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
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Recent Comments
I remember this section of the original LIMP while performing Transmission patrols for Lilco/National Grid/Lipa, Howard. It appears they want to make the now Golf path wider, and exposing the full width of the parkway. I guess they’ll continue further west, but then the path curves south; deviating from the LIMP eventually. I recall the ground level W/O the exposed LIMP rising, with wood chips etc. All good stuff.
From Renovations to the Wheatley Hills Golf Club Uncover the Motor Parkway in East Williston
Great mystery foto find, Frank!
Like the image of the Central Ave/LIRR overpass. Looks to be quite a drop from the bridge to the roadway.
Appreciate the photo looking north towards Deadmans Curve#2. Frank and I found the concrete post on the E/S of the LIMP here before the curve. Of course this image displays the original cedar boundary posts.
The tallest tree in the cemetery I believe is still standing. When Frank and I were visiting there, there’s a huge wide spreading type of maple tree pretty much in the middle. It’s unfortunately showing signs of wear.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
I showed the pictures to my wife, who had relatives living on both sides of Sigsbee Ave. in the 1920s to about the1960s The LIMP ran past the back of her great-uncle and great-aunt’s yard; their last name was Martin; the relatives across the street were the Morrisons (her grandparents). She couldn’t tell if the yard pictured was theirs, although she does remember the slope down to the pavement.
From Motor Parkway Pavement Rediscovered in Albertson/Williston Park -Updated June 27, 2017
There are two bridges that fit the foto; Little East Neck Rd bridge looking westbound, and Old Westbury Rd bridge looking eastbound. My first guess was incorrect. Good luck everyone.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
Great stuff Howard. The military roadway if constructed would’ve transformed the entire Long Island roadway system we use today. It seems to have been the first draft of the LI Expwy, a roadway to extend as far as possible.
The Lincoln Highway has similarities to the Motor Parkway where remnants still exist throughout its course. The main difference is its 3400 mile length from the Lincoln Tunnel to Lincoln Park in San Francisco.
That Brooklyn Daily Eagle deserves more investigating.
From The Proposed 1916 National Military Highway on Long Island
Not 100% sure but I think we’re looking southeast just before the LIMP turns east and goes over (Old) Westbury Road. Those telephone poles in the background are probably running next to the Central Branch of the LIRR. Photo was probably taken in September, 1908 since the LIMP is not quite finished yet (no guardrails). Also, it looks like the photographer’s Buick in the background and he took several other photos along this stretch of LIMP at the same time.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
Correcting myself- Westbury Road (not Ave) bridge is Westbury.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
Bridge after a left curve along the Central RR looking East South/East- I’ll guess the Westbury Ave parkway bridge.
That looks to be the same photographer and assistant in their Buick from other bridge photos dating this as September 1908 just after LIMP completion.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
I KNEW I had old pix of the RoW at the library and it took me forever to locate them - last two 2000 shots at <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy6.html#wlalsear> [easier to go to <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy6.html#nsp-nhp>; directly above that]. Thanks as always, Dave and Howard, and you too, Frank M. Sam, III
From Motor Parkway Pavement Rediscovered in Albertson/Williston Park -Updated June 27, 2017
The bridge is the Westbury Road bridge, the direction of the photo is south-east. Behind the bridge the telegraph poles along the Long Island Railroad are visible. The photo is one of a series of photos of the almost finished Motor Parkway, dating from September 1908. The car in the distance is the photographer’s Buick, featuring in several other photos of this series. Of these at least one was photographed on the same bridge in the opposite direction shortly before or after the mystery photo: on both photos you can see the same piece of sewer pipe on the west side of the road.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
Looks like the view westbound east of the Plainview Road bridge in Bethpage in 1908.
The remains of water pumping stations on the roadsides.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
I suspect that is in Bethpage over the LIRR tracks and Central Ave. The camera is looking south/southwest, in a location about where the 135 now runs.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
It’s really nice to see that so many remnants remain in this section today after almost 80 years.
From Motor Parkway Pavement Rediscovered in Albertson/Williston Park -Updated June 27, 2017
What a great thing to have a piece of history sitting in your backyard.
From Motor Parkway Pavement Rediscovered in Albertson/Williston Park -Updated June 27, 2017
Let’s see if it’s the Newbridge Road Bridge in today’s Levittown. Curved bridge, telegraph poles. View looking west (car going east).
September, 1908 - road is finished by guard rails not in place for the Vanderbilt Cup Race.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
The photo was taken looking east along the parkway just before the Westbury Rd parkway bridge (bridge #38}. You can observe the LIRR Central branch telegraph/block poles on the right side of the photo.
The photo was taken in September of 1908 as per the photo posted in the LIMP Bridge series. You can observe the same Buick going over the bridge. The telegraph poles can also be seen in the completed bridge/ construction photo of August 20,1908.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
Bloomindale Rd. Coming from the NW, heading South then East.
I suspect the picture in 1908, as the car on the bridge looks like the official photographer’s car. The bend, the lack of trees and the power lines were all usable clues.
From Mystery Foto #25 Solved: The Westbury Road Motor Parkway Bridge in East Meadow in 1908 Updated: 6/29
Great pics Frank! You gotta give more details though! Your 6th pic down and my first are the same backyard. From that location I’m pretty sure there is nothing to the east of that location, so I’m assuming that all of your pictures are between this house and heading west towards the VFW Hall but please give us the details.
Shocked that all of this remains in backyards. These people must all be single men. I can’t see how wives would allow backyards to remain like this! I know mine wouldn’t!
That one house might have the oldest paved basketball court in the world!
From Motor Parkway Pavement Rediscovered in Albertson/Williston Park -Updated June 27, 2017
Thanks for the additional photos, Frank. We can now see how the LIMP runs thru these property’s. It appears that some backyards have the full width all to themselves. Having a “slab” ready made in your backyard can be put to good use with some creativity.
From Motor Parkway Pavement Rediscovered in Albertson/Williston Park -Updated June 27, 2017
Enjoyed your visit to the Connetquot Library. We spoke several years ