Vanderbilt Cup Races

I think Levitt built homes in Carle Place prior to building Levittown. Cape Cod style homes. I grew up on Crabtree Lane in this first section and my parents were one of the first 300 families to move in. I’m curious to know when the LIMP bridge at Newbridge Road was demolished. I cant see it in the photo. I’m guessing 1946.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Mark, was its Levitt’s earlier contract to build homes in Norfolk , Virginia?

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Yes, but who can name the town that Levitt used as his prototype?

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Glad to hear that Art is doing a future Kleiner’s Korner about land transfers between Nassau county and other entities in Levittown about the Motor Parkway.  I always wondered why Levitt didn’t claim the ROW between Pintail lane and Jerusalem ave.  And why the construction of Levitt homes along the north side of Orchid rd were curiously delayed?  Although nearby, I would think that the Long Island Aviation Club holdout property was a completely separate issue for Levitt and should have nothing to do with this.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Two articles from ““Motoring and Boating” from Nov. and Dec., 1904 reporting on the sales of Willie K’s 90 hp Mercedes to B.M. Shanley , Jr., S.B. Stevens, and Clarence Gray Dinsmore.

From The Unsolved Mystery of William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s 90-HP Mercedes Automobile(s) (1904-1908)

Part of the Motor Parkway shown in the photo as it looks today.  Between Heron and Skimmer Lanes in Levittown.  A future Kleiner’s Korner will detail numerous land transfers between Nassau County and other entities in Levittown and other locations where the Motor Parkway once stood.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Elliot. The marker is still there.

From Greg O's Garage and Kleiner's Korner look at Jericho Turnpike Then & Now

Is the marker commemorating the grandstand still up? If not, when and why did it come down? Thanks for a very interesting article.

From Greg O's Garage and Kleiner's Korner look at Jericho Turnpike Then & Now

I, too, wonder what’s happened to the signage created by myself and the Parks Department librarian.  Haven’t had a chance to go out there and see.  Rebuilding looks beautiful.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

Frank, The gentleman is Wiliam Levitt. The photo is from the early-mid 1940’s of soon to be Levittown, Long Island. The sub-division map behind Levitt is of Levittown, Pa. He is smoking… ( I   can   barely   make   it   out ),  an unfiltered….......... wait , I got it !. a Camel cig.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

My old stomping ground: Levittown/Island Trees looking east, north of Hempstead Turnpike over the LI Motot Parkway.

Early-mid 1940s (before Levitt homes were built)
Motor Parkway Bridges: over Wantagh Parkway, Newbridge Road, Jerusalem Ave., Bloomingdate Road, Wantagh Ave., Mass.-Hicksville Road
VCR - course of the 1908, ‘09, and ‘10 VCR races.  Grandstand Location, access roads for parking. 
William Levitt - built Levittown around the Motor Parkway. 

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

I rode this section last week, great job and a BIG Thank You to all involved.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

Howard, The new historical marker-“What became of the Long Island Motor Parkway” is not technically correct. There were five government agencies, not three, that took over the Motor Parkway ROW in 1938 with Robert Moses authorized to represent the recipients. Suffolk County, Nassau County with the exception of that portion of the ROW between Marcus Ave, and New Hyde Park Rd. which was dedicated to the Long Island State Park Commission and that portion of the ROW through Bethpage Park which was acquired by the Bethpage Park Authority. The NYC section was taken over directly by the New York City Parks Dept….. Guess who was the Parks Commissioner at the time. (Moses, on more than one occasion, made it clear that the Motor Parkway ROW would never be used for automobile traffic again.) Also, again a minor error, portions of the ROW were not “turned” over to utilities companies bu purchased at market rates.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

While the new paving looks great, it is a little disappointing to not be able to see any remaining original pavement.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

We are looking east with Island Trees (soon to be Levittown) in the foreground and Bethpage in the distance. The date is mid to late May, 1947 since no significant Levitt home construction is visible. LIMP links are the bridges at Wantagh State Parkway, Newbridge Road, Jerusalem Avenue, farmway bridge near Bloomingdale Road, and 3 others in the distance at Wantagh Avenue, Massapequa-Hicksville Road, and Jerusalem Road. Vanderbilt Cup links are: the section of the LIMP on the left was part of the course for the 1908, 1909, and 1910 races. Hempstead Turnpike on the right was part of the 1904 V.C.R. course. The businessman is William Levitt, who along with his brother Alfred, continued their father Abraham’s business in building the Levittown that we know today which began in the central area of today’s photo.

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

Thanks for the memories as Bob Hope would have sang

From Greg O's Garage and Kleiner's Korner look at Jericho Turnpike Then & Now

-The location and orientation of the photographer

Looking directly East at the Island Trees section of the Hempstead Plains.

-The date of the Mystery Foto. Provide a rationale.

A very freshly built Wantagh Pkwy. May 27th, 1947.

-Links to the Long Island Motor Parkway (the largest # of links wins the kudos)

LIMP vertical on the left. Seen in the photo; Long Island Aviation Country Club, Newbridge Rd, Jerusalem, Bloomingdale Rd bridges, dead man’s curve also all seen.

-Links to the Vanderbilt Cup Races

1908, 09, 10 races all held on this portion of the LIMP.

-The businessman and his link to the aerial

William Levitt seen and the aerial is the future site of Levittown.
The same area was unrecognizable just 2 1/2 years later on Dec 24th, 1949

From Update: Mystery Foto #49 Solved: A 1947 Aerial of Levittown and William J. Levitt

The original LIMP that’s in the wooded area between Francis Lewis and Rte 295, being that it’s not part of the exercise path and became forgotten by most ( except us ), I don’t feel that section is in any danger. They should just work along the path that’s between the wooded area and the ball fields.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens

And a postcard showing the mansion in better condition.

From Greg O's Garage and Kleiner's Korner look at Jericho Turnpike Then & Now

Al,  all the new historic markers are correct. The construction sign was likely based on the contract bid. Not sure if they replaced the old historic markers that are located in Phase II of the project

I informed NYC parks that the road should always be Long Island Motor Parkway.  They have added the correct signage to the bridges.

From Walking the "reconstructed" Motor Parkway from Springfield Boulevard to Winchester Boulevard in Queens