Vanderbilt Cup Races

Wow, what an incredible assortment of historical photos!  Howard, thanks for sending them to us.  Fantastic investigation.
Rog

From Documenting the Location of the 1908 Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Motor Parkway

Fascinating info!

From Newsday, November 15, 1951: Motor Parkway Pioneered U.S. Auto Travel

No special insight on nickel plate, I just looked up the marking on base.  HOMAN Manufacturing Co. of Cinn.OH.

Started 1847 in Cinn.  NYC address 32 Park Place in 1898. 
Last mention 1940.

Pieces like tea pots and servers for sale, very reasonable.  I believe this trophy’s value rests with auto racing fans, so hope you can identify the race event.  HAC history helps too.

Well done Mr.Gosden!

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

Howard,,, “i’ met Mr Clark , a few times when I worked for the Town of Oyster Bay!  I was a real young Man, ( About 18/19 ) And he was a good friend of Harold Kraft, A deputy Town engineer!  Mr Kraft ,had many old Cars also!  “Austy” Clarks Museum in South Hampton…Was fabulous!  And I have been told, By Friends from the East end of L.I.  Mr Clarks family had sugar plantations in Cuba!  And the Fidel Castro, take over Caused them a Huge $$$$$ disastor!    Mr Clark was a great guy…. And His visits to O.B. Town hall , where always fun for everyone!  That was in the very early 1960s…... And I have always wished I were a bit older , so I could have fit in more with those Fine, fine people!  But no matter what…I am grateful, for having had the chance to meet them! 
Richie Krause
Shelter Island

From Documenting the Location of the 1908 Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Motor Parkway

Originally named Flagg & Homan, the company was founded in 1847 by Henry Homan and Asa Flagg in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The Homan ran the business as Homan & Co. until 1887.  The named changed 1896 to Homan Silver Plate Co.  Somewhere between 1904 and 1915 the name changed to the Homan Mfg. Co.  The Company closes in 1941. 

More research needed about the actual research shown.

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

Also amazing is how Clinton Robertson’s photo album assisted in locating the ceremony site. His photos keep popping up. I’m attempting to adjust the online map and have located the Barne’s Tract on Nassau County’s map site in 1926. The tract is measuring 1 acre short of the 16.465 purchased. Not bad considering the crude tools. Are there any surveys available for the Barnes Tract? I also noticed Richard and Ellen’s Halfway Tea Room was a vacant lot in 1926. Photos are below.

From Documenting the Location of the 1908 Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Motor Parkway

Hi Howard:

    Congrats and best wishes always !!!!

          Cheers and Best,  Ron Ridolph

From Patch.com, Roslyn Times, & Manhasset Times: Town Officials Celebrate Career Of Town Historian

I may not know LIMP as well as I should but I sure know my Chryslers!  I bow to Mark in deep homage!  Magnifiers be damned; I missed the horizontal back-up-light/license-plate-lamp housing of #1, clearly a 1941.  Oh, the shame.  :·(  Sam, III [P.S. - #5’s a ‘49 Chevy?  Dad had one (briefly).  No landau irons!  Oh, well.]

From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's

Nancy - this is becoming more interesting. If Baruch’s property did indeed extend to 900 acres as commented by Leroy Douglas, I was able to fill a 730 acre lot, including the mansion, and roughly using Al Velocci’s constraints that stretch from the LIE to Merritt Ave, with 170 acres to spare. It is said that the largest property Motor Parkway Inc. purchased for building the parkway was 891 acres in Lake Ronkonkoma.

From Was the "Bagatelle" Mansion in Half Hollow Hills Built by a Vanderbilt?

I had identified most of the car parked at Zorn’s now leveled will be the new Honda City showroom to be built, the new Zorn’s relocated next to the old site and now opened.
The cars front row right to left are,1-1941 Chrysler, 2-1946-48 DeSoto, 3-1950 Plymonth, 4-1937 Buick, 5-1949 Chevrolet, 6-1951-52 Buick, 7-1950 Olds 98, 8-?, 9-1940 Plymonth? coupe.
The upper row (in front of the store) right to left,
1-1950 Nash, 2-1952-54 Ford, 3-1951-52 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery.
My source, a magnifier, AMERICAN CAR SPOTTER’S GUIDE 1940-1965, and
Google Search mostly, and my MEMORIES OF THEM DAYS!

