Vanderbilt Cup Races

I work at SCO Family of Services, which operates the programs on the Madonna Heights campus. If you’re looking for more information or current photos, I’m sure my colleague Sharman Stein would be able to provide interested parties with the info and photos they seek and/or could put them in touch with someone who could answer additional questions. You can contact her at (718) 797-3068 ext. 316 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Hope this helps!

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

I remember this photo being shown a while ago as part of Barney Oldfield’s legacy. Unknown then, maybe id-ed in the meanwhile. As I couldn’t find anybody in racing circles looking like him, I decided to use some phantasy and some logic. Barney (Berna E.) Oldfield was only child but had one cousin: Harry Yarnell, the son of his mother’s brother.  Born in 1887 (and also only child) he was 9 years younger than Barney. He was a boy in the time of Barney’s successes and probably one of his greatest fans. He would die already in 1917 (which raises the question if he may have enlisted in the U.S. army to fight in WW1?). Whatever the reason he died at such a young age, wouldn’t it be logic that Barney would keep his photo with him all his life?
Maybe this story is incorrect, but the research was fun!

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

Howard- When the photos are sent, I’ll have a little trivia for you from the Westbury Gardens car show, something that I know you will be interested in and enjoy. As you can see, it’s being used by the people, even though it’s not finished yet. The sides have to be cleaned up and some loose branches have to be cut, doesn’t look too safe to me. Photos were taken on 5/31

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

Just a wild guess, but could it be Lewis Strang?

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

Thanks very much for posting the page from Dyson’s book on Deer Park and Wyandanch (1957). If the truth be told Dyson’s claim that Dr. Baruch bought Bagatelle from William K. Vanderbilt is what has mislead most students of this question fior all these years. As a youngster growing up, I also heard loose talk about Vanderbilt constructing the mansion off the LIMP as a hideaway. It will be interesting to check if Dyson’s 1926 sale date is also inaccurate. Many thanks for linking us to Claudia S. Fortunato’s fine articles on Baruch and Bagatelle. Another point. It was Dyson who claimed, without any evidence, that FDR had visited Herman Baruch and Bagatelle during World War II. Ms Fortunato mentioned this claim but wisely said it was undocumented.

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

I have just finished speaking with renowned author and researcher, Raymond E. Spinzia of New Hope, PA. Ray and Judith Spinzia have published several authoritative book on Long Island’s Prominent Families and Their Estates and Country Homes. He tells me that the Vanderbilts had nothing to do with the Bagatelle estate and mansion in Half Hollow Hills. His researches indicate that the mansion was built by a Mrs. D Brownsard ca 1910! The question you have posted on your blog has correctly brought into question the mistaken received wisdom of many, many decades that the Vanderbilts built the mansion and developed the estate. Obviously, they did not. I would still like to know more about Mrs. Brownsard and when Dr. Herman Benjamin Baruch bought the estate. Thanks again for your wonderful blog and for helping us to better understand this historical question.
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From Howard Kroplick.

Excellent detective work. Note Verne Dyson’s book is available online.

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

Howard,
Thanks for those excellent photos of the race.  Wow!  What a treat!
Roger

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Spectacular Photos of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race

By the way, Dr. Herman Baruch, used 40 of his 900 acres to breed show or “sporting dogs” at his Marobar Kennels in what in the 1930s was described as Wyandanch. As the New York Times reported on March 5, 1933, S6: “Dr. Baruch long has been an admirer of the sporting dog and on the establishment are found Irish setters, English Springer spaniels and English setters. Practically all of the dogs are the dual type, that is, they can either take part in a field or a bench show and they are frequently used for hunting.” The March 5, 1933 Times story also ran the photos of three of Dr. Baruch’s sporting dogs. They included: Ch. Inveresk
Cashier, E nglish Springer Spaniel; Marobar Moonshine, Irish Setter and Colin of Fermanar, Irish Setter.
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From Howard Kroplick

Neat stuff!

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

Verne Dyson in his 1957, Deer Park Wyandanch Story said that Dr. Herman Baruch purchased “The Castle,” or “Bagetelle” from William K. Vanderbilt. Those of us who grew up in Wyandanch always assumed that the Vanderbilt mansion in Half Hollow Hills was built about the time Vanderbilt built his Long Island Motor Parkway there. We never knew the reason why he created this least understood Long Island Vanderbilt estate. My uncle, James Andrew McGinty, worked at the Bagetelle Nursery in the 1930’s. It should not be too difficult to find the deed of sale from Vanderbilt to Dr. Baruch in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office in Riverhead. There may well be data on the origins of the mansion in the Huntington Town Building Department records. The Koster Blue Spruce was developed there by Peter Koster, who lived in Wyandanch.

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

I am thinking Dario Resta ?

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

Howard- Thanks again. I’ll be going that way this weekend and see how much more they did and let you know or just take more photos and send them

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

This might be my lucky day, is he Joe Stafford, who works, or did work for Panel Craft LIC? If it is this was an easy one

From Mystery Foto #70 Still A Mystery: Is this Dario Resta?

From Ken P.:

Howard - Unbelievably beautiful restoration. Wow! I can see why you are proud.

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Thanks for that most interesting piece of historical research.  As a Dix Hills resident for the last 45 years I really enjoyed seeing what was behind the little bits of local history that I had known about.

Ken

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

Are you sure that is a 1930s Hagstrom map?  - I am guessing that map is from the 1940’s/1950’s.  Republic Aviation was named in 1939.
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From Howard Kroplick
Good catch..Likely 1941.

From Mystery Foto #69 Solved: The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge over Colonial Springs Road

As a fellow old car collector/restorer (not on this scale, of course), I too am very much looking forward to seeing the Chrysler out at Pebble Beach this summer.  Hoping that you and Roz will have the time to visit with ol’ Cuzzin Steve when you’re out here in Monterey County in the summertime. . . . . .

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Looking forward to seeing the Chrysler at Pebble Beach on Thursday and Sunday.  Please call me if I can assist in any way while you are there.
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From Howard Kroplick:

Bruce, thanks!

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months

Was there an “annex” to Museum?  I recall visiting my father in the summer of 1976 when he lived near Riverhead, LI.  I had time to kill one day and ended up visiting Mr. Clark’s museum, but I don’t recall the large quonset buildings, but a smaller collection of sheds located out in a quiet wooded area.  Is my memory faulty? 

From Inside the Long Island Automotive Museum

This could be the Colonial Springs LIMP PKWY Bridge over Colonial Springs Rd in Wheatley Heights, Suffolk. Another possibility is the elusive sister bridge nearby, the Little East Neck Rd Pkwy Bridge. I’m going with Colonial Springs on this one. Any pictures out there of the Little East Neck Rd Bridge?

From Mystery Foto #69 Solved: The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge over Colonial Springs Road

VERY COOL!!!!!! THANKS FOR KEEPING AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY ALIVE!!!!!
BEST REGARDS, Wayne Carroll Petersen
Barney Oldfield Great Great Nephew

From Chrysler's Chrysler Chronicle X: Countdown to Pebble Beach-Three Months