Vanderbilt Cup Races

Sam III, I remember when I was little seeing the PALL signs out front. Cool that you were in there. The backyard still has formal gardens, not taken care of very well, -a few very overgrown statues and such but a lot is still there. I have lots of pics. There is a great tree line on the west side of the house which leads to a gate. I recently learned that there was once an amphitheater on the property, on the southern portion of the property. Did you ever see this? I have to check this out but I highly doubt there will be anything to see at this time but did you ever see this?

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

Frank, no there was no other visible concrete on the west side. But if you look at the “THEN 2013” aerial that Howard posted, this is the exact stretch that we saw. I haven’t looked for old aerials but it should be visible if the LIMP did in fact that a little southerly curve before heading northwest. Not enough people are chiming in on this one. I thought there would be more opinions on this. If this is original LIMP it has never been documented and it’s amazing that it’s still there. And if it’s not LIMP why does it look so much like LIMP pavement?

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

Dave - re Winfield - that’s because the formal gardens were (what’s left is) out back; the front “only” has the majestic 250’-long double driveway and the portico.  I only just now learned of the fire - I worked for and with Pall Corp. and know the building quite well.  Well, Howard IS the North Hempstead historian and most of the rest of the Gold Coast IS in his bailiwick.  Hmm.  Sam, III

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

Great old pics of the estates. The Falaise and Pembroke pics are the better ones as he got the best view of these. Strange how he got the backyard of Winfield / Woolworth - which is such an amazing house and still stands, it seems like upon my last look the renovation from the recent fire has taken place. He also got the back of Keewaydin. The Meudon pic doesn’t do that estate justice. It fails to capture the magnificence of that place which I believe is one of the most beautiful Gold Coast estates of all time. You don’t read as much about this one, but it was amazing. Perhaps we can discuss more on Howard’s new Gold Coast web site? Coming soon??????

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

Another fantastic aerial. Thanks Howard again for sharing these gems.
______________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Franks, thanks for your Femenias’ Findings. Much appreciated!

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

Mark Lieberman seemed fairly set on restoring the car. What caused him to completely change course, not restore and sell the car?
________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick:

Greg, excellent question. Mark needed the resources to expand his restoration business.

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

East Garden City looking north over Mitchel Field. Much details in this aerial. Sending attachment

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

A aerial photo of Mitchell Field air base looking towards the northeast

The LIMP bridges in the photo are the twin bridges(polo field and Roosevelt raceway), Meadowbrook Rd Merrick Ave and Meadowbrook Lodge.

Mitchell army air base, Meadowbrook Polo fields and golf course, LIRR Central branch, future Roosevelt field raceway.

The year of the photo I would say is 1933(5-2-33 ?). The photos of the field on 9/29/31 did not have the tops of the hangers painted.  The photo on 5-2-33 had the hangers roofs painted. The photo on 7/30/36 had concrete aprons in front of the hangers which was not in this photo.
The collection of aerial photos I would say is from Stony Brook University digital archives
The flying biplane is in the lower right center of the photo.

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

Hello to all.

*Location/Orientation: E Garden City, Westbury, East Meadow. Northeast view.

*LIMP bridges/structures: Bridges…Merrick Rd Pkwy Type, Roosevelt Field Hwy Type. Meadowbrook Club Bridge over LIMP, and Central RR Trestle over Meadowbrook Rd. Meadowbrook Lodge ( LIMP )

*Historic Properties: Meadowbrook Golf Course/Polo Fields, Mitchel Field, and Salisbury Links.

*Aerial Year/Rationale: Early 1930’s ( Runways on Mitchel Field not built until 1938 )

*Digital Collection/ University: Hofstra University Library Special Collections, Hempstead NY.

*Biplane location: shadow on Mitchel Field ( towards bottom of image, more to the right than left. Looks like Batman symbol.

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

Howard, thanks for the plug on the book.  I can’t wait to see that car again when its restored!
______________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Tom, keep writing these wonderful books!

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

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