Vanderbilt Cup Races

J.F.

Howard, it is pretty simple: “History cannot be preserved, if it is buried!”  So, The Village of Garden City needs to resurrect what the roadway would have looked like, and build a proper display where the public can legitimately stop and read about the history of the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Art, absolutely! I am not aware of the exact current qualifications to have these objects designated/recognized in such a manor to be sure to guarantee their preservation. Although I have been the appointed Historian for the village of Floral Park for decades , and was active in the local twice yearly gatherings of long island historians , as well as attending state wide meetings my ability to travel to such in the past 3 years had been severely cut back due to some health issues I am still recovering form.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Walt - would your suggestion entail or include having the posts designated as objects on the State Register of Historic Places?  The registers include objects as well as places and might enable GC to obtain historic preservation grants for the same. 

“Municipal and not-for-profit owners of listed historic properties may apply for matching state historic preservation grants.”

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Thank you for such a well-researched fascinating story of a very interesting man during a time of passionate interest in engineering.  I love that period in American history, and the period after WWII as well (when my dad returned from the war and worked as a machinist in a ball bearing factory in CT, eventually improving the manufacturing process and becoming chief engineer). It’s such a tragedy that Mr. Gill died so young.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Little Known (until now) 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Driver: Howard Gill

Great to read of all the support for the preservation of what does remain of the historic Long Island Motor Parkway but indeed pitiful for this lack of caring by the powers that be in GC have made regarding the heritage . Great ideas about the concrete posts BUT given the past decisions of GC officials would those preserved posts be in danger of elimination and destruction in future years? Can some statement/law be officially made and put in writing that they will not be destroyed? I think that has to be taken into account as well.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Sadly this is the normal, they say one thing and do another. Not a nice way to govern.  Sadly most of Long Islands REAL History will be forgotten.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Photographer is looking east over Merrick Avenue (East Meadow/Westbury).
Motor Parkway and VCR course ran through this area crossing Merrick Avenue.  The Meadowbrook Toll Lodge can be seen in the upper right.
One of 12 Curtiss B-2 bombers built on Long Island. The 28-398 which this might be was the first B-2 built and delivered (June 10, 1929).  The second, the 28-399 was delivered August 10, 1929). 
Salisbury Links
1929 - the year the first B-2 was built - the attached photo shows it being transported on June 4 of that year, it was delivered June 10 to March Field in CA.  Is that the Garden City gas tank shown in the photo?
Special road connecting Westbury to the Meadowbrook Lodge used during the 1908 - 1910 Vanderbilt Cup Races.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: A 1929 Curtiss B-2 Condor Bomber Flyover Over Roosevelt Field, Merrick Avenue and the Motor Parkway

This is a wonderful suggestion The fact that people interested in preserving motor parkway history are willing to come up with a workable and inexpensive way to do so should mean something. That the local government promised one thing but did the exact opposite makes me wonder what their true motivation is.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

That’s a great idea that you and Al have put together. I’m sure we would all like to see some form of historic reminder of what once was. Is it too early to start writing letters to the Garden City Village Board?

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Hey Everyone this is Rikki M. and I’ve written many articles about this controversial topic for The Garden City News—GCNews.com—thank you’s to Howard, Bill Bellmer and Cyril Smith, THERE IS something you all can do to urge the Village of Garden City to use the concrete posts as Howard has noted. Please send us LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (free from anything inappropriate) and we will use them in the paper. Letters get directed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / We are in print every Friday since 1923, sent all around Garden City.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

I recommend that a proposal to restore the historical concrete sign posts on the northern side of the new parking lot in the Village of Garden City.  These sign posts should be reinstalled on the former Motor Parkway, now in the present parking lot area.  The Motor Parkway is a very important part of Queens, and Long Island history.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

As a long-time Mineola resident (but currently a left coaster) full marks for your efforts to preserve the Parkway. I sincerely hope your efforts to mark the route get rewarded. Is it okay if I say, “Keep me posted?”

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Great plan to highlight the Motor Parkway RoW again. Garden City has a unique opportunity here for a practical greenway with historic significance. This unused section can extend to an almost 1/3 mile nature-walk under canopied trees, if the east side of the parking lot is included. It would resemble the RoW in Queens that is cherished by all who encounter it. I have an original LIMP concrete post to donate, and it’s in excellent condition.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Roosevelt Field is no longer sacred to me. They also took out my favorite store. The only one I ever went to in there.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Even though the cost of entering a car would’ve been paid by the manufacturer, $500 was a high price back then!

From Kleiner's Korner: Part 5 - A Proposed 2 Day 1907 Vanderbilt Cup Race on LI

This is an excellent plan! Can’t imagine the Village of Garden City having an issue with this. Posts that remain through out LIMP ROW are a constant reminder of the past,  especially when the roadway is not apparent.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Two thoughts. First, posts and wire is a great idea (assuming they’re not vandalized right off the bat).  Secondly, we had the stretch from Clinton in “polished”; if it’s overgrown now, we have no one else to blame.  Keep up the good fight, LIMPers!  Sam, III

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Certainly a logical proposal to restore the historic significance of this section of the Motor Parkway.  I also will donate a few posts and pieces of roadway if needed (albeit from the Levittown section).

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

I think that’s an incredible idea to recreate the posts and wire! Extremely generous of you and Al!  It’s the least Garden City could do considering they didn’t keep their end of the bargain to preserve the parkway.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

correction - i see guns on the plane and we are a block north of the polo fields so ill say its 1918 and i take back the polo field comment

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: A 1929 Curtiss B-2 Condor Bomber Flyover Over Roosevelt Field, Merrick Avenue and the Motor Parkway