Vanderbilt Cup Races

I vote that the westbound motorist went thru the tollgate- paid the toll and then made a u-turn to go west. This was the era when the toll ticket had to be given up when exiting the Parkway. I’m assuming the motorist paid the fee, the ticket stamped and not issued to the motorist as there were no toll collectors west of Rocky Hill Rd. to collect the ticket. Starting in 1929 there was a one way ticket price of 50 cents if you went west from the Meadow Brook lodge. Al.

From Malverne Treasure #3: Plan Showing the Entrances to the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road

So this is looking east in Suffolk County.  You can make out the Half Hollow Rd Bridge along with Wellwood Ave and Little East Neck Bridges.  I know there has to be at least 2-3 more but its tough to make out.  You can also see Pinelawn Cemetary along with Republic Airport and LIRR Main Line.  Major roads include East Neck, Half Hollow, Wellwood and New Highway to name a few.  As far as timing, I would guess late 20’s early 30’s.

From Mystery Foto #49 Again: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/ Wyandanch/ Half Hollows Looking West

As I was reading the post with my mouse hovering over the images I noticed the URLs and the names of the pictures.

Reading these names took all the challenge out of the exercise.

From Mystery Foto #49 Again: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/ Wyandanch/ Half Hollows Looking West

Much of this is new to me; thanks, all.  Oh, my, how access there from the Jericho Pike has changed!  I well remember when they redid that interchange, leaving the Maine Maid Inn stranded.  A small, hand-lettered, wood sign with an arrow pointed the way through the construction.  Badly done, it read, “TOMAINE MAID”!  Wish I’d thought to snap a pic.  Sam, III

From Update: Mystery Foto #47 Solved: Long Island Estate of Virginia "Birdie" Graham Fair Vanderbilt

This just doesn’t sit right!  I always assumed westbound cars originating there used local toads to access the old Nassau Blvd./HHB and w/b cars on the LIMP exited on the south ramp and eastbound cars entered on the north ramp.  U-turns just don’t seem likely.  Also, that’s no “sideview” of the bridge; rather, it’s cross section A-A of the LIMP taken ~30’ east of RHR.  Sam, III

From Malverne Treasure #3: Plan Showing the Entrances to the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road

Thanks Howard for sharing your adventure

From The Hunt for the Treasures of Virginia "Birdie" Vanderbilt's Estate in Brookville

I am confused. Was the estate sold off in pieces, that now belong to many owners, that allowed all of you to look through their property? That would mean the Vanderbilt family fell apart? And sold off the property in pieces?
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Howard Kroplick:

Rick, as described in Mystery Foto #47,  Mrs. Vanderbilt sold the estate to Henry William Sage in 1927 and who sold it in 1941 to Edouard LeRoux Sometime after 1950, the mansion was taken down and the property was divided into 2-4 acre properties.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_47_a_long_island_vanderbilt_estate

From The Hunt for the Treasures of Virginia "Birdie" Vanderbilt's Estate in Brookville

Love this sort of treasure hunt.  It was a great idea,  I Googled her and suggest others do the same to see the story of her wedding night, their separation, and how long it took her to finally divorce him.  Also, a few scant more details on the demise of the grounds.  Someone featured it in a 2012 report on line that can also be seen in the Google search.

Can anyone tell me where the California racetrack (seen in the early Chaplin film in your last blog) was on present day aerial views?

From The Hunt for the Treasures of Virginia "Birdie" Vanderbilt's Estate in Brookville

Very nice presentation.  What was the last year that the estate was lived in?
_________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Good question. The mansion and estate was very much intact in the 1950 aerial.

From The Hunt for the Treasures of Virginia "Birdie" Vanderbilt's Estate in Brookville

AMAZING!!! Thank you for sharing this incredible adventure… amazed what you can still find on the Island if you look hard enough! Thanks Howard, we love your work & we look forward to your next discovery!

All the Best,
Tom & Tano Rakoczy

From The Hunt for the Treasures of Virginia "Birdie" Vanderbilt's Estate in Brookville

I think we’re looking west over the Wyandanch - Wheatley Heights - Half Hollows area with the LIRR Main Line running through the middle. Parkway bridges include those over Colonial Springs Road, Little East Neck Road, Pinelawn Road. Ruland Road, Broad Hollow Road, (the major roads at the time) and the Baker farmway / Maxess Road bridge. Pinelawn Cemetery and Fairchild Flying Field can also be seen. I’ll guess the photo was taken around 1930.

