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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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From the Carman Ave. Bridge at East Meadows looking EAST of The Long Island Motor Parkway, Sept. 1908. Continuation of the Hempstead Plaines.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
The photographer is standing on top of the Jerusalem ave bridge in the Hempstead plains (future Levittown) facing west. The shadow cast behind the car is probably a September afternoon camera shot and gives away the direction. I think out in the distance on the horizon toward the left is the Newbridge Hotel. Joe Tracy is here driving the #9 Locomobile “Old 16” testing out the Motor parkway in September of 1908. Harper’s weekly September 26, 1908 notes he hit 95 mph on the new road.
From Mystery Friday Foto #32 Solved: Joe Tracy testing the Motor Parkway as seen on the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge looking west in September 1908
I just checked that RR bridge on streetview, still narrow lol. North of the LIRR is Denton Ave, New Hyde Park. Then south is Tanner Ponds Rd, Garden City. No doubt that bridge was built a long time ago.
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
Yes, R Troy, I remember the first time approaching that RR bridge in Garden City. Caught off guard to say the least. Not a terribly busy road there, thankfully.
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
Another fun find. Most of that proposed parkway strip is now a ROW for PSEG ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION. Just like LILCO purchased former LIMP strips in Nassau County for ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION, these strips were purchased as well. Below are marked maps I screenshot from the Suffolk County GIS. I used your maps as a guide too, Frank : )
From Kleiner's Korner: Riverhead, Long Island - Proposed Site for the 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race
R Troy - I was amazed to discover the Tanners Pond Rd bridge will remain one lane. More bottle-necking in the near future. ⌛
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
Looking at the underpass, I realized that it was likely much wider than the new LIRR bridge in Garden City, which GC apparently required be only one lane on an otherwise 2 lane road or street. By today’s standards, LIMP was rather narrow, but not that narrow! 😊
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
Art, 17 miles to go!
From Kleiner's Korner: Riverhead, Long Island - Proposed Site for the 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Art, are there any more maps connecting to Ronkonkoma?
From Kleiner's Korner: Riverhead, Long Island - Proposed Site for the 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Nice find Art! Based on the two Riverhead maps above, an overlay of the proposed Motor Parkway in Riverhead
From Kleiner's Korner: Riverhead, Long Island - Proposed Site for the 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race
I really appreciate all the comments , plus the added information ! My pleasure to post what I can here and have the items /material availability to do so. More signs on their way but I have been working many hours to complete a story for Crankshaft magazine and finally got it researched, written and typed including 18 photo captions then scanned it all. It is on the history of the Willoughby Coach Builders of Utica, NY. I will get to the sign photos for here this week
From A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part I
Most likely just coincidental, but the proposed Ronkonkoma loop track has a very similar layout to the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup course.
From Kleiner's Korner: Riverhead, Long Island - Proposed Site for the 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Missed that mystery train again.
Motor Parkway East under the Plainview Road Highway bridge (1908-1940s) in Bethpage State Park. Today the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway’s north lanes partially occupies this space (Map below). The Motor Parkway in this photo follows today’s Picnic Polo Rd in Bethpage Park.
Likely Motor Pkwy manager Alfred J. Kienzle hired photographer to document parkway construction progress before the Parkway’s opening in Sept 1908.
Yes Brian, cedar posts at this time!
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
The OB-Stamford ferry service that was discontinued in 1940 about same time as the opening of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in April 29, 1939.
From A Walt Gosden Special: Signs of the Times Part I
Plainview Rd Bridge in Central park ( now Bethpage) looking east
The road on top of the bridge was Plainview Rd and under is the Motor parkway
Date is some time after 1908, when the bridge was completed.
Photographer? Ed Spooner?
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
This is Plainview Rd HWY Bridge overpassing the LIMP in Bethpage NY. Photographer is facing east. I’ll guess that he was jobbed by the LIMP Corporation to capture images of the LIMP ROW. Also guess this was taken around 1918. Bit blurry, but the automobile appears no older than 1920. If those are Cedar Boundary Posts, then pre 1920. These were replaced with Concrete Posts after 1921. Below is 3 screenshots of this location, courtesy of this website & Google Streetview.
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
I think that’s the Plainview Road bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) and the photographer is looking east. Plainview Road is on top with the LIMP going through the bridge. Maybe the LIMP corporation or Willie K. himself employed the photographer to take promotional photos. Since there is no “Please Be Careful” warning on the abutment, the date must be before 1930. Along with style of automobile in the photo, I’ll guess the date around 1920.
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
Center of Photo. Motor Parkway, Road Overhead Bridge is Plainview Road
Central Park L I NY. Photo is Looking. EAST.
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
LIMP is up top. Just east of the Bethpage lodge. Looking south on Round Swamp Rd.
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
This is the Plainview rd bridge in Central Park (Bethpage). The photographer is looking east. The motor parkway went under the bridge so its classified as a “highway” bridge. This bridge was completed in time for the 1908 VCR in October. However, the facade on side of the road deck on the overpass already looks a bit weathered. The cement bridge abutments have already started to discolor and the grass on the sides of the road have reestablished itself. So hard to guess the year on this picture. Maybe 1918ish.
From Mystery Friday Foto #31 Solved: The Plainview Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) in 1910
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