Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard, The ladies are standing in front of the southeast embankment wall of the Rocky Hill Rd./Springfield Blvd. entrance to the Parkway. Al

From Long Island Motor Parkway Signs Updated 2/13/2016

Ill have to keep an eye out for the series…

But I have a question… If you had an exact replica of the Alco would you be more tempted to push its outer limits in terms of speed?

J.

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

Hi Bob:

Thanks for the post and information! 

The filmmakers definitely took some liberties with the cars and course. In one take, we almost rewrote history when my “Winton” car beat “Henry Ford’s” car to the finish line.  But, don’t worry, the Ford will be the victor in the final cut!

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

The footage of the Alco and the White is great and very evocative of the Vanderbilt Cup races. Unfortunately it is not evocative of the 1901 race between Henry Ford and Alexander Winton. That race took place on a one-mile oval horse track and the cars were much more primitive than the Alco and the White. Click on the “historic 1901 sweepstakes race” link that Howard has conveniently provided to see what the real race looked like. Ford’s winning car is on exhibit at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI, and the Museum has a running replica.

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

Neat video.  I do wonder when History Channel will actually acknowledge the existence of this miniseries.  Nothing on their web site about it.  You’d think they would be excited!

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

Thanks for the info. Howard and the pics of the posts - I need to check them out!

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#19 I.U. Willets Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Searingtown

I loved it!!!  I can’t wait for the History Channel’s series to start.
Terrific video.
Rog

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

Looks like the Beast wins again, as it did in Indy last year.

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

Howard, isn’t it true that the 73rd Avenue entrance was not really an official entrance? Although we know what the Nassau Boulevard sign looked like, there could have been more than one sign. But in the photo, it appears that there is a high concrete wall behind the sign, and this would not have been the case at Nassau Blvd. This would indicate that it is more likely Springfield Boulevard. Having said all that, Sam Berliner used to say that he thought there might have been an entrance near the North Hempstead Turnpike bridge—can you debunk that theory? If there was an entrance there, the sign could be near that bridge, which did have a high concrete wall.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Signs Updated 2/13/2016

hot stuff! congratulations to you and Ed and the the beast.

From The Black Beast and the Red White Featured in the New History Channel Mini-Series

Howard,  I could not locate either a Harriet Teitsen nor Seitsen, however there was a Harriet Feitsen.  The 1925 NYS Census lists her as living on Jasmine St., Flushing, and the 1930 U.S. Census lists Harriet R. Feitsen as living on Hyacinth St, Flushing with her Dad, Mom, and sister - she was 14 years old at the time.  Maybe she is in one of the photos.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Signs Updated 2/13/2016

Howard,  The missing words on the sign probably are “Car and”.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Signs Updated 2/13/2016

I presently live near the start of the Motor Parkway here in Fresh Meadows. Back in the 50’s I rode my bike up from Cambria Heights to ride on the Motor Parkway.  I am frequently. in the area by Lakeville Road and L.I. J hospital. I have seen the church, but never before recall noticing the tool house behind it.  The complex where Sperry area was is now mostly a medical complex.
Thanks for sharing.
Gene

From Then & Now: William K. Vanderbilt Jr's Deepdale Gate Lodge in Lake Success

Bruce, I think that is an excellent guess.

Clearly, it was near a Motor Parkway entrance like Springfield Boulevard. The copy “to all points on Long Island” also implies the sign was in Queens.

There were only three entrances to the Motor Parkway in Queens; Nassau Boulevard, 73rd Avenue and Springfield Boulevard.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Signs Updated 2/13/2016

Rocky Road / Springfield Blvd entrance sign?

From Long Island Motor Parkway Signs Updated 2/13/2016

Hi Howard. Thanks as always for running a great site about the LIMP. I always had a notion that there must have been an overpass in this location. The ground level is high at the end of this LIPA ROW, compared to the entrance road from IU Willets into the school south of this location. So the LIMP continued on this overpass, and so not to interfere with the path underneath to IU Willets Rd?

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#19 I.U. Willets Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Searingtown

Brad:
Super find! Thanks!!

From Images from the George McKesson Brown Scrapbook: The 1906 #7 Mercedes

Great post! I was aware of its current location but did not know its original spot or history of the move.  I did my own post on the gate lodge -

http://halfpuddinghalfsauce.blogspot.com/2012/07/south-gate-lodge-at-deepdale.html# 

I linked your post to it. At the bottom you’ll find a photo of the main gate - do you have any insight to its original location? Thanks

From Images from the George McKesson Brown Scrapbook: The 1906 #7 Mercedes

what they said! keep it coming!

From Then & Now: William K. Vanderbilt Jr's Deepdale Gate Lodge in Lake Success

Amazing stuff.  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your work.  Along IU Willets road the old cement posts used to stick out of the ground quite a bit higher.  They were buried, and some completely buried when they repaved the area about 20 years ago.  They added a couple of feet of dirt there.  My neighbor was just telling me how he used to walk the parkway up there all the time.  That would be in the late 1950’s, and the only thing in that whole area was the brick house on IU Willets Road east of this bridge, and just east of the cement post that you found up on the hill.
There used to be a whole row of posts in the backyard of 39 Piiper Drive, but they are all gone.  They ran right accross the lawn. 
Thank you again. 
-joe

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#19 I.U. Willets Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Searingtown