Vanderbilt Cup Races

Looking east from over Roosevelt Field we see the Merrick Ave Bridge, the keyhole entrance and the Salisbury Golf Links on the left. its definitely late teens or 1920s before the Meadowbrook Polo Field or its bridge. Maybe the plane was an airmail or flight instructor plane and the nearby road was the shortcut to the Meadowbrook lodge (now merchant concourse).

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

East Garden City/Westbury looking east. Motor Pkwy, Merrick Ave bridge, and Meadow Brook lodge at the intersection at top right, the starting point for the 1908 - 10 Vanderbilt Cup Races. Salisbury Links (today’s Eisenhower Park’s Red course at the top left. Year of photo is 1923 - 1936, when concrete posts were first introduced in 1923, and pre construction of Roosevelt Raceway in 1936. Special road is the smooth-curved dirt road linking Motor Parkway to Ellison Av during the 1908 VCR, and linking Old Country Rd during the 1909, 10 VCR. Planes are heading north from Mitchel Field during a fly-by. The gunner at the nose has nerves of steel! Tons of concrete posts everywhere in this fantastic foto.

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

I had added a photo of the Curtiss Bomber at Michell which may be the same plane, although the resolution on the mystery photo can’t let confirm with the registration number. The give away to the location was the ‘M’ on top of the hangar

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

Speaking of “duh” - that was dumb - I should have posted the image for all.  Here ‘tis.  Sam, III

From Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes

Al P. - Aha!  No link; never occurred to me to right click.  Bingo!  Excellent comparison.  Thanks.  [Of course, trying to get the full images ended up fruitless; they aren’t full - well, duh!]  Sam, III

From Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes

This Queens photo sure stirred up a lot of info and discussion!

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

-Identify the location of the Mystery Foto and the orientation of the photographer.

The plane is flying due North and the camera is pointing towards the East. Below, the keyhole entrance of the Meadow Brook lodge can be seen at Whaleneck/Merrick and the LIMP

-Relate the Mystery Foto to the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races

The the LIMP is seen below and this section was utilized during the 1908-1910 races.

-Identify the airplane and it relationship to Long Island.

Curtiss B-2 Condor introduced in 1929, in service through 1934, of which only 13 were built. Curtiss/Wright had a large presence here on L.I.

-Identify the golf course.

Salisbury Links

-What is the year of the Mystery Foto? Provide a rationale.

1929 when the Curtiss B-2 was introduced

-Kudos question: Identify a special road seen in the Mystery Foto.

The temporary road for the 1908-1910 Cup Races

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

Howard, The bridge over Commonwealth Blvd. shown in the photo dated 1942 is not the one built by the Motor Parkway in 1912. The bridge in the photo was built in 1931/1932. ( See correspondence between Borough President of Queens and the Parkway dated May 5, 1932)

From Documentation of the 1942 Demolition of a Queens Motor Parkway Bridge

Gene, according to the blog, the Commonwealth Blvd. Motor Parkway bridge was build in 1912.

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_bridge_series_10_commonwealth_boulevard_bridge_in#

From Documentation of the 1942 Demolition of a Queens Motor Parkway Bridge

HI Howard, Does anybody know what year the Commonwealth Blvd Motor Pkwy bridge was built? I grew up in Glen Oaks in the 60’s and as a kid we used to ride our bicycles past the sole surviving eastern wall.  I remember seeing a date ,but cant recall the numbers. Great stuff guys. Thanks,Gene Perry

From Documentation of the 1942 Demolition of a Queens Motor Parkway Bridge

Sam - Right-click in the vicinity of the Triumph sports car and select “Save As” if you’re running Google Chrome. It’s a PDF file.

From Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes

I wish Mitch Kaften and Roy Warner would chime in on this mystery photo. Both were residents in the area, and would know exactly how it went.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

Al P. - thanks but I fail to find a download link.  Sam, III

From Automobile Quarterly: The Mighty Alco- A History by Beverly Rae Kimes

David, FANTASTIC PHOTO!!! I hadn’t begun to search for that photo of the sign. I had assumed the north billboard signs were located within the bridle path. Not so as the photo clearly reveals. The ped/bike overpass on the map shows detailed locations where Motor Pkwy/Peck Ave/overpass once resided together. Amazing finds!

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

The “500 Feet Ahead” sign from a damaged negative dated 4-17-34. On bottom of sign one can see the word TICKETS.  NHT was 2000+’ west of LIMP, so a sign placed 800’ E of NHT would be more like 1000+’ from the LIMP—false advertising! Note the horseback riders in the unpaved north side HHB, marked as “bridle path” on the survey map.

HHB was never “expanded.” The utility poles define the original 160’ ROW, which was paved in stages starting with the center-most part. A Topo Bureau map from 1945 details the side “service roads” from the main central lanes, just east of the LIMP. The planted trees and the street lights mark the separation. The hydrants align to the utility poles. The service roads were fully implemented adjacent to the Fresh Meadows development as can be seen in 1951 aerials of F.M.

Frank’s suggestion is plausible as the south edge of HHB/LIE-HHE is pretty much the same in Fresh Meadows today as years ago. There are water main manholes in the current south service road in the parking and middle lanes. However, hydrant at right in Google picture is the newer of the two.

Land for Sterlingshire was purchased May 1937 and first homes sold that November at HCB and 212th St. Developer offered 15(!) styles of homes, making the homes seem to be custom built.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Sometimes as we’ve seen you can’t believe everything you read.  Unless I’m mistaken you would be hard pressed to find Lou Willetts Road (I.U. Willets) on Long Island.  From “The Automobile” of August 23, 1906

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#19 I.U. Willets Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Searingtown

Great eastbound shot Brian! That’s the fork that has confused most of the real Motor Parkway path

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard

WOW!  Look at Frank’s/Al’s parking stall aerial!  Another one I missed.  There’s that paved verge on the south side of HHB that I’ve been yammering about all these years!  No such on the north side.  Sam, III

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Another oldie reopened!  Dunno how I missed it but “TWA DC-2” is NOT a DC-2!  It is a 1935-36 DST (Douglas Sleeper Transport), immediate predecessor of the DC-3; see the tiny upper berth windows above the forward main windows.  Sam, III

From Cradle of Aviation Archives: The Aircraft of the Long Island Aviation Country Club Part I

Remember you and I snapping images of this area Frank, but their not in my email anymore. An image from the site here below, opposite direction.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: A 1938 View of the Queens Motor Parkway Bike Path Looking West from Bell Boulevard