About
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
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
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Recent Comments
Oh, good grief, Charley Brown! All I saw was a twisted tree (or a pole with a VERY big Osprey nest). Aha! The gas holder. Wild guess, again - Garden City, just north of Stewart Avenue and east of Clinton Road, where Russell Road is now. Looking SW at LILCO’s gas holder (only one I recall). NO - wait one - wasn’t there a gas holder somewhere in the vicinity of Republic Aviation? I’m stumped - I’ll have to wait for a stump puller. Sam, III
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
Ok. Deep breath. This one made me work. And still so many questions.
Final Answer. Picture is taken from the Roosevelt Field bridge over the LIMP, looking west. The old gas tower can be seen in the distance, located south of Stewart Ave. Clearly we can see the old cement post and twisted wire fence of the LIMP. Yes, that same fence I kept finding over and over as a kid. If on that spot today you would see the Meadowbrook Parkway.
These pictures are beyond priceless. Thank you.
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
walt,
j roy prosser was my husband’s great uncle and was also a WWl flying ace. we have a picture of him with Bess after arriving in Chicago, having flown from NYC. not sure what info you are looking for. is his plan on display at the museum?
prosser
From Then & Now: The Long Island Aviation Country Club on the Motor Parkway
Location/Orientation/Rationale: Westbury, viewing the LIMP to the west. Lilco Gas Holder at the upper left ( S/O Stewart Ave ). There’s also a smoke stack a little further in the distance. If the Gas Tank wasn’t in the image, figuring out this Mystery would’ve been quite difficult.
Location where image was captured: From the Roosevelt Field LIMP bridge.
Elements of the LIMP: Concrete Boundary Posts S/O of the parkway. Concrete extensions on both sides. There’s a dark geometric shape in the distance, N/O the LIMP. Rooftop?
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
My guess is that this is looking west from Carmen Avenue in East Meadow. The gas tank at Roosevelt Field is visible.
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
Good one !! This is the Motor Parkway looking west from the Ellison Avenue (Merchants Concourse) bridge. In the distance we can see the Garden City Gas Tank south of Stewart Avenue and the Toll House at Clinton Road. Looks like it was taken toward the end of the parkway’s life because of the weed overgrowth and no cars. I was always curious which exact part parallels the Meadowbrook Parkway but it is probably this exact picture. I also didn’t know that there was a tree buffer between the road and the Polo Fields but looking at the location today it makes sense. Walking this stretch of road today is next to impassable…..
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
Thank you Art, Paula, and Jeff for producing this super rare photo.
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
Another Fantastic Foto! Twelve years after closing, this could be in Garden City looking south towards the Clinton Rd bridge (not visible, probably taken down). Guessing photo taken from atop the east embankment of the Mayan Ruin’s bridge. If true, the straightaway must be ~500 feet in length (0.09 mile) before the huge easterly curve over Clinton Rd. The dirt road on the left could be “Old Pell Terrace.” The ROW wood fencing is appropriately closer to the LIMP than Pell Terrace. Garden City once had a gas tank in the same approximate location. Though all guesses are meshing well, this mystery will continue to torment the rest of the weekend. I shall update as necessary. I envision this roadway resurrected someday for bicycle/pedestrian use. It’s still possible
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
Identify the exact location and orientation of the image. Provide a rationale.
-I believe that to be the Roosevelt field tank, and to the right of that, The Curtiss smokestack on Clinton, making this the Motor Parkway looking South towards where the Clinton Ave bridge used to be since it was gone by this time.
On what structure was this photo taken?
-Old Country Rd Motor Parkway bridge.
Besides the road, what other elements of the Motor Parkway can be seen in this image.
-The ‘Mayan Ruins’, and possibly the managers’ office and lodge off in the distance, but are a little tough to see.
From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank
I am curious if there is a copyright for this image, or a source at least. Please let me know where you found it!
_____________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick:
Brian, there is no copyright on this image. I will send you a jpeg.
From Mystery Foto #3 Solved:Driver Arthur Chevrolet After His Marquette-Buick Broke Down in the 1910 Race
No clue on this late 1800s gas powered trike but it’s in amazing condition. Where are the brakes and throttle?!
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
Really need a better video of the headlight. Just can’t see it moving in this Vid :(
From The Cyclops Eye of the Tucker '48 Automobiles
1899 Reese At museum of art in Roslyn owned by Harold Mermel
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
To answer your question, Where is this vehicle currently being exhibited? This is just a guess but I think that this vehicle is being displayed out in the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook, NY
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
The 3 wheeled horseless carriage is a 1899 Reese. The owner of the carriage is Harold Mermel. The carriage is being displayed at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor from 7/22/17 until 11/15/17.
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
Identify the year and manufacturer of this horseless carriage: 1899 Reese 3-Wheel Horseless Carriage
Where is this vehicle currently being exhibited? Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn
Who is the current owner of the vehicle? Harold Mermel, however if I didn’t find the actual answer, Howard, I would have guessed you!
Documentation to follow.
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
Mystery Foto #31… the horseless carriage is an 1899 Reese three wheeler. This vehicle is currently being exhibited at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn.
The current owner is Harold Mermel. Surely the coolest golf cart ever built. Curiously no brakes are seen on the wheels. Perhaps the braking is part of the engine/transmission unit.
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
That is an 1899 Reese 3-wheel horseless carriage owned by Harold Mermel and can be seen at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn.
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
The vehicle is a 1889 Reese 3 wheel horseless carriage built by Sephaniah Reese Sr. of the S. Reese Machine & Tool Works of Plymouth ,Pennsylvania . The tricycle is being displayed at the Nassau County Museum of Art Rosyln ,New York as part of the exhibit New York ,New York featuring art work depicting life in NYC from the late 19 th century on up including transportation . The current owner Harold Mermel purchased the vehicle from collector Reed Martin in 1981 who purchased it from Sehaniah Reeese lll. Also notworthy is the the date of manufacture maybe 1884 but not finished till 1887.
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
1899 Reese built by Sephaniah Reese of Plymouth PA owned by Harold Mermel of NJ (1995) Nassau County Museum of Art?
From Mystery Foto #31 Solved: 1899 Reese Special at the "New York, New York" Exhibit in Roslyn Harbor
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