Vanderbilt Cup Races

This great image was taken of the parkway in Garden City and Westbury.  The photo was taken facing to the west towards Garden City and Clinton Ave.  In the photo on the left you can observe the great big Lilco gas tank on Stewart Ave.  You can also observe the smokestack of the Curtiss engineering company by Stewart and Clinton Aves.  On the right side of the parkway or the north side you can see the trees and hedges planted for the 3 Meadowbrook Polo fields.

The photo was taken from the southwest side of the Roosevelt field parkway bridge over looking the parkway.

On the left hand side of the photo you can observe a great section of many LIMP posts with fencing

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank

Remember when you,myself and Roger drove out to the Hamptons in a convertible?
You must have been about 20.

From From the Grace Holloway Family Album: Photos of the Old Westbury Home Built by Driver Foxhall Keene

With the coal bin? in the distant left I would guess Stewart ave?

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank

Based on what appears to be one of the old Elmhurst gas tanks on the left edge of the photo, I’ll guess we’re looking west or southwest from the Creedmoor highway bridge, east of Winchester Blvd. Looks like a string of concrete posts along the left side of the parkway.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank

Hi all
  Didn’t forget about you guys.Trying to keep up to date with what’s going on and had to comment on this post.There’s always something for you guys to know that you don’t know about when it comes to the VCR or Motor Parkway and this was one of them.You never know who’s going to find something and what it’s going to be,that’s the amazing thing,it still exists after so many years.Well,anyhow,all is well here,trying to keep cool,been hot and very humid,lots of indoor activities for that.Keep looking,keep it alive,let it be known.Doing a great job.Been enjoying the mystery weekends,but just don’t have the time to research them,I’m surprised I have the time for this.Actiivities where cancelled today because of heavy rain.That’s my update

From When Walter T. Shirley Was Selling the "Former Vanderbilt Estate" in Ronkonkoma Updated

From Peter S.
Photo is looking West-Shelter Rock Rd to New Hyde Park Rd.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank

Hi. I believe that the structure in the distance, on the left is the Garden City Gas tank?
If that is correct, then I believe the picture is taken on the LIMP south and west of Roosevelt field, somewhere near where the Meadowbrook Parkway ended up?
Perhaps taken from the bridge that went from LIMP to Raceway ?

Apart from the road, you can see the posts on the side of the road to the left.

My other thought, assuming that that was the GC gas tank was that the picture was taken on the LIMP just east of Roosevelt field, somewhere near Russell Road and Pell Terrace ( two blocks from where I grew up). But by 1950 there should have been houses on the right so I will stick with my first guess.

Love this stuff. Please keep it coming,

Best,
George

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank

I’m currently president of the Pacific Gold Rush Rambler Club of Northern California.  For a San Francisco touring event last February, we were lucky enough to arrange for a private showing of collector cars at the Academy of Art showroom on Van Ness St. in San Fran., and Tucker #1003 was part of the collection put on display for us.  A really first rate car in a spectacular collection of vehicles.  (Unfortunately, Acad. of Art does not offer its vehicles for public display). . . . . . . . .

From Profile Series: Tucker 1003- Formerly Owned by Bill Petit and George Lucas

In the left distant it looks like the checkered LILCO gas tank and to the right of the tank it looks like the old smokestack of the Curtiss Aircraft complex.  If that is correct we are looking south along the LIMP between Old Country Road and Stewart Avenue.  The Garden City toll lodge may be the structure on the right.

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank

Just a note about Billy Murray—- He is buried in Holy Rood Cemetery, just a mile north of the route of the Long Island Motor Parkway.

From Audio: "The Little Chauffeur" from the 1906 Broadway Show "The Vanderbilt Cup"

As a Lake Ronkonkoma native, I find this fascinating.  Thanks for sharing.

From When Walter T. Shirley Was Selling the "Former Vanderbilt Estate" in Ronkonkoma Updated

Lush and beautiful…..

From Mystery Foto #32 Solved: A 1950 Image of the Motor Parkway Looking West to the LILCO Gas Tank

Wow, how incredible are those prices….

Great fun reading that article….

From When Walter T. Shirley Was Selling the "Former Vanderbilt Estate" in Ronkonkoma Updated

Great find.  Great research! Great   presentation!

From Audio: "The Little Chauffeur" from the 1906 Broadway Show "The Vanderbilt Cup"

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