Vanderbilt Cup Races

Islanders win cup.  1980.  Hempstead Turnpike

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: New York Islanders Celebrating Their First Stanley Cup Championship in Henry Austin Clark, Jr.'s Old 32

Sam,...The Robert Graves structure on Searing Ave., Mineola…    Over the years it’s been described in many ways including as a hotel, which it never was, nor was it ever just a garage. Graves built it as his man’s cave, to store and maintain his automobiles. Newspapers of the day said built it here because he wanted to be near his friends at the Meadow Brook Club, Old Westbury and close to the Vanderbilt Cup Race course. The entire first floor was for the autos. The two multi story wings were living quarters, one wing for his use and the other for visitors. Some time after the Vanderbilt Cup Races ended on Long Island,  he used it as his Long Island retreat well into the teen years. calling it aptly, “The Garage”.  I have always been curious why, wealthy as he was, he didn’t built a more conventional country estate. in a more upscale community.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

Sam III, this was Robert Grave’s private garage.

Howard I

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

Sam, Your question regarding what to do with recovered posts. Yes they are heaving weighting 125 pounds with a height of 6 feet,6 inches.  I donated one to the Wiliston Park Historical Society who attached a commemorating sign to it and placed it on the Parkway ROW near the Village swimming pool complex. I’m sure like organizations, perhaps with some encouragement, would love to have one and do something similar.

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

I should have added that my grandfather was from Cincinnati, and that the metal underneath is indeed a pewter alloy.

From Mystery Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Homan Motor Vehicle Trophy Owned by Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

My grandfather, David Besuden, won a very similar but larger trophy for auto racing.  It was engraved with name of event, date of event, and winner info.  The winged wheels are identical.  My thought is that because it is unengraved it may not have ever been awarded as a trophy?

From Mystery Foto #29 Partially Solved: A Homan Motor Vehicle Trophy Owned by Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

I repeat: “Was the garage a private storage and workshop entity or commercial?”  We, collectively, seem to know everything.  How ‘bout this one?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

This area must of been cleaned up and maintained by someone during that time. The area is considerably overgrown now and it is only 13 years later. If this area was left untouched since the 1930s it would be much worse.

I have reached out to the city. I am going to reach out to local Queens council members as well. If you have any other suggestions to get this done please reach out to me.

Side note, does anyone have pictures or information about the construction of the two bridges going over Francis Lewis Blvd and Bell Blvd that were added at a later time? Would be something cool to see.

Thank you,

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Graves garage was a large structure!

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

Great clear photos and descriptions with this post!  “Post”, a popular topic. (smile)

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Great history of Graves’ garage, Al. The garage as a sanatorium in the ‘20s, on a dead-end street says it all. I was never a history fan until I visited this web site. Thanks to everyone for their contributions, bringing history alive once again.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

Art’s comment reminded me that when I lived in Mineola, I rode the nearby east-west LIMP segments on my bicycle and got numerous punctures from the broken glass (mostly beer bottles) that littered the RoW then!  Dave and Sam(my) - how’d you make out in that regard?  Sam (the Elder), III

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Sam, I’ve had my share of poison ivy, ticks, thorns while exploring.  It’s a tough job out there but someone’s got to do it!

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Al, I have a rep. to defend here!  I actually did note the 90° alignment but got so involved in the rest of the material that I forgot to mention it.  Excuses, excuses!  Height didn’t catch me because so many posts are no longer at their original heights.  When dug out for preservation (purloining?), those babies are LONG (and HEAVY)!  Speaking of which, *IF* I can recover the post (from near the Commack Spur intersection) which I gave away, what should we do with it?  As to clearing the RoW; you, Howard, and I are the practiced experts (ouch, ouch, ouch)!  Sam, III

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Howard, Regarding my photos of cement posts, when I took the photos I first had to clear a great deal of vegetation from them, I urge anyone visiting Parkway sections today to carry a pair of pruning shears with them and clear any growth around any remaining posts and cut back any new vegetation infringing on the ROW.

Surprised that no one picked up that the posts are not in their original alignment or height. The holes for the wires should be should in an east west not facing north south.  ???  Also, at the time I took these photos, I cleared a large section of the Parkway’s surface at the west side of Francis Lewis Blvd. My guess is that it’s still there.

From Update: Greg O's Discovery: Then & Now- The Hidden Section Of the Motor Parkway in Cunningham Park, Queens

Howard, The Graves building had a convoluted and confusing history before it was acquired by Corpus Christi Church. It appears it was taken over by the Federal Government during WW 1 and later returned to Graves. In early 1921 it was reported to have been sold to to a Dr. William Gatewood who planned to convert the building into a sanatorium of some sort. Guess the community didn’t like that idea.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

The abutments in the 1928 photo brought to mind some railroad bridges in Nassau County. I know the LIMP bridges in Queens were required to be constructed ‘railroad type’. Below is the LIRR bridge towards Oyster Bay. East Abutment is old type, West Abutment obviously new style. The “steps” with the old style came in handy as a way of getting to or away from the tracks.

From Kleiner's Korner: NYC Approval for Three Motor Parkway Bridges in Queens

I should have known this one.  Gave up too easily.  I do believe that most of the wall was recently removed.  New construction replaced the school.

From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola

What struck me in the new pic is that you can just make out the slack (belly) in the left chain.  Also, note how casual Tracy appears to be whil(e)(st) manhandling that great beast (he’s working hard in the Sci. Am./poster pic.).  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Korner: From the Helck Family Collection- In Search of the 1905 Locomobile Racer

One more picture of the missing 1905 Locomobile as #5 in the 1905 Elimination Race.  Automobile Topics, Sept. 23, 1905

From Kleiner's Korner: From the Helck Family Collection- In Search of the 1905 Locomobile Racer