From Mystery Foto #49 Again: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/ Wyandanch/ Half Hollows Looking West

Not much research on this one as I knew right away and then confirmed by a previous blog with the following as providers of much of the information below:
Greg & Dee, Frank Femenias, Brian McCarthy and Steve Lucas - thanks guys for the leg work on this one.

Photo is a 1930 aerial of the Motor Parkway near Colonial Springs Road in Wheatley Heights looking west.

-Colonial Springs Road Bridge (parkway)
-Little East Neck Bridge (parkway)
-Pinelawn Road Bridge (parkway)
-Ruland Road Bridge (parkway)
-Baker Farmway Bridge (Maxess Road)
-Broad Hollow Bridge (parkway/trolley)
-And even some Old Bethpage and Bethpage bridges in the background.

Airport is Fairchild Flying Field in East Farmingdale, later to become Republic Aviation in 1939.  Pinelawn Cemetery.

Major roads - Conklin Avenue, East Little Neck Road, East Neck Road (Colonial Springs Road), Pinelawn Road.

From Mystery Foto #49 Again: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/ Wyandanch/ Half Hollows Looking West

Recognized this one as a previous mystery photo from April 22, 2013 and was able to ‘borrow’ those answers - Wow! We’ve been guessing mystery photos for a long time!
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_foto_friday_11_can_you_identify_this_section_of_the_motor_parkway

-Identify the location, orientation and year of the Mystery Foto

The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/Wyandanch/Half Hollows Looking West in 1930

-Identify the Motor Parkway bridges

Colonial Springs Road Bridge (parkway)

Little East Neck Bridge (parkway)

Pinelawn Road Bridge (parkway)

Ruland Road Bridge (parkway)

Baker Farmway Bridge (Maxess Road)

Broad Hollow Bridge (parkway/trolley)

And even some Old Bethpage and Bethpage bridges in the background.

-Identify the major roads, a cemetery and an airport

LIMP, Colonial Springs, Pinelawn Rd, Wellwood Rd, Conklin/LI Ave, Pinelawn Cemetery, and Fairchild Flying Field in East Farmingdale, later to become Republic Aviation in 1939

Other landmarks in the aerial;

-LIRR Main Line

-Sisters of Saint Rose

-Edith K’s Home

From Mystery Foto #49 Again: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/ Wyandanch/ Half Hollows Looking West

1930 looking west from Colonial Springs (east of Rte.110) with Pinelawn Cemetery,
Republic, the LIRR, Farmingdale State College visible.

From Mystery Foto #49 Again: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/ Wyandanch/ Half Hollows Looking West

Good question Howard. There seems ample room for a U-turn (probably reversing once with the older car’s wider turning radius’). I believe it wasn’t practiced though, even by the locals living in the area looking for quick access to HHB when commuting to work. It would’ve been awkward to inconvenience the gate keeper to come out everytime expecting to collect a toll. Also, there was only eastbound access on HHB at the western terminus. Most commuters would’ve needed westbound access. Let’s take a vote!

From Malverne Treasure #3: Plan Showing the Entrances to the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road

Picture faces west.  The dominant center east/west passage is the LIRR.  The LIMP comes into the picture heading SW over Bagatelle Rd and we see the LIMP bridge cross over Colonial Springs Rd.  It swings west, and passes over Pinelawn Ave and into the current day Newsday property.

From Mystery Foto #49 Again: The Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights/ Wyandanch/ Half Hollows Looking West

Likely noticed already, but would like to point out:

* The steps in the 1926 photo are either gone or blocked off by the concrete structure ( 2002 ). It appears that this is not an entrance/exit anymore.

* There are still lamps on both sides of the glass doors.

* It appears the 2 pines are blocking off the windows that were or still are barred.

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Deepdale Golf Club in Lake Success in 1926

The worlds first entrance and exit ramps?
______________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Joe, likely the first in the US.

From Malverne Treasure #3: Plan Showing the Entrances to the Motor Parkway at Rocky Hill Road

Fabulous stuff, and that nice California weather!

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Charlie Chaplin and Mabel Normand at the 1914 Vanderbilt Cup Race

This mystery had me searching high and low, lol. Howard, The Long Island History Room at Sachem Library has all your books. The North Hempstead book is the only one I didn’t read through, darn. Such a great photo. It’s much clearer here, my guesses of some of the members are likely wrong. There must be at least a couple of them who were well known?

From Mystery Foto #48 Solved: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Deepdale Golf Club in Lake Success in 1926