Vanderbilt Cup Races

What a beautiful photo. Location is the Roslyn Estates/Flower Hill area. Photographer is looking southeast. Major roads are Northern Boulevard, Old Northern Boulevard, and Mineola Avenue. The 1906 VCR had North Hempstead Turnpike (Old Northern Blvd.) and Mineola Avenue as part of its course. Date has to be between 1949 (when the Roslyn Viaduct opened) and 1964 (when Cities Service became CITGO). Judging by the cars (postwar designs but no sleek Exner-designed Chryslers) I’d say 1954.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Intersection of Old Northern Boulevard and Northern Boulevard (circa 1950-1956)

The photographer is facing west and a tiny bit south showing the intersection of Mineola road
Crossing old Northern Blvd and Northern Blvd.  The big gas station was an Esso station in the 50’s and across the street was Franklin National Bank.  The very new post WW 2 Neighborhood of Flower Hill, Roslyn is just below. I’m not great about cars but I’m guessing somewhere between 1948- 1952??? I would guess the Vanderbilt cup race used Norrhern blvd?

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Intersection of Old Northern Boulevard and Northern Boulevard (circa 1950-1956)

Just ordered mine, best of luck Richard!

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

On the left Vanderbilt Cup Rd. In the middle LI Express Way. On the right Grand Central Parkway or Northern State PRkway.
The view is of the roads proceeding East.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Intersection of Old Northern Boulevard and Northern Boulevard (circa 1950-1956)

Recognized this from when the Roslyn Landmark Society Facebook page posted this photo in March 2020.
Looking down at Northern Blvd and Old Northern Blvd towards a South easterly direction just before the viaduct in 1950.
This section of Northern Blvd was part of the 1906 race course.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Intersection of Old Northern Boulevard and Northern Boulevard (circa 1950-1956)

Northern Blvd and Old Northern Blvd facing east. My guess as to when the photo was taken would be the mid 50s as the Flower Hill community is relatively new.  I believe the Vanderbilt course went from Willis ave to Old Northern Blvd since the viaduct and modern Northern Blvd weren’t around in those days. Final note. Notice the Walter J Black building in the center of the photo.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Intersection of Old Northern Boulevard and Northern Boulevard (circa 1950-1956)

Intersection of 25A and Old Northern Blvd at bottom right corner (south) of photo, with Willis Ave as the cross street running east-west (roughly left-right in the pic).

Due north is about the upper right hand corner of the pic.

Have no idea of the connection to the races.

Photo dates to post 1949 and probably before mid-1950s.  I see many late-40s/early 50s cars, and the Roslyn Viaduct (to which 25A led to and crossed) was opened after 1949.

From Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Intersection of Old Northern Boulevard and Northern Boulevard (circa 1950-1956)

Always love seeing a Tucker, but one so perfectly restored is even more special!

From The History of the Tucker 1044 (1948-Present) Updated: 6/18/2019

Art. He was actually guilty. Note the jury consisted of 12 men, but that’s beside the point. Once his wife sided with him, it was a foregone conclusion he would be found innocent. I personally know he was guilty because I happened to be on the scene at the time looking for Vanderbilt Cup Race memorabilia.  At the time of the attack on Mrs. Beach I saw blood on his clothing and her maid told me Mr. Beach as the assailant. But….by the time the police arrived…. the maid said the assailant was a stranger to her and Mr. Beach said the blood on his jacket was that of his wife gotten there when he carried her inside. Shortly thereafter he got me aside and with a wink, said he had some souvenirs of the races he was willing to part with. We made a deal and I left, but not before taking a sample of the blood on his jacket. Still got it, DNA tests anyone ?

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Lots written about the case if anyone is interested.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Intrigued by the comments of Al and Gary,  I dug up the assault case against Beach and found the conclusion - not guilty by a jury of 12 men, having taken only 90 minutes to come to that conclusion.  It cost Beach $10,000 to defend himself, however his wealthy friends (including Thomas Hitchcock, Jr. and probably the Vanderbilt family) insisted on contributing to his cause (doubt they used GoFundMe, however!).  Beach stayed at the Vanderbilt residence (probably Willie K’s father) while in Paris, before returning to America to stand charges.  From The New York Times.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Al, Just the facts - Only accused, not proven!

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Gary, You forgot to mention that in 1912 he was accused of trying to kill his wife.  Considered quite handsome, his nickname was “beauty Beach”

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

In reference to F. O. Beach, here’s a brief bio.:
Frederick Ogden Beach (Jan. 1855-Dec. 17, 1918) was known as a N.Y. clubman, athlete, polo player, and member of the brokerage firm of Tailer and Robinson.  He was one of the organizers of the Meadow Brook Club in 1881.  The 1900 US Census lists him as a Capitalist living in the Town of Hempstead (possibly Bellmore/East Meadow area).  He married Camilla Woodward Moss Havemeyer (1869-1934) in 1899, with his Best Man being Wm. K. Vanderbilt.  She had previously married Charles O. Havemeyer in 1890; he had died in 1898.  At the time of Beach’s death he was living on Park Ave., Manhattan, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’ll look again, but there is an image for Mrs F O Beach within the Bain Collection. Wife of Frederick. Wasn’t sure if the letter was F or P.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Bill, I’m aware of only one other three span Parkway bridge, the one built over Westbury Ave. in Mineola. Parkway bridges with more than one span were built to accommodate trolley lines. Never been able to figure out why three openings of these two bridges. Clinton Ave. was a dirt road when the Parkway bridged it. When it was paved only the center span received that attention. Guess what opening motorists preferred. The odd thing about this bridge was the center span was only sixteen feet wide, the exact width of the Parkway roadway…. Coincidence ? The bridges built earlier east of this one were 26 feet wide to accommodate the 22 foot wide Parkway roadway, a 2 foot wide clearance on either side.  Steel trestle bridges were never the first choice of the Parkway because of the expense.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Removal of the Clinton Road Motor Parkway Bridge

And in color! Amazing.

From A rare 1936 amateur film of airplanes at Roosevelt Field

I found this same photo within the Bain Collection on LOC website. Miss Sears, Mrs. W.K. Vanderbilt Jr., C. Mackay. Not confident that’s Clarence Mackay. The gentleman with the dark suit is captioned - R C Watson in a similar image. This similar image also names ‘C. Mackay’ as - P O Beach. Similar image is within Howard’s site here, 1908 VCR. I did find a RC Watson on a 1920 census, Rochester NY. Robert Charles Watson - Bank President. Could be RC Watson seen. Have no idea of Mr. P O Beach.must have been upper class. 2 women left to right - Eleanor Sears, Virginia Graham Fair.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Guy is missed and will never be forgotten! Thanks for the photo of Guy and me with the great Janet Guthrie. Howard Kroplick

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

Not sure, but this could be Willie K’s mom Alva in the center, as a spectator during the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. She is looking west at racers approaching the new grandstand in Island Trees (Levittown) in 1908. She is clearly protected by at least 2 guards, and as many as 6 based from this photo. I cannot identify any of the 6 guards. The elder gentleman with dark hat on the extreme left is a VIP, which I also cannot recall. Possibly O.H.P. Belmont, Alva’s husband. The photographer was looking SE. That’s all I’ve got.

From Mystery Foto #8 Solved: Birdie, Sears and Beach at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race