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The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
I agree the view on the RR bridge is looking east based upon the 1960 Historic Aerial showing that building south of the tracks and the siding going north.
https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer
From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #5: East Williston, Mineola, Bethpage & Old Bethpage
The general aerial location: Bethpage, looking down at the Grumman plant and runways.
The location of the Motor Parkway: the LIMP appears at the extreme lower right corner snaking up to near the middle top. The three right of ways overlapping are the LIMP, Central Avenue, and the LIRR. This bridge of the LIMP spanned both a roadway and the railroad.
Motor Parkway structures: Additional bridges are Plainview Road and the Nibbe Farmway Bridge. A bit south out of frame is dead man’s curve.
Major roads: Broadway, Central Ave, South Oyster Bay Road (before the dogleg when the runway was extended)
Airfield: Grumman Field.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
This is officially not a picture of Clinton Road bridge.
As per several web sites I investigated, the house directly in front of the bridge looking West was built in 1957 and the one directly to the south of that was built in 1950 so clearly one of them would be visible in this picture if the pic was taken any time between 1958 and 1967.
From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #4: Garden City
We are over Bethpage with north at the top of the photo. The LIMP is near the upper right corner running north/south and the lower right corner running east/west. Structures include bridges over Powell Avenue, Central Avenue/LIRR, Jerusalem Road (Stewart Avenue), and possibly the Nibbe farmway bridge. Major roads include Central Ave. Powell Ave., Plainview Rd., Stewart Ave., Broadway, Massapequa-Hicksville Rd. and Wantagh Ave. The airfield is on the Grumman property. Small sections of the routes for the 1904, 1908, 1909 and 1910 V. C. Races can be seen in the photo. Since the Central Ave. bridge is clearly visible and it was demolished around 1950, I’ll guess the date to be 1948 - 1950.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
This is neat, Howard! He’ll be pleasantly surprised, too!
From Robert Carter's Artwork "La Bete Noire"
This one had me stumped for a while, then I looked carefully at the Foto and noticed that one of the buildings is labeled “GRUMMAN.” We’re over Bethpage, with northeast at the top. LIMP is upper right. The LIRR runs across the center of the Foto. LIMP bridge over the RR and Central Avenue can be seen right center, then the second Dead Man’s Curve, then the Powell Avenue bridge. Other roads: Broadway, Stewart Avenue, Hicksville Road. The airfield is the Grumman airfield.
VCR link: The visible part of the LIMP was part of the ‘08 race.
Date: Mid ‘40’s (1946?), because of the absence of Levitt houses on the west side of Hicksville Road.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
Greg O, wonderful! Great job!
From Weekend with Bernie
Why yes Al, he was there!
From Weekend with Bernie
Hey Greg, Very creative and funny. Didn’t I see Sanders at the raising of the Roslyn Grist Mill ceremonies ?
From Weekend with Bernie
He’s everywhere.
From Weekend with Bernie
*Location - Bethpage NY
*LIMP - Seen at the upper and lower right corners. 4 bridges total - Pkwy Type - Jerusalem Rd & Central Ave/LIRR. Nibbe Farmway & Powell Ave HWY Type.
*Roads - noted on the aerial below. Airfield is Grumman.
*Year - I’m guessing 1947. More development seen than 1938. 1950 aerials show the bridges removed. The bridges appear to be intact here.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
Based on the development of the area( half of my street appears undeveloped) and the 135 not existing, I said around WWII
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
The Bethpage portion of the cup races is in the photo as well
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
The pic is of Bethpage circa WWII. Motor Parkway is in the top right quadrant. Stewart Ave Bridge/Groundbreaking location just out of frame to the right. Central Ave/Train bridge is in the middle of pic on the right. Powell, Nibbe, and widened section by deadmans curve #2 all visible. LIRR cuts horizontally through the middle of photo. S.Oysterbay Rd, 107, Powell, Central, and Stewart aves all in photo. So are both versions of Plainview Rd. although the Plainview Rd bridge is just out of frame. Grumman Airfield can be seen easily in center of photo.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
One more!
From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #5: East Williston, Mineola, Bethpage & Old Bethpage
Newly discovered Motor Parkway photos.
From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #5: East Williston, Mineola, Bethpage & Old Bethpage
p43 picture corner Willis and Harrison Avs, Mineola. Unser’s General Store
From Starting Lineup: 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes
Directly over Grumman airfield in Bethpage/Central Park. The LIMP is at the bottom right corner and along the right hand side of the photo. Deadman’s Curve is cutoff in the lower right. Central Ave, Hicksville Rd and Stewart Ave are all visible. Not the greatest resolution, but it looks like the Stewart Ave, Central Ave, and Powell Ave bridge all look like they’re in the photo. 1908, 09, 10 Cup Races used this area of the LIMP.
Judging by the presence of only the first Grumman building, I’d say this is sometime in 1938 just after it opened.
From Mystery Foto #4 Solved: A 1940 aerial of the Bethpage, the Grumman Airport and the Motor Parkway
East Williston used its proximity to the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and driver Joe Tracy as selling points to bring developers and perspective home owners to the village as seen in this ad from the “The New York Evening World” of October 5, 1906.
From The Black Beast Helps Dedicate the East Williston New Village Hall
Below is the 1960 image from the bridge series here. Looks like the same couple seen up on Jericho Tpke, there’s only the 3 bikes and boy on the LIMP. Their son perhaps? And the photo taken at the LIRR, I think is east.
From 1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #5: East Williston, Mineola, Bethpage & Old Bethpage
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