. The Northern State Pkwy was open by 1938, Sperry opened early 1940’s. Lake success shopping center isn’t built yet and was probably built mid 1950’s. Looks like Long Island Motor Pkwy is crossing over the Northern State Pkwy in the lower right corner of the picture.

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

My office was across the street. So I should know.
1.  Sperry/Gyroscope. Norden bombsight. The executive offices in the front, with the factory in the rear.
2. I don’t think the vote to partition the British Mandate of Palestine took place here. I though the UN General Assembly met in the NYC pavilion of the 39-40 World’s Fair until the present UN on First Avenue opened. However, based upon your question, I’d have to state that at least part of the decision to end the British Mandate was made in the building, which was the then Secretariat Building, if not the General Assembly vote.
3. Looking southeast.
4. The photo is marked confidential. I suspect that it was taken during the War. The question, however, states that the Defense Department marked it confidential. The DOD was created in 1947 with the “merging” of the services and the creation of the US Air Force. Before the DOD, the US Army was called the War Department and the Navy was called the Navy Department. Now both are under the umbrella of the DOD. So if the question is correct, the DOD marked the photo as confidential after the War, not during it. As for the date, it was taken after Sperry moved from Brooklyn to the site. My guess in 1943.
5.  The Northern State Parkway is visible on the bottom of the photo (north). Both the eastbound exit and entrance from and to the Northern State Parkway at Marcus Avenue is visible, as is the westbound exit and entrance from and to Middle Neck Rd. To the right of the Middle Neck Bridge is the Vanderbilt Parkway Bridge.

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

Sperry Plant at Lake Success, adjacent to the Long Island Motor Parkway, with orientation being towards the East. 
I would speculate that “Confidential” was marked on the foto as the foto was most likely taken in the early 40s during WW2, and that the connexion to Israel would be the use of this facility as original headquarters of the United Nations when Israel became a member of the United Nations.

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

This is the Sperry plant,

the shopping center is not there, on what would be Union Turnpike so it is `40` to 50`s ?
the office or the mane entrance became the UN. start up.
Aerial is north west

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

I got this one:

This is New Hyde Park. Motor parkway bridge at the bottom of the pic and we are looking southeast, we are pretty much right above where the Deepdale Vanderbilt estate was/is. The building we are looking at was once the HQ for the United Nations while the NYC location was being built. This was from 1947-52 approximately.

The was the location of a Sperry Rand Defense plant. The plant was acquired by Loral Corp, then Unisys and later by Lockheed Martin before being closed.

In 1939 the United States government bought a large tract between Marcus Avenue, Lakeville Road and Union Turnpike, to be the home to the Sperry Gyroscope Company which built a variety of maritime, military, aerospace and navigation products. During World War II the plant had 22,000 employees

BOO YAHHHH!!!!

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

Hey Brian—-LOL it just didn’t look like the location you said it was for a few reasons but I’m glad it’s solved. That being said, you guys are marvels at figuring out these things with all the topographical skills that you have and that some discover via the internet and aerial photos, etc. It’s really amazing.

The discussion about the Caroline Street posts (Bethpage) was my favorite, and still unsolved despite great amounts of info that was uncovered. Between you guys that like to research extensively and myself and Sammy who go the site and explore we make a pretty good team.

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