Vanderbilt Cup Races

A scene from “The House on 92nd Street” (1945)

From Mystery Foto #28 Solved: The Sperry Gyroscope Plant in Lake Success on September 27, 1952

THANK YOU HOWARD!! I went to RHS 1965 and the horse was always there, in our yearbook and at anything to do with the school. went back in 2015 and heard about the restoring of the statue, it was and is part of that school, and town..
and
buy the way i lived just down the hill for the estate and would play up there from when i was a little tike till Junior high when they build country estates… we cause hell with them building on our play fields, hills. got shot ( buckshot i think)  at by who every was in charge of the estate back in the early 1950’s
know the status well, we used to play around them, and in the spring when caterpillars would be out we would shot them off the statue with slingshots or what ever we had…
thank you for all you have done to bring the horse back
samc
old friend of gus frost

From A Motor Parkway Director's Second Horse Statue Returns to Roslyn High School

Upon close examination of the photo, I believe there is a replica Vanderbilt Cup on the radiator as a mascot. Since they were manufactured by Locomobile to celebrate George Robertson’s victory in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, I’m guessing the car is a Locomobile; maybe a Model “H” Touring that’s either overloaded or converted to Station Wagon duty. Since the race was held in October, 1908, and the trees in the background have no leaves, I’m guessing the date to be either late 1908 or early 1909. Since we’re talking Locomobile here, I’ll say its place of origin was Bridgeport, CT.

From Mystery Foto #36: A Locomobile Limo with a Vanderbilt Cup Radiator Mascot

*Mystery Fotos relation to the VCR:  This Locomobile Transport Vehicle has a VCR Mascot Pewter Cup/Radiator Cap. A Sterling Silver miniature VCR cup were initially given as favors to invited guests of The Vanderbilt Cup Victory Dinner - Stratford Hotel, Bridgeport CT 11-09-1908. To honor the Locomobile’s 1st & 3rd place finishes for the 10-24-1908 VCR. These cups became a hot item, Locomobile Co. began offering 2 types of Pewter Cups for owners in March 1909. Radiator Cup/Cap $2.25 or Cup for existing Cap $1.50

*Image Date: Being that these caps and cups became available in 1909, I’ll say 1909 thru 1910.

*Vehicle Manufacturer & Model:  Locomobile Touring Automobile Type/Class 40 - 7 seater. Count 11 heads, they made it work. On their way to the 1909 or 1910 VCR?

*Manufacturing location: Likely the Locomobile Plant in Bridgeport, CT

From Mystery Foto #36: A Locomobile Limo with a Vanderbilt Cup Radiator Mascot

This charming story brings back memories from the days-of-my youth working during the summer in the sand mines off West Shore Road to earn money for college and my dear mother’s stories from her days as a student at Roslyn HS (Bernadette Peterford, Class of ‘47). Bravo!

From A Motor Parkway Director's Second Horse Statue Returns to Roslyn High School

Thanks for this Howard.  Hopefully the new owner’s commitment to keep the building standing will hold true.  If only for the memory of what once was.

From The 1948 Press Release Announcing "The Opening of the New Long Island Automotive Museum"

In the Auto Museum film, it shows Joe Tracy driving the Locomobile type I truck. This was made from a touring car by the Ardmore Garage in Ardmore, Pa. that was the Locomobile dealer there and used as a service truck for newer Locomobiles in the 1920s. I bought that truck/car from Austin and along with Walter McCarthy made new front fenders that were identical to the fenders it would have been fitted with when new in 1907, I also made a new dashboard and found an bought the proper brass headlamps and restored those as well. I sold the Locomobile before any further work was accomplished and it is my understanding that today the car is now fitted with a replica touring car body like it had when it was new.

From The 1948 Press Release Announcing "The Opening of the New Long Island Automotive Museum"

This one is out of my league but possibly one of the first buses to hit the road.  Looking like a close 1910 model, this right side steering wheel adds to the mystery! Europe? You got me, gotta leave this one to the experts.

