Vanderbilt Cup Races

That sure looks like the great Louis Chevrolet in the mechanic seat at Rosevelt Field.

From Mystery Friday Foto #30 Solved: Ralph Mulford, Louis Chevrolet and Ralph DePalma gather around a 1914 Stutz Bearcat before the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Replying to your question the developer was Edmund Robbins of Bayshore New York who owned the entire idle hour and Vanderbilt estate my question is how did Adelphi University buy it from Robbins that’s the mystery in 1962 January 1963 the acquired it that’s the mystery that’s going to be solved

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: A Plan for the Adelphi Academy Bordering on the Motor Parkway

Gary, I have always been happy to share any information, photos, artifacts, etc with all who are as crazy about history and long island as I am. I recall the time we spent working for the Nassau County Museum system 40 + years ago with great pride and good memories. ( for those of you who aren’t aware , Gary was one of the key people who guided the efforts of the museum system for years and is a truly devoted historian and genuine enthusiast of long island history.)

From A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part I

A great shot I uncovered and wanted to share of Caroll Shelby having a moment with John Holman. Watch your back John! Shelby’s coming!

From Greg O's garage: Driver Profile; Marvin Panch

Walt, As usual, GREAT stuff!  I cannot wait to see part 2.  Nothing tops a porcelain enamel sign, especially one with a Long Island connection.  Thanks!

From A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part I

What to call the horseless carriage:  As Greg notes above there was disparity between the British and the Americans.  In this April, 1907 photo seen in the British publication, “The Sphere”, the American term “automobile” was stilled viewed in low regard across the pond.  The caption begins: “The popularity of the automobile, as Americans curiously insist in calling a motor car . . .”.  The caption also notes that in NYC (the picture is of Central Park) automobiles have not displaced the popularity of horses.

From Greg O's Garage: The first Automobile Publication; The Horseless Age Part 2

Great photos and info, early 1930’s for sure, the blimp is impressive!

From Mystery Friday Foto #28 Solved: An early view of the Long Island Aviation Club and a special parking area within the Motor Parkway right-of-way.

Howard, My son suggested that we check to see any of the Parkway’s officers and those on the Board of Directors had a connection to Hicksville. Didn’t find any. Decided to see if any of the stockholders did. Found one. A Mrs. Johanna Taliafero. She was one of only two women who purchased Motor Parkway stock. (Willie K’s mother, Alva Belmont, was the other.) Mrs. Taliaferro owned quite a bit of property in the Hickville area, and it appears that she lived on Jerusalem Ave. near Marie Street. I would like to think that it is her in the auto leaving her estate. I think that she knew Huttner well as one of her propertied abut his store.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

Dunno but two possibilities:
Motor Parkway at Newbridge Rd near the Newbridge Rd hotel looking West.
Motor Parkway at Jerusalem Av near Polaris Ballfield, looking South.
It appears the auto just exited the Motor Parkway from a fork offering an east-west option. Note the walkway from the house leading to a street or driveway.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

Looking forward to seeing you at the event Howard. I missed the Greenwich Concours this year so the Westhampton show will hopefully be a worthy substitute.

From Update: The Tucker "Dream Team" will be joining Tucker 1044 at the Westhampton Beach Concours next Saturday

I originally thought the auto was a National. I’m now pretty certain it’s a Mitchell Automobile. Don’t know the year, but likely no later than 1910.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

I can try to answer the first question. Those entrance would have been E of Bloomingdale Rd but W of Deadmans Curve.  I would place it around between today’s Rte 107 and Stewart Ave

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

Assuming the Hicksville reference is correct, the photo (or sketch) was probably along the LIMP somewhere between Wantagh Avenue and Newbridge Road. The car looks like a 1911 Mitchell Touring. Henry F. Huettner was born in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany in 1854 and died in 1930. He is buried in Plain Lawn Cemetery in Hicksville. At one time, he owned a building on the corner of Broadway and Marie Street in Hicksville. It’s getting late and that’s all I’ve got.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

I had never heard about the Norseman before today. I can see details in this car used in Mopar vehicles- The headlight eyebrow used for the 59 Imperial and the wheel openings and the dropped edge of the trunklid in the 60 Plymouth Fury

From The 1956 Chrysler Norseman Concept Car Lost at Sea Updated 1/13/16

Hard to make out the wording on the grille, but I think it’s - National - an early automobile manufacturer. Think this image may have been taken near the north turn from the LIMP then onto Hicksville Rd. Turn was created for 1909 & 10 VCR. So maybe that describes the proposed entrance to motor pkwy?

Henry Frederick Huettner, born in Germany. 1900 census describes him & family owning a - Dry Goods/Grocery - at the southeast corner of Broadway & Old Country Rd. There’s a 7/11 there now, previously a Taco Bell. Below is the 1900 census, a 1914 map showing his property, a - Printing Office Hicksville Press - next door, and his place of rest. Courtesy of Wikipedia, Ancestry, Historic Map Works. : )

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

It is so rewarding to me to see what 1044 has become to the world, thank you so much Howard!

Howard Kroplick: What a wonderful photo of Tucker 1044 and the Tucker Prototype Tin Goose at the AACA Museum. Thanks, John!

From Update: The Tucker "Dream Team" will be joining Tucker 1044 at the Westhampton Beach Concours next Saturday

An additional article that appeared in “Broadway” Magazine of November, 1903 discussing a proposed above ground speedway with no cross-roads by millionaires (including Vanderbilt) to avoid the “stringent restrictions” being imposed on “lovers of the sport”.

From Kleiner's Korner: Long Island's Other Proposed Motor Speedways

Additional photos of the Huettner dept. store.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

Nice postcard. 

I would assume the proposed entrance would be near the southern part of Hicksville near Orchard Road where the Motor Parkway ran.

Auto might be a 1909 Mitchell “30”.

Henry F. Huettner owned a prominent dept. store in Hicksville on the corner of E. Marie and Broadway from 1876 through the 1930s.  It sold a wide range of goods including furniture, rugs, food, millinery items and pianos.  Huettner was also involved in civic projects including an early Rolsyn power station and the Hicksville to Mineola Trolley (1909).  As written in his great grandson Charles’
autobiography Henry was born in Germany (Region Hannover, Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) and supplied furnishings to the north shore estate owners, including Vanderbilt. 

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"

Where could there even be an entrance to the Motor Parkway from Hicksville?  The race routes of the Vanderbilt Cups were only temporary routes that went into Hicksville territory and weren’t actually parts of the Motor Parkway.  Otherwise, the closest most logical points of entry to the parkway nearest to Hicksville would either be Jerusalem ave or Newbridge rd.  Going by the picture I’m going to say that the vehicle is in front of the Newbridge hotel which is very close to the parkway.  There was also the “borrow pit” area near here on the south side of the parkway west of Newbridge rd opposite the hotel.  This would seemingly be a big enough area to construct an additional toll lodge for access to the parkway.  The car in question in the photo is a 1909 “Mitchell”.  H.F. Huettner, (first name Henry) owned a furniture store on the northeast corner of Marie st and Broadway.  It later became Whelan drugs.  I think he was born in Germany.

From Mystery Friday Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Mitchell at the "Proposed Entrance to the Motor Parkway at Hicksville"