Vanderbilt Cup Races

I attended NCC at the same time as Paul did.  In fact, we both worked at the college station, WHPC at the same time!

NCC and the Navy always had a good relationship.  One point of contention however were students parking in front of Military homes along Ellington Ave. West, preventing locals from parking anywhere near their homes.  My father had the row of Temporary Buildings closest to Stewart Avenue torn down around 1966 to create a very sizeable parking area for the remaining buildings on the North Campus including the Firehouse Art Gallery which had at one time been an actual firehouse used to put out dwelling fires on the Base.  Thereafter, the parking situation improved overnight, much to the delight of the Military families in the area.

Riding our bikes past the demolition of the Temporary Buildings one Summer night, we found the street sign for 1st Street and Avenue E laying on the ground and took it home as a souvenir.  It remained in our basement for many years.  Today, is still sitting in perfect condition in my garage, 3,000 miles away in LA!   

Regarding the student protests, I was there too, but not as a student.  I witnessed firsthand the demonstrations in 1971 following the invasion of Laos and Cambodia.  Unlike other schools that had dormitories, when it got dark, the protestors would leave and go home for the night.  Then they’d be back the next day.

Some of them defaced the Parade Grounds reviewing stand which had been repainted to say ‘Nassau Community College’.  Graffiti changed the middle word to ‘Communist’.  A lesser known fact was the existence of what could be described as professional protestors, who did not reside in the area and traveled around the country to rile up anti-war sentiments.  Some were wanted by the FBI. 

When tensions hit their peak, with Administration Buildings at campuses around the Country being occupied by protestors, my father had an emergency HELP button installed in the President’s office under his desk that he could use to instantly contact the NC Police should his office ever be taken over by protestors.  Thankfully, that never happened. 

Similarly, another HELP button was installed in the President’s Residence at 363 Rice Circle for the same reason.  As children, we were taught where the button was and what it was for.  Coming home from school, we were also told not to walk in plain view from our school bus stop at the corner of Rice Circle to the front of our house where protestors on the Quad could easily intercept us and were told to use the Back Alley entrance to our house instead.  Fortunately, that too never occurred. 

In a comical conclusion, the button in our house remained operational well past the demonstrations in the early ‘70’s.  Periodically, there were false alarms resulting in NC Police responding.  For some reason it happened most frequently after heavy snowfalls.  Then one day in 1974 in the middle of Summer while our parents were away from home, several squad cars suddenly came racing up our driveway.  The hilarity reached a crescendo when the NC Police helicopter landed on the Quadrangle with officers storming our house wanting to know what the emergency was.  Of course, there was none and it was just another false alarm.  After that episode, the button was removed.  Upon my last visit to the house several years ago, the holes where the button had been hidden under one of the kitchen cabinets were still there!

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

I have an original photo of the #5 Oldsmobile 1910 car that supposed to be raced in the 1910 Vanderbilt race. Would you be interested.
Rick Jessup,  Strasburg, Pa.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Helps Solve an Old Oldsmobile Photo Mystery in the Lansing State Journal

Wayne, I was there a little later than that so missed all that stuff at the college. But your building IDs sound right, they were the same when I was there. Gym in Hangar 5-6 classes in the “Halls” and art studio in the barracks, lunch in the mess hall and theater in the Chapels. During my walking tours, (I’ll be giving more in the Spring) I always say the best thing that happened to preserve MF was having it taken over by NCC. The exteriors and much of the interiors have been preserved. Re-purposed, but preserved nonetheless. Many people complain about the loss of the barracks north of the tracks but they were just T buildings anyway (T for Temporary). A few of the NCO duplex houses were taken down for condos but most of those and the officers houses on the south side of the tracks still remain as military housing. All in all about 70-80 % of the buildings remain, including 5 of the original 1930 hangars as part of the COAM and other museums. Thanks

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Loved it thanks,I love the history of long Island..

