Vanderbilt Cup Races

Al, With the real estate transactions you detailed, do you have any further info about what firms or individual realtors handled those acquistions for Willie K? I know he was friends with S. Osgood Pell, whose real estate firm on 5th Ave was active even after Pell was killed in 1913 in an accident while crossing the LIRR tracks outside Long Beach. Any idea where I could find the real estate transaction details? Thanks!

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

Art, Steve,  The golf course had only 6 holes, 3 of them had 2 sets of tee boxes. Museum has at least one scorecard with celebrity names on it. Fore !!!!

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

No *WONDER* it looked so familiar!  Looking “north” to the Sound?  HA!  How about north-east onto Northport Harbor and Bay?  For a measly 45°, I blew it!  Glad you all had such a good time; I have enjoyed EN immensely over these many years.  Sam, III

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

Frank,
Thanks for the fotos… what marked as a “Cultivating Field” just South of Edith’s Home is, in fact, Edith’s family’s property (2.4 acres), which, in 1984 was then owned by Picone Sand & Gravel with the Huntington/Babylon Town Line being but about 50 to 100 feet further South… otherwise, fotos generally as this 83 year old’s faulting memory recalls… but, if,we only had a foto/map circa 1952.  And, as a point of information, at that time we could then hear (at night) Republic Aviation testing jet engines as sound carried there being only farms between.

From A 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville

Jim - There’s one original concrete bridge (1909, Old Courthouse Rd, Manhasset Hills) still standing and fully intact - photo below. Two more fully intact in Cunningham Park (1926, Hollis Ct Blvd and 73 Ave). Alley Park also has two left from 1911, where one is hidden with its underpass filled in.

From A 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville

Caption on the about fox hunt was corrected.

From Update #3:Mystery Foto #33 Solved:Spectacular 1924 Aerial of Meadow Brook Hunt Club & Motor Parkway

what ever contractor Willie used to build his overpasses had to be great
look at all the years they lasted and many still in use.
you should find them if they are still in existence.
JIM

From A 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville

Howard, As several of the responders pointed out, the Eagle’s Nest complex was developed over several years. Vanderbilt acquired the property over a number of years with three separate transactions totaling some 42 acres, The first was a parcel of 20.25 acres acquired from Robert W. DeForest in May 1910. The second parcel, 6 plus acres, running along the northside of the DeForest acreage, was obtained from Mary Lawrence Post of Bayport in July, 1921. The third parcel, some 16 plus acres,  abutting the southside of the DeForest piece, came from the Van Iderstine family in December of 1927. Suffolk County acquired the property in 1949. It was first offered to New York State but Moses turned down saying it didn’t fit into his plans as a state Park.

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

living in bayside my whole life, as kids we rode our bikes thru the parks to discover parts of a road adjacent to Francis Lewis Blvd that as kids seemed to lead to nowhere.
My father a NYC contractor first told me it was remnants of the Vanderbilt race way.( not exact, but close)
Not understanding this exactly for years it came clear as I became a antique auto collector .Later I met Howard and it became crystal clear.

From Newsday: "Motor Parkway:The road to yesterday"

Oldyweds! Ha! The mystery photo inspired our walk around….It was great seeing you there Howard! Surprising amount of people there enjoying Eagle’s Nest on Saturday. I was a little disappointed that the garage and ‘27 Lincoln were off limits though. Pete, the docent at the top of the stairs explained they didn’t have enough staff to put someone downstairs. I was getting stopped by museum staff and was asked if I knew you because of my shirt!

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

From Vincent Seyfried Collection

From A 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville

Edith - Attached below are images of the Melville area, including your Huntington home superimposed upon it.

Robert - I know only one Vincent Seyfried photo of the bridge, attached below. Haven’t read his book yet.

From A 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville

The mystery photo inspired a walk! Nice to see the incredible amount of people there appreciating Eagles Nest that day.

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

Believe Vincent Seyfried had a similar view in his book on the Huntington Trolley.  This a great shot!
Am on short rations with e-mails until Queens Library reopens to public with computer access.  Am writing this from Richfield Springs library about 25 miles north of Cooperstown.  Will have access for only a few more days, then back to Queens and isolation.

From A 1946 View of the Broad Hollow Motor Parkway/Trolley Bridge in Melville

Willie’s place in Centreport

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

Willie K’s summer home Eagle’s Nest on Little Neck Rd, Centerport, home of today’s Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium. Guessing 1930’s, the grass field of the former golf course remains today

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

Great detailed observation, Greg. Details of the early races are becoming clearer.

From The 1906 French Grand Prix-The Forerunner of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

That’s Willie K.‘s Centerport mansion “Eagle’s Nest” with its 10 hole private golf course. A full round of 18 holes was Par-60 requiring several holes to be played more than once. In addition to the main house, we can see the boat house, hall of fishes, carriage house, and tennis court but not the seaplane hangar which wasn’t completed until 1935. Therefore, I think I’ll guess the date to be around 1933.

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course

A secret weapon….Removable wheels ended up being the reason why many won in 1906. Amazing to think technology was there for electric cars and other advanced items, but not an inflated spare tire.
While it initially helped, it could have hindered as well. during the 1906 Vanderbilt Elimination trials, Hubert LeBlon experienced more time lost due to the removable rim. When he had a puncture, he found himself at the Old Westbury tire station with a tire crew unfamiliar with the removable rim. After 5 minutes, he ended up changing the tire himself.

From The 1906 French Grand Prix-The Forerunner of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Verrrry interesting!  Making the assumption we’re looking north puts it on the Sound.  First shot was the Creek Club in Lattingtown; nope.  Next, Sands Point Golf Club; N.G.  On Peconic - Sebonac?  No.  Not on Great South Bay.  Hmm.  Love it!  Sam, III

From Mystery Friday Foto #38 Solved: A Fairchild Aerial of Willie K's Private Eagle's Nest Golf Course