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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
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Recent Comments
Brian got me going, here! Yes, Zorn’s pix are great, and include a wider view of the lot. Lots more “boxes” - and another convertible to identify! Sam, III
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
Art, In September 1906 the Dragon Automobile Company was organized…... Maybe ?
From Open Discussion: Powerhouse Road
Greg, I’m assuming the main road to the estate was Laurel Hollow Rd. since the it was relatively close to the mansion. There was another entrance of consequence to the estate, it was off of the north end of Oyster Bay Cove Rd. The 1906 and 1914 atlases identify the estate as “Elmwood” When Tiffany acquired the property, (from several parties), it included the Laurelton Hotel which was near the north end of Laurel Hollow Rd . on it’s east side. I guess thats where “Laurelton Hall” comes from.
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
A similar photo from The Motor Way of September 20, 1906 showing the power plant which in this photo is called the “Mineola Light and Power Plant”. Anybody want to comment on the significance of the dragon guarding the cup?
From Open Discussion: Powerhouse Road
Think I see various fowl in the open sheds you point out, Sam III. Their website - zornsofbethpage.com has a neat timeline with past photos, check it out.
From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's
1938 Aerial
mansion crudely in yellow, lake in blue, smokestack minaret in red
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
A few more of where the current remnants locations are in the private backyards.
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
The chapel is quite beautiful and significant, not surprised that some kneel down in prayer when encountered. That’s the best looking smokestack I ever seen, designed like a landmark or beacon. Thinking Laurel Hollow Rd was the main road that was near the estate tunnel?
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
Excellent photos, Sam III !
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola
Once upon a time (1960?), I bought a whole bunch of saplings (now 40’ high) at Hicks, not in Westbury but up on the east side of 107/Cedar Swamp Road, just south of Glen Cove/Head, where their tree ops were then HQ’d. They had a huge collection of old photos on the walls; some of the trees they moved dwarfed the middle one in Art’s WKV pic. They developed all sorts of specialized equipment for the task. I remember that one giant shipment went across the Sound on a barge (possibly for Austin Corbin’s Newport, NH, estate). Haven’t seen the book but here are three random Hicks images from the Net. Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola
Thanks for the extra bit of info Al! I had heard about tunnels, but thought they just connected buildings.
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
Greg, We are looking at “Laurelton Hall”, the Louis C. Tiffany estate at Cold Spring Harbor. His firm created the Vanderbilt Cup. The complex had at least two unusual features. The square tower had a spiral staircase that went to the top and besides spectacular views of Long Island Sound, one could also see the Atlantic Ocean. The other unique feature was that he built a tunnel from the main road to the mansion for tradesmen and workers. He didn’t want anyone but family and guests to use the drives and roads he built thru out the 500 plus acre estate. Tiffany, the supreme egotist, did not hire an architect, he designed it all, built ca 1903-1905.
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
One more Hick’s pic!
From The Amazing Roslyn Estate of a 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Spectator
The Mackay estate contained numerous trees transplanted by Hicks Nursery. These photos are from the firm’s promotional booklets published in 1907 and 1910.
From The Amazing Roslyn Estate of a 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race Spectator
Followup to my previous comment, I believe this is correct because of the location shown in the photos…it’s near the shore, however there is land on the otherside nearby. That land is probably Bluff Point.
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
As Howard pointed out above, Hick’s Nurseries often transplanted large, mature trees onto the grounds of wealthy Long Island estate owners. Our own Willie Jr. was no exception. The trees in this 1907 photo are probably headed to Willie’s estate, Deepdale, in Lake Success. From the book “Trees for Long Island” by Hicks Nursery.
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: The Grave's Garage on Searing Avenue in Mineola
Taking a wild guess here, but what is now the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium? It was owned by Vanderbilt and was known as the Eagle’s Nest, and now it functions as a museum for the public.
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
Thanks for the encomia, Frank. Perpendicular holes for twist wire? Not likely. Perp. holes held bolts that secured horizontal planks (guard rails). Start with <http://sbiii.com/limposts.html> and <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy6.html#qnsvgnts> (attached). There are pix of these with planks somewhere on my site but I can’t find where. Lots more posts on <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy3.html>, as well. Sam, III
From Update: The history of the promised restoration of the Long Island Motor Parkway by the Village of Garden City
Great pics Sam, thanks for the link! Your contributions over the years exposing the hidden and iconic Motor Parkway has always been great and informative. What happened to the upright posts in the 1999 photo over the years? Trees falling and/or deviant attitudes. My best guess is the latter. Guessing for concrete post holes perpendicular to the roadway was intended for increased spiral wire rigidity through a particular section on the Motor Parkway, maybe the GC entrance/exit ramp area)? This is all during early crude road safety in 1909. What are your thoughts
From Update: The history of the promised restoration of the Long Island Motor Parkway by the Village of Garden City
It’s ‘Laurelton Hall’ of Louis Comfort Tiffany that was sadly destroyed by horrific fire in the mid 1960’s. Certainly Willie K and Louis lived famously at the same time and in the same locale on the waters of Li’s North Shore (Laurelton Hall in Oyster Bay/Laurel Hollow). All that remains of the Vast estate is the water tower and some of the more distant stable buildings (individual residences, now) in the area. This place could have been the East’s version of Hearst’s San Simeon!
From Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Louis C. Tiffany's Laurelton Hall Estate in Laurel Hollow
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