Vanderbilt Cup Races

I have just finished speaking with renowned author and researcher, Raymond E. Spinzia of New Hope, PA. Ray and Judith Spinzia have published several authoritative book on Long Island’s Prominent Families and Their Estates and Country Homes. He tells me that the Vanderbilts had nothing to do with the Bagatelle estate and mansion in Half Hollow Hills. His researches indicate that the mansion was built by a Mrs. D Brownsard ca 1910! The question you have posted on your blog has correctly brought into question the mistaken received wisdom of many, many decades that the Vanderbilts built the mansion and developed the estate. Obviously, they did not. I would still like to know more about Mrs. Brownsard and when Dr. Herman Benjamin Baruch bought the estate. Thanks again for your wonderful blog and for helping us to better understand this historical question.
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From Howard Kroplick.

Excellent detective work. Note Verne Dyson’s book is available online.

From Was the "Bagatelle" Mansion in Half Hollow Hills Built by a Vanderbilt?

Howard,
Thanks for those excellent photos of the race.  Wow!  What a treat!
Roger

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Spectacular Photos of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

By the way, Dr. Herman Baruch, used 40 of his 900 acres to breed show or “sporting dogs” at his Marobar Kennels in what in the 1930s was described as Wyandanch. As the New York Times reported on March 5, 1933, S6: “Dr. Baruch long has been an admirer of the sporting dog and on the establishment are found Irish setters, English Springer spaniels and English setters. Practically all of the dogs are the dual type, that is, they can either take part in a field or a bench show and they are frequently used for hunting.” The March 5, 1933 Times story also ran the photos of three of Dr. Baruch’s sporting dogs. They included: Ch. Inveresk
Cashier, E nglish Springer Spaniel; Marobar Moonshine, Irish Setter and Colin of Fermanar, Irish Setter.
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From Howard Kroplick

Neat stuff!

From Was the "Bagatelle" Mansion in Half Hollow Hills Built by a Vanderbilt?

Verne Dyson in his 1957, Deer Park Wyandanch Story said that Dr. Herman Baruch purchased “The Castle,” or “Bagetelle” from William K. Vanderbilt. Those of us who grew up in Wyandanch always assumed that the Vanderbilt mansion in Half Hollow Hills was built about the time Vanderbilt built his Long Island Motor Parkway there. We never knew the reason why he created this least understood Long Island Vanderbilt estate. My uncle, James Andrew McGinty, worked at the Bagetelle Nursery in the 1930’s. It should not be too difficult to find the deed of sale from Vanderbilt to Dr. Baruch in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office in Riverhead. There may well be data on the origins of the mansion in the Huntington Town Building Department records. The Koster Blue Spruce was developed there by Peter Koster, who lived in Wyandanch.

From Was the "Bagatelle" Mansion in Half Hollow Hills Built by a Vanderbilt?

I am thinking Dario Resta ?

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

Howard- Thanks again. I’ll be going that way this weekend and see how much more they did and let you know or just take more photos and send them

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

This might be my lucky day, is he Joe Stafford, who works, or did work for Panel Craft LIC? If it is this was an easy one

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

From Ken P.:

Howard - Unbelievably beautiful restoration. Wow! I can see why you are proud.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Thanks for that most interesting piece of historical research.  As a Dix Hills resident for the last 45 years I really enjoyed seeing what was behind the little bits of local history that I had known about.

Ken

From Was the "Bagatelle" Mansion in Half Hollow Hills Built by a Vanderbilt?

Are you sure that is a 1930s Hagstrom map?  - I am guessing that map is from the 1940’s/1950’s.  Republic Aviation was named in 1939.
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From Howard Kroplick
Good catch..Likely 1941.

From Mystery Foto #69 Solved: The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge over Colonial Springs Road

As a fellow old car collector/restorer (not on this scale, of course), I too am very much looking forward to seeing the Chrysler out at Pebble Beach this summer.  Hoping that you and Roz will have the time to visit with ol’ Cuzzin Steve when you’re out here in Monterey County in the summertime. . . . . .

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Looking forward to seeing the Chrysler at Pebble Beach on Thursday and Sunday.  Please call me if I can assist in any way while you are there.
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From Howard Kroplick:

Bruce, thanks!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Was there an “annex” to Museum?  I recall visiting my father in the summer of 1976 when he lived near Riverhead, LI.  I had time to kill one day and ended up visiting Mr. Clark’s museum, but I don’t recall the large quonset buildings, but a smaller collection of sheds located out in a quiet wooded area.  Is my memory faulty? 

From Inside the Long Island Automotive Museum

This could be the Colonial Springs LIMP PKWY Bridge over Colonial Springs Rd in Wheatley Heights, Suffolk. Another possibility is the elusive sister bridge nearby, the Little East Neck Rd Pkwy Bridge. I’m going with Colonial Springs on this one. Any pictures out there of the Little East Neck Rd Bridge?

From Mystery Foto #69 Solved: The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge over Colonial Springs Road

VERY COOL!!!!!! THANKS FOR KEEPING AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY ALIVE!!!!!
BEST REGARDS, Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield Great Great Nephew

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

From Robert R:
Chrysler looks beautiful, Howard.

The sad reality is that not a single person who gets to see the car will ever be aware of all of the amazingly skilled labor that went into the restoration.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Re Sam’s comment, if the sphere shaped vanity at ear level is opened you find a beveled mirror inside - check previous posts to see the mirror and the date it was installed stenciled on the back. No view to the outside via these . Re Ken’s comment - yes the work is progressing very fast for all that had to be corrected or in fact recreated due to the poor condition of the structural wood and metal that came in contact with it. The skill level of the fellows that work in the shop, as well as their genuine enthusiasm for such an unusual car is what is making this work so well. From May 1st on they go into a work schedule that is minimum 6 days a week sometimes 7. No compromise on level of quality.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

The progress is great, might seem slow and tedious at times, but that is expected
when aiming for perfection. Great job, am anxiously waiting for completion.
Can’t make Pebble Beach, hope to see it sometime in the North East.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Howard, you have done it again, this time, restoring the once beautiful Chryslers Chrysler to its beauty today!  Please stay well, sorry you are a Mets fan, but we all can’t be right….just kidding, they are playing better than the Yankees…........

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

this is the bridge over colonial springs road in deer park/Wyandanch looking east.

From Mystery Foto #69 Solved: The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge over Colonial Springs Road