From Video of the Week: Long Island's Hidden History: The Long Island Motor Parkway

Looking at your map and my aging memory I would say that 104 Hdqtrs was the Engineering Building and 103 Hdqtrs was I think the Bursur’s building. That’s were some of the anti-war protests took place, in front of 103 and onto the “Quad”. I could tell you a story about the flag pole at that time but perhaps I better not. 105 looks like North Hall and 101 South Hall. We had most classes that were non-Engineering in those halls. Except an Art class in the 103 barracks area and a Human Biology class in a room connected to one of the hangers. Oh, of course, Gym in one of the hangers. Thanks for the memories.

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Paul, I was at NCC from 1968-1971. I could tell you stories about the anti-war campus protests and other associated stuff. We in the Engineering area tended to stay away from that stuff but it wasn’t easy. There were even plans to “defend” the Engineering Building in the event of a student “takeover”. Wild times.

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Rich, when Donnelly told me about your new endeavor, I was happy for you. You deserve it my friend. Count me in as a subscriber. Miss our days at Hemmings. GM

From Update with new video: Crankshaft, Richard Lentinello's new quarterly magazine, is available for orders

Wayne, you are very welcome.  So glad you like my website. BTW, I attended NCC in the mid 70s and many of the pics I took at that time are in various places on the website. I know there’s alot to look at on my site, but this page has my 2020 walk around with current pics of all the remaining buildings. Thanks so much. https://mitchelfield.weebly.com/walk-around-2020.html

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Interesting Art!
Horatio L. Babb was still listed as working for the LIMP in the 1922 Grand Catalogue of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a graduate of the Case School (a predecessor to CWRU) circa 1905, according to fraternity records.
Perhaps another engineer like Hardin? Given his long tenure at LIMP, wonder if his name shows up somewhere in LIMP archival business documents.

From Kleiner's Korner: And Now For Something Completely Different: Part 1 (Motor Parkway 1906 - 1910)

Thanks for the update. I stand corrected. When I read this am that he was at 30,000 feet I realized that he would not be on approach to or climbing from Mitchel.
One hell of a website BTW. I am still going over the pictures and maps. I find myself trying to place my movements at NCC in the late 60’s by using the maps as a guide. At that time I don’t think the outward appearance of the campus was much different from it’s time as an air base. At least I didn’t have to salute anyone!

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

We are over East Williston looking east.  Major roads are East Williston Ave. AKA as Hillside Ave. bisecting the photo.    Jericho Tpke. top right of photo.  Northern State Pky. abutting the east side of the Wheatley Hills Golf Club, green of the 10th hole in the distance.  Glen Cove Rd. east of Pky. The large building is the North Side Elementary School, Yes, on the SOUTH side of E. W. Ave.  The Pky. ROW is the dark strip visible on the south side of E. W. Ave. and going under Jericho Tpke.  Portions of Jericho Tpke. and Glen Cove Rd. were part of some of the Vanderbilt Cup Races.    Photo taken early 1950’s, Motor Pky bridge over E. W. Ave. is gone.

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A 1953 East Williston aerial from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Thanks.

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Wayne Woodbury. This crash was NOT Mitchel Field related. Captain William H. Weiland, the Air Force Pilot died when his jet crashed at Wantagh, Long Island, New York. About 12:30 PM on August 3, 1954, the Air Force Republic F-84 Thunderjet crashed in the center of Denver Road in Wantagh. Captain Weiland was traveling from Dover AFB Delaware to Dow AFB, Bangor Maine. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Detailed in my forthcoming books and on my website: https://mitchelfield.weebly.com/crashes-50-55.html

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

When my father was the Historian for the Wantagh FD, I recall looking through the FD records and pictures of various FD related incidents. The one listed below stands out in my mind. I assume that the jet was going to or coming from Mitchel Field. Really highlights the risks of having an active air base surrounded by a growing suburbia.

https://www.liherald.com/stories/plane-crash-60-years-ago-stunned-wantagh-street,56841

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Here is another shot of the main entrance from postcards in my collection. Peeking out from behind the trees south of the Gatehouse is the new Catholic Chapel (Chapel 2) built and completed by August of 1942, about a year after the Protestant Chapel (October 19, 1941) (Chapel 1), across the street (Selfridge Ave.)  a little further south. The photo from the COAM, and the second postcard, is the Protestant Chapel, identical in every way, based on Army architects’ plans approved on March 17, 1941for a chapel “to resemble the small country churches which dot the countryside of America. Simple dignity marks the outward appearance of the chapel, the construction being of clapboard on a wooden framework, set on a concrete foundation.” 604 such chapels were built on airfields, camps and bases all across America during the next few years. (Excerpt from my forthcoming books “Beneath the Shadow of Wings”) Thanks.