From Mystery Foto #36: A Locomobile Limo with a Vanderbilt Cup Radiator Mascot

Thanks Brian. I was focusing on that white building in the back with its steeple as the church. It wouldn’t make sense that far away, and its configuration in the photo doesn’t match today’s church. This is one tricky photo. Thanks!

From Mystery Friday #35 Solved: A View Along the Long Island Motor Parkway in Melville

The future ahead was so bright…

From The 1948 Press Release Announcing "The Opening of the New Long Island Automotive Museum"

Looking veeeery closely you can see that little Cup trophy mascot sitting right there on the radiator of this Locomobile touring car.  A dinner cup version was also given out at a Bridgeport Conn. (where they were built) banquet in November 8,1908 to celebrate the Locomobile victory. This photo was probably taken in 1909.

A closeup of his photo was shown in the December 30th 2009 VCR blog entry.

From Mystery Foto #36: A Locomobile Limo with a Vanderbilt Cup Radiator Mascot

Glad the weather and turn out was fine.

From Highlights from the Motor Parkway Field Trip to Bethpage

Irving Berlin’s in-laws.
__________________________________

Howard Kroplick

You are correct!

From A Motor Parkway Director's Second Horse Statue Returns to Roslyn High School

Frank - I just now spotted the church, to the right of the yellow dot on both closeups below. You’ll also see the orange dot next to the dark building, which I figure was for preparation of the deceased, burials etc. The buildings that are just east of the trolley tracks seen here are evident on the older aerials. Trolley line was quite close to the church, definitely imagine a on & off stop here.

From Mystery Friday #35 Solved: A View Along the Long Island Motor Parkway in Melville

Love this stuff. Cool pic of the horse in the backyard. I would have never let anyone take that thing out of my yard!

Amazing to live in a location that you knew was once was a major estate. These people should all get metal detectors and dig up dropped treasures!

Water tower (pic below) still remains. Love the remnants!

Gate house remains as well, for now, but probably not much longer :(
____________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

The Village of East Hills now owns the Mackay Estate Gate Lodge and is planning to restore it. I am assisting them in this restoration.

The estate’s Dairyman’s Cottage is still standing in Elm Street. It was the home of lyricist Hal David for over 20 years.

From A Motor Parkway Director's Second Horse Statue Returns to Roslyn High School

You realize how tall the entire Horse Statue is when it was in the backyard peering over the roof. Guess the horse had to be cut in sections because of the weight or the cranes capacity?
_______________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

The statues were originally built in three sections.

From A Motor Parkway Director's Second Horse Statue Returns to Roslyn High School

Hmm.  Frank might be right but I think not; I spotted it instantly as the Wildwood church burial ground.  I was wrong about direction - east, not north, and Broad Hollow, not Duryea, but I now think that the church is just out of the picture to the immediate right.  The photographer is on the west end of the LIMP curve.  Does anyone know how far the church and graveyard were moved?  Sam, III

From Mystery Friday #35 Solved: A View Along the Long Island Motor Parkway in Melville

Fascinating story including the long-term determination to preserve these statues. The horses are truly spectacular. What a waste to have lost them. High five to all involved!

From A Motor Parkway Director's Second Horse Statue Returns to Roslyn High School

Ugh! I’m not convinced, there’s too many conflicts. Maybe I’m missing something. Can someone please point out where the white church is in the mystery photo? All I’ve got is we’re west of the Huntington Lodge. The orientation could be incorrect as well. Still working on this….

From Mystery Friday #35 Solved: A View Along the Long Island Motor Parkway in Melville

Revere and Lex?  DING!  That’s where the LI Aviation Country Club hangar roof is still extant (over Best Market HQ on Lot 594).  This just gets better and better.  Funny how that one chunk of RoW survived as a property.  SO MUCH of the LIMP in this area!  Sam, III

From Update: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #11 Bethpage #2