From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's

Amazing detective work Howard! Based on the photos the ceremony site was definitely north of the CRR tracks, the RR sign is too far away from the event.
It appears the 16 foot Motor Parkway is situated somewhere within the roped off area of the circular crowd. The circle is larger than 16 feet. It is likely everyone is ON the roadway and just north of it, all within the 100 foot right-of-way. The ceremony stand is just north of the tree that was saved after the bridge was built, where it remained just south of the parkway roadway/bridge. I agree with Brian the top photo is looking northeast, with the tree just off the photo on the right side. With this orientation the shadows are approximately at 3:00, the time of the ceremony meet (3:30). I’m guessing the open umbrellas was for sun shade, no inclement weather apparent. One of the large RR signs was saved and currently at the RR Museum in Wantagh at Wantagh and Emeric Aves. Nice job!

Below photo as per Tim Ivers; First shovel into the actual Motor Parkway!

From Documenting the Location of the 1908 Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Motor Parkway

My mother’s father was Charles Watkins who owned a lumber yard in Wyandanch.  Mom said his property backed up to Bernard Baruch’s property.  Looks like she got the wrong brother’s name.  As the lumber yard was on Merritt Avenue could the Baruch property have extended that far south?

From Was the "Bagatelle" Mansion in Half Hollow Hills Built by a Vanderbilt?

It all makes sense. Just realized the photographer was viewing northeast with the 1st image. The Motor Parkway Office sign is on the south side of the building. The RR crossing sign was quite large.

From Documenting the Location of the 1908 Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Motor Parkway

Hey Frank——I’ve been in there twice, and I never took any pics!

You’re right the exterior was definitely re-done but I believe much of the interior is original. It definitely didn’t appear new in there. I looked closely at many studs for any markings/dates, etc that SBIII said would/might be there but found nothing.

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #10 Bethpage #1

Amazing footage never seen before and continues! It looks good Howard, give me some time to analyze. You’re likely right on target. Never seen these images before

From Documenting the Location of the 1908 Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Motor Parkway

That Zorn’s pic takes me back (NOT aback) but it’s far t0o grainy to do much with.  I’ve marked up what I can see with some degree of certainly.  1 is a ‘40 or ‘41 Chrysler, 2 is a ‘46-48 Chrysler product, probably a Dodge, 3 is a ‘50 Chrysler product, probably a Plymouth, 5 may well be a ca. 1952 Mercedes 220 Cabriolet A, 8 is so indistinct that it could be a late-‘40s Ford or a ‘50 Chrysler product, and 10 is unmistakably a ‘49-52 “bathtub” Nash Airflyte (Ambassador or Statesman?).  Funny, I don’t recall Zorn’s lot being gravel; I think I’d remember that.  Sam, III

From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's

This is for Roz—-I just want to thank you for your support of Howard in all of his endeavors . I am Steve’s wife so I understand fully how necessary it is to spend more ‘together time” —ENJOY

From Howard Kroplick Leaves His Town Historian Position After 7 & 1/2 Years

Howard - Was the ground-breaking ceremony truly held north of the LIMP? I always thought it was south on that stretch of grass, the former CRR right-of-way.

Also was the 1948 Jerusalem Road LIMP bridge looking south? There is a culvert to the right of the bridge (east?) in the photo, where today rest a basin to the east of the former bridge.

Never knew about Zorn’s turkey farm but they are still using the same logo on their restaurant signs today.

Brian - Love the mysteries. I had noticed the alamy watermarks on the photo. There are but two that are well hidden. Did you notice them?

Always learning something here, thanks Howard and friends! 
__________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Frank, it is a good question of where the ground-breaking stand was located. I will post a photo that shows the relationship of the stand with a LIRR crossing sign.

The caption “view looking south” is confirmed on the above August 20, 1908 photo of the bridge with the culvert on the right.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #28 Solved: Bethpage's Important Section of the Motor Parkway & Zorn's

Dave - When you visited inside P.O. Zinzi’s motorcycle garage, did the existing studs/joists appear a century old (frail, discolored from leaks), or newer and perhaps replaced at some point? This century old + structure has an immaculate exterior!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #10 Bethpage #1

Love that pic Frank, gas up and eat!

From Sam & Dave’s “Excellent 2019 Vanderbilt Day”- #10 Bethpage #1