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Mark Lanese. Here are a few pics of the main entrance courtesy of the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Built about 1932-33 or so. Note it originally had an open porch, which was enclosed just before WWII.  Thanks.

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

Many memories of the original NCC campus. The Book Store was the old Navy PX. The North and South Halls were rebuilt inside but the Engineering Building interior looked pretty much as if it was still part of an air base. I recall that WLIW 21 started out on the top floor of that Engineering Building. I was always mystified by those railroad tracks across Selfridge Ave. In later years I learned the history of the Central Railroad of LI. There was also a warning that went around campus that we should avoid the adjacent residential areas as they were still military housing and that MPs would pull you over if you ventured into that area. Those were substantial houses. Ii was good to be an officer!

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

First two shots are of the ‘new’ NCC campus under construction in May of 1977.  Last photo was taken by my mother of me and my Dad the day I graduated Nassau, also in May of 1977 and was taken outside the front entrance of the former Commanding Officer’s Quarters (now NCC President’s Residence) in the middle of the road at 363 Rice Circle.

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

The third image above was an artist’s conception from 1970 of what the new campus at NCC would look like.  It proved to be remarkably accurate.  The design of it was considered to be very advanced for its day.  Delays in construction resulted in it taking a decade to get it all built.  My father’s office was on the top floor of the Administration Tower (his previous office in Building 102 at the corner of Davis Ave. & Duncan Ave. had been the Commanding Officer’s office).  You could see the World Trade Center from there.  We would often go for walks during construction to see how progress was coming.  Some construction photos are attached herein.  Endo Boulevard became the new main entrance to the campus. 

When Channel 21 WLIW moved their transmitter tower out to Suffolk around 1980, NCC’s WHPC-FM, whose own tower was co-located on the TV stick was moved to the top of the Administration Building. 

The first building to actually be constructed was the James Fuller Physical Plant on the edge of campus.  All the maintenance vehicles which had been stored in the easternmost hangers had to be moved before the last 3 hangers were demolished.  Before that happened, the insignias on the buildings were removed and presented to the Navy for posterity. 

Before the new campus opened in the late ‘70’s, I had graduated NCC and transferred to Maryland.  As such, I never had a class in any part of the new campus.  I had numerous classes in various Barracks on the Base which were hastily constructed at the outbreak at WWII, never intended to be anything more than temporary dwellings.  Most of those brick buildings are still in use, though there is only one ‘temporary’ building left, at the corner of Miller Ave. and Hospital Road, directly across the street from the old Navy Theater.

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)

The photo above of the inside of the Air Traffic Control Tower was taken on the last day of its operation in April of 1961 (though the Base wasn’t officially decommissioned until June of that year).

Of all the artifacts left over from the Air Force, that tower was by far the most fascinating of all and was an absolute magnet for kids to climb up.  Many a time as children we were chased out of there by NC Police who spotted bicycles parked at its base.

Some of the equipment such as telephones were left behind along with all of the very heavy furniture.  We would pretend to land planes with that equipment.  The glass was heavily tinted green so it was unnecessary to wear sunglasses.  The panes of thick glass were angled outward at a sharp angle to deflect jet blasts. 

Because of potential danger to children and others, the tower was taken down around 1968.  One day I came home from California Ave. Elementary School in Uniondale and it was gone! :(

From Hot Post Alert & Update: Beneath the shadow of wings: Mitchel Field and the Motor Parkway (1924-1948)