Vanderbilt Cup Races

Al, Willie K’s mother Alva Vanderbilt Belmont married William K. Vanderbilt in 1875 and divorced him in 1895. One year later, Alva married Oliver (O.H.P.) Belmont, one of William K. Vanderbilt’s friends.

After Belmont died in 1908, Alva socially went by the name Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont. In various newspapers, she was also called Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. 

https://www.nps.gov/vama/blogs/womens-history-month-spotlight-alva-vanderbilt-belmont.htm

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Thanks Walt! So interesting.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Al, that was what I was wondering about too. The Locomobile was by no means an inexpensive car , the body alone on the car shown here was in the $3,000 to S4,500 range. Just the body. I am sure that the Vanderbilt’s mentioned all ordered their cars from Hare’s Motors in NY City. That showroom album mentioned shows wonderful body styles, huge photos .  Advantage was that all the major body designers and builders were not far away - the furthest were in Amesbury, Mass. but so many were here locally.
Walt

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Great foto, Al!  I think the photographer was standing where the LIMP & Half Hollow Rd intersect, facing west. The 2 ladies behind the maintenance sign are smiling east. The parkway wasn’t maintained west of this sign & onwards.

The cool postcard shows the parkway west of the Jones property. The 1917 map below shows Jones properties largely just east of Half Hollow Rd, & a property just west of Half Hollow Rd. I’m also showing reference to a couple of photos taken by the mystery duo during the 1960’s. Think the postcard & the 1960’s show the the same curve in the parkway from opposite directions. Then the gated private rd, which I think is where the maintenance sign was.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Walt, In 1918 “Birdie” was Mrs. Vanderbilt Jr.  Could the Locomobile belong to Willie’s mother ?

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Howard,
I really enjoyed all the Motor Parkway stuff mentioned in the above articles.  I finally learned who Christopher Morley was.  Thanks
Roger

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

Walt, 
Thank you for your article on the Locomobile.  I was fascinated by the 6 fender design.  I was unaware of that style.
Happy New Year!
Roger Price

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Very informative. Thank you Walt.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

I think we’re looking south (or slightly southwest) on the LIMP at the intersection with today’s Half Hollow Road in the Dix Hills / Half Hollow Hills area. After the LIMP closed in 1938, it is from this point heading east to Lake Ronkonkoma that Suffolk County continued to maintain and improve the road that would eventually become CR67. Behind the sign toward the Nassau-Suffolk border, much of the LIMP right-of-way would be sold by the county, subdivided, and developed or left to nature for us fanatics to explore.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

This seems to be a real trip by fictional characters. THE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR DISCOVERS AMERICA by C.N. & A.M. Williamson, 1916.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

Great information, Thank You.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Never mind the poor chauffeur who was exposed to the elements! How better to accentuate the differences in the classes.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Guessing here - Somewhere in Commack - possibly east of Commack Road looking east.  Or Harned Road extension that connected the Motor Parkway and Jericho Turnpike.  In 1941 the latter was given to the Town of Smithtown the sign indicating Suffolk County was not responsible.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Thanks to Al Velocci’s comment above, I’ve updated this post to include information about the first mention of the Motor Parkway in a work of literature.  Thanks Al!

And Happy New Year’s to all!

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

This is just a stupid wild guess. Since the present-day Vanderbilt Parkway/Motor Parkway in Suffolk County is a county route (CR 67), could this be the western end of the present road? If it is, the photographer would be looking south. Behind the sign (and the ladies) would be a section of the (closed) Motor Parkway sold to private developers, while behind the photographer would be a section that was sold to (or taken by) the county and became the present highway.

I’m curious who the ladies are.

Happy New Year to all!

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Art, I believe the earliest reference to the Motor Parkway in a fiction work was in 1914 in The Auction Block by Rex Beach.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

I imagining some of these writings being factual, especially the enemy troops marching into NYC via the LIMP, maybe some military vehicles too. Nearest bridge to Smithtown was over Deer Park Ave. Maybe the author had knowledge of the planned but never built bridges :  ) Fun & interesting research Art, thanks.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

Art,  In 1909 The Parkway purchased some 3 plus acres from John T. Wooley on the east side of Lakeville Rd. , The Great Neck Lodge was built on part of that acquisition. Wonder if that route was chosen because of their previous relationship ?

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Additional documents pertaining to the Wooley holdings in Great Neck.  First map is from 1906, second map is from 1914 and the article is from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of March 13, 1906.

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Thanks Al and Frank -
Frank - I simply used the 1200 pounds of turkey times the amount per pound found in today’s supermarkets to get the current dollar amount Willie would have to pay today.  However, including the cost of inflation against Willie’s original amount would get the figure that you obtained.  FYI - The amount per pound back in 1906 was $.167 and today its around $1.45 as I showed above.

From Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2024!