Vanderbilt Cup Races

Hi Steve, Glad you enjoyed the article. Regarding the fate of the old office building, a Webster Pearsall Jr. was paid $100.00 to move the building. The dollar amount suggests that he didn’t move it very far. The entire area to the southeast was and is very commercial/industrial so what you say makes a lot of sense.

From An Al Velocci Special: The Garden City Headquarters of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Mr. V Intersting stuff.  Bob A

From An Al Velocci Special: The Garden City Headquarters of the Long Island Motor Parkway

One more set

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

More documentation

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

A monorail was proposed to help alleviate traffic and rapid transit problems in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. 

Proposals for the monorail were presented by a private concern to the Queens Chamber of Commerce in July, 1935 for the Queens portion - around the same time, John J.  Halleran, Commissioner of Public Works for Queens issued a statement urging building a monorail along the Motor Parkway and the Executive Vice-President, William J. Russell of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, requested a meeting with Willie K. to discuss the Motor Parkway and the proposed monorail. 

The first monorail, the Schwebebahn, opened in Germany on March 1, 1901 and is still in use.

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

If Rita and survive our trip, we’ll be there
Thank You Howard

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage

On second look was it a plan for mass transportation to Long Island. We could sure it it today on a Friday commute east and westbound on Sunday.

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

Looks like a proposal for a monorail for the 1939 world’s fair I don’t have the talent to look it up but did Raymond Lowey design it? It looks like his style JeRita

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

I will be there - and will bring my son…

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage

Hello Al, Great story. Loved reading about all the historical details of that site. With regard to the original building, you speculate that it may have been moved somewhere locally. I seem to remember visiting a structure there back in the mid 1980’s that I thought was a garage. It was about 75 feet southeast of the lodge and open on the west side like a garage. Any thoughts?

From An Al Velocci Special: The Garden City Headquarters of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Dieter was a great friend and fantastic businessman that never turned me away when i needed advice in the liquor scene or the fast and furious world of race cars—-RIP

From In Search of H. Dieter Holterbosch and his W.C. Bird's Duesenberg

The interesting idea and purpose behind this proposal:
  Queens Chamber of Commerce in 1935
  https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/saturday_may_2_2009_the_proposed_motor_parkway_monorail

Year of this proposal and who was behind it:
  1935. Wiliam K. Vanderbilt Jr. never seriously considered the project due to the absence of funding.

Where has this type of rail system been successfully used before?:
  Wuppertal, Germany, which began service in 1901 and is still in use today.
  Disneyland also has a monorail
  The 1964 Worlds Fair.
  Also on Long Island: http://www.screanews.us/ScreaNews/ScreaNews1003/MonorailEastPatchogue.htm

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

As the economic and practical usefulness of the LIMP was winding down in the mid 1930’s, a proposal was made by the Queens Chamber of Commerce in 1935 to build a monorail type public transportation system using the LIMP right-of-way. A similar system had been built in Wuppertal, Germany in 1901 and still operates to this day. Disneyworld’s monorail in Florida appears to be almost identical in design.

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

Found the answer on this site.
In 1935 as the Great Depression and expanding NY state highway system made Long Island Motor Parkway less viable, the Queens Chamber of Commerce considered using the LIMP right of way to build an elevated monorail.
Similar system was built in Germany, the Schweberban and later at the 1965 NY Worlds Fair.

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

I’m almost certain that this type of “monorail” was already in use in Hamburg, Germany. However, as to who proposed the system for use in NY or LI, I can’t hazard a guess. Certainly not Robert Moses. But maybe just before the closing of the LIMP in ‘38, someone in authority proposed its use on the LIMP’s right of way.

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

Love every word of this incredible history dive. As a child this area of the Motor Parkway was a favorite for my son Gram and he always loved the house which still stands. He used to note that it would be great if we could live there. I agree!

From An Al Velocci Special: The Garden City Headquarters of the Long Island Motor Parkway

i am planning on attending with one other person ... and the Chrysler turbo car model ... see you then

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage

I am planning to come on October 12th to see the Duesy and the other gems at he Waterfront. Will bring one other guest.

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage

I did as you suggested and searched for “monorail” on this website. Found the great article from 2009. I’ll let everyone discover it for themselves. It is fascinating.

From Mystery Friday Foto #48 Solved: An Interesting Motor Parkway Monorail Proposal

I’ll be there!

From Update: Saturday, November 1, 2025: The Duesenberg Open House at the Waterfront at Roslyn Garage