Vanderbilt Cup Races

I believe that bridge crossed Division St [ Ave] . I found a map that showed Division crossing the Central Branch of the LIRR where there was a 1500 ft brick platform to handle passengers going to the races. I was unable to determine when Division was severed but the street continues a little further north and I suspect that Blacksmith Rd is on the footprint of the Division Ave right of way .

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Well, it sure looks like a bridge but the question is a bridge over what? I’m going to take a wild guess and say that it could be going over a southern entrance road to Aviation Country Club that was developed from the old road to the grandstand from Jerusalem Avenue. Since Willie K. would not allow direct access to the airfield from the Motor Parkway, maybe this was a later compromise.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

What a great photo with a couple of boys playing around with scrap wood left over from Levitt homes recently built. At first, this photo seemed obvious to me. But now, I’m overthinking;maybe. It’s behind 173 Orchid Rd, so they can be playing north or south of the LIMP. I see the overpass at the photos left. The closest overpass that was near this location was the Jerusalem Ave HWY bridge (LIMP traveling under). According to an 1949 aerial, this bridge was as “appeared” to be demolished. But, perhaps it wasn’t. I don’t think any LIMP bridges were built between Newbridge Rd and Jerusalem Ave. So, my guess is this photo is looking south, with Jerusalem Ave still bridging over the LIMP to the left. But with my guess, their playing a bit of a distance from rear of Orchid Rd.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Ok, I am a bit baffled.  Let’s think this through.  First, it appears to be a bridge.  But if the photo was truly taken in the backyard of 173 Orchid then there should be not be a bridge there.  Or? 
On 4/1/2013 you originally posted the 5/27/1947 aerial photo, and your comments list all the bridges, but not one to the west of the grandstands.  Yet the super close up in the photo seems to show something.
On 5/18/2013 the post, with the picture “Proposed Fencing @ Grandstand, Aug ‘09 shows a proposed HW Bridge to be build just west of the grandstand.  Which would be pretty much exactly where this photo was taken.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/in_search_of_the_grandstand_press_box_officials_stand_and_pits_in_levittown

My final answer, this is a HW Bridge over the old Division Road.
I do look forward to this mystery photo being solved.  Thank you again.
-joe o.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

I think this might be where the grand stand used to be for the Long Island Motor Parkway at one time. I know it was near Orchid Road Area, in Levittown, I remember reading about it in one of the blogs as well as in the news back when they were voting regarding whether to allow housing to be built on a piece of land near Orchid Rd in Levittown as well or leave it as open space.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

The Division Avenue Bridge, just west of the Grandstand seems logical. The Pile of debris looks like cutoff wooden ends from nearby house construction. Interesting time for a photograph depicting 2 different eras, with all the new houses coming up and the bridge becoming overgrown and forgotten.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Howard- I was searching Google Earth for the Nibbe cemetery and I’m not sure if I found it or not. It looks like it is on the access road for Sportime Tennis (Norcross Ave) adjacent to the water recharge basin?

From Howard Kroplick

Greg, that is correct. It is also the burying ground for the Stymus family.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #46: Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Bethpage

Howard- What amazing pictures and the things you always seem to find, if it’s there. you’ll find it. I never noticed Nibbe Ln in all these years, very interesting, I’ll have to go and check out that area know

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #46: Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Bethpage

Howard - You didn’t let me know if you want me to send you the pictures .

From Howard Kroplick

Sure!

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

Thanks Art, I noticed what you’re saying

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

From Hugh:
Hi Howard, The car in the photo could be a 1926 or 1927 Chrysler 70 sedan [no real change]

Likely taken in 1927 with Park Way permit plate good into 1928.  In 1928 Chrysler changed the fenders to the clam shell style like 1930 Model A Ford used. If it is in 1927 might be Charles Lindbergh related.

Same birth date?

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

Thanks,  Ted.  Took a bit of searching to find that pic.  The car is actually the same as in the picture following mine.  Just facing the other way as the doorway and large bay window are the same just reversed!  Howard, where was the second picture found?

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

Hi LIMP’ers:

  Most of you missed the ID of the car.  The New York License plate on the car-
see number 14-39 is an official plate.  The auto is probably some person high
up on the chain such as a Commissioner of something.  Side note:  Growing up
in Amityville NY,  the police department had 3 patrol cars and their plate numbers were:  44-16, 44-17 and 44-18…..Ron Ridolph

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

Fantastic historical aviation story here guys. Keep ‘em comin’!

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

A lot of good answers, especially Art Kleiner, with the picture

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

Happy Birthday Howard! Another good mystery here. Totally guessing it’s Charles Lindbergh in a 1928 Bentley in L.I.C. Queens. Looks like the frame work for the Queensboro Bridge (Ed Koch Bridge) in the back. They’re heading to Queens Blvd (Hoffman Blvd) towards the Motor Pkwy western terminus to end the ride at the Aviation Club in the Hempstead plains. It’s 1930. Stumped again. :p

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

A very tough one coming up with anything on this photo!

Going on guesses and some of the obvious, I’ll go with it being a 1928 Chrysler. The connection to the LIMP would be the 1928 parkway plate on the grill. Lindbergh was the aviatoin ‘rockstar’ of that year, so might that be him in the car, (he’d need the plate for the trip to the Long Island Aviation Club no doubt!)

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

Hate to rain on your parade but today’s Jericho Turnpike is in TWO towns there.  The westbound lanes are in Old Westbury and the eastbound in Westbury proper.  Not remembering how JT was widened, I have no clue where the actual RoW ran but old surveys should tie that in rather tightly, as should photos of the only surviving old house just south of the RoW and east of the finish line, which you showed on a very early blog.  Sam, III
____________________________________

From Howard Kroplick I

Hi Sam, the sections of the villages of Old Westbury and Westbury north of Old Country Road and approximately west of Cantiague Road are all in the wonderful Town of North Hempstead including the grandstand location on Jericho Turnpike.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/North+Hempstead,+NY/@40.7689166,-73.5881027,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c286a5e70e140d:0xabeaa59ad34ab6e4

From Video:"The Location of the Start/Finish Lines of the 1904 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races"

From the wingèd radiator cap and the unique downward-slanted upper bar of the bumper, it’s a 1927-28 Chrysler Imperial and it’s probably got Lindy in it.  Both the NYS license plate and the LIMP toll plate read 1928.  Happy Birthday, Howard!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler

If you think this news is exciting for Howard, just consider how deeply satisfying it is for me (after all these years)!  The proposal to Nassau County for conservation and restoration of the LIMP RoW was filed 15 Apr 2005!  I don’t even recall when we first started cutting brush - 1990?

Sam, III

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