Vanderbilt Cup Races

We are looking north-north-east over Mitchel Field in Uniondale. We can see the LIMP bridge over Merrick Avenue as well as the Meadowbrook Lodge. Additionally, the two side-by-side bridges to Roosevelt Field and Meadowbrook Polo Club can be seen. Also visible are the polo fields, the Meadowbrook Golf Club, and possibly the Salisbury Plains LIRR station. I think the date of the photo is about 1932 since the new Mitchel Field hangars are there but the officers housing is still under construction. Just a guess but the photo may be part of the Long Island Studies collection at Hofstra University. There could be a flying biplane just to the right of center, slightly above the bottom border.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

We’re looking generally north down at Mitchel Field. Running left to right from the top are Old Country Road, Stewart Avenue, and the LIRR. The Polo Grounds of the Meadow Brook Club can be seen. Lower right is the Salisbury Links golf course.

Features on maps at historicmapworks.com put this after 1914 (before Mitchel Field). Most of these features appear in the 1927 map. I don’t know when the o-housing was built at Mitchel, nor when biplanes stopped flying there.
There should be at least two LIMP bridges in this area, along with the Meadow Brook Lodge, but I cannot be sure I see them in the photo.
I would love to know what appears to be two parallel overpasses at top right corner.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

It’s absolutely incredible that those bridge abutments even still exist.  The fact that there’s a business in operation around the abutments boggles the mind.  I wonder how much longer they’ll continue to remain.
Rog

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

Hey Howard,
I am really excited for you.  This will be a huge triumph (not the British car) for you.
Can’t wait to see it when it’s done.
All the best,
Rog

From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker

Northeast corner of Mitchell Field ... Polo grounds and golf course where the Meadowbrook Parkway sits today. I’d say mid to late 1920’s, no paved runways @ Mitchell yet.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

It looks like an aerial of the Mitchel Field area.
Looking north.
From the Dept. Of Agricultur digital collection at Stony Brook, August 1938.
The Mitchel runways were yet unsaved.
Stewart Avenue running left to right across top.
LIMP funnng left to right parallel to Stewart and on top of Stewart.
LIMP bridge to Roosevelt Field at top.
Meadowbrook Golf Club at right.
Meadowbrook Polo fields shown in the rectangular areas.
Merrick Avenue running bottom to top at extreme right.
Biplane is visible just to right of the buildings to the right of the Polo fields.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

Anonymous Team - Zooming in further on the curved concrete path reveals two different textures of concrete, with the bottom half closely resembling LIMP pavement (the Right-of-Way?).  I’ve attached photos of other LIMP pavement discoveries for comparison.

It’s possible a crude, narrow, and circular concrete walk path was added besides an already existing and partially exposed LIMP roadway, for office personnel to avoid mud traps. 

One must be on location for better judgement. Did you guys notice any other exposed concrete nearby the curved path?

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

Keep up the great research!

Ken Harris

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

Tucker still continues to fascinate—keep up the good work.

Ken Harris

From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker

Thanks Howard, a very interesting story about an amazing automobile. We are fortunate to have a Tucker here on Long Island. Thanks for sharing your car and it history with the rest of us.

From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker

Answer to Bonus Question - the biplane in flight can be seen in the third photo, to the right of the polo fields in the upper right hand corner above the trees.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

It was the exploration of this exact area that caused myself and my son Gram to stop our own weekend walks on the Motorway back nearly seven years ago. The protection service of the sandpits were horrific in their guarded behavior when we asked if we could take an escorted walk on the grounds. Their usage of the abutment is likely in violation of safety regulations. Oh well. At least it assures it’s continued existence for now. Kudos to The intrepid new father/son duo for recoding this invaluable trace of the road we all love!

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

Just realized the photo is from an online collection so my prior answer may be incorrect.  Further research warranted.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

Location of the aerial and the photographer’s orientation:  Mitchell Field looking north

The Long Island Motor Parkway bridges and structures: Roosevelt Field bridge, Merrick Ave. bridge, Meadowbrook Lodge

Other historic properties that can be seen in the aerial: Meadowbrook Club/Int. Polo Fields, Salisbury Train Station, Salisbury Links

The estimated year of the aerial. Provide a rationale.: 1933 - no concrete runways, checkerboard roofs of hangers

The name of the digital collection and its university location: I’ll go with the Edith Hay Wykoff Collection/LI Estates & Historical Photo Collection which is housed at Hofstra’s LI Studies.  Even if this is incorrect, its on my activity list to visit.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

Looking NE at NE corner of Mitchel Field ca. 1939-1945 {?} at Ellison Avenue and Meadowbrook (Post Ave.) bridges.  Meadowbrook Lodge.  Mitchell hangars still standing.  Biplane flying NW just E of NE corner of polo {?} field (YAY!).  I’ll trade that for collection (LI Studies at Hofstra?).  Ol’ Eagle Eye - a.k.a. Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection

Les’s and Ron’s old pix and more are on my old LIMP Bridges page at <http://sbiii.com/limpbrdg.html#sandpits>.  Other than a certain un-named father-son team getting in there (no comments on how), don’t we have any intrepid chopper or drone pilots to overfly and document further to the team’s dying-camera work?  I concur that the wrongly-curved paving is not LIMP.  Now that Sears is dying or dead, that warehouse (now Summit Discount?) on Bethpage-Spagnoli may be accessible again; you can see the bridge clearly from the roof, as I did ca. 1995 with a scope - unfortunately, I did NOT have a telephoto lens with me at the time.  Mayhap another of the buildings there might offer a view.  With a REALLY big scope or telephoto you should also be able to see it from the LILCO/LIPA ridge south of B-S.  Sam, III

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

The book “McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft since 1920, Vol. 1,” by Rene Francillon states that two Douglas Dolphin Amphibions Model 119 were purchased by Alfred Vanderbilt II and Wm. K. Vanderbilt II, and operated from the ALVA. I don’t have the book, but that explains the Dolphin in the photo. Some tender!

From One of Yachting's Dozen: William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s Alva

As I recall the Sandpit was (is) owned by Picone Family (cinder blocks) and was accessible from old 110 (Broad Hollow Rd).  Back in the day, as is sometimes said, the sandpit was used as a gun range on weekends, circa 1954, or thereabouts.
Presently, as I also recall, they also now have a sandpit on the East side of 110 South of Ruland Road at the Huntington/Babylon Town line, (formerly part of St Rose Industrial Home for Girls) as easily seen from a Google satellite map.
As to other access points to LIMP in the general area, there is one behind a private residence on Colonial Springs Rd (in the mid 1940s the house was even then quite an old building)

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

Is the bridge going over Commack Road now unused a bridge from the Motor Parkway?
_______________________________________________

Howard Kroplick:
Tom, not sure which bridge that you are referring to. There is no bridge at Commack Road and the Motor Parkway.

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits

Anonymous Father/Son….I’m just going to regard you as “The Dynamic Duo”.

If you or anyone hasn’t already, take a look back on the 1/21/2015 blog here ( LIMP Bridge Series #53 Clody Farmway Bridge ). This bridge and the LIMP is clearly seen on the 1930 & 1950 aerials. Yes, there is a short straightaway west of this bridge before the parkway curves north; and then eventually west. The short straightaway isn’t a true west direction, more like a SOUTHWEST. These aerials are the next best proof besides being on Terra Firma. Looking at the 2017 pavement image, I notice the transmission tower in the distance ( left of the “Sand Pyramid” ). That’s the tower line SOUTH of this photo’s location.

Batman & Robin were here with snow on the ground! That’s dedication with a capital D!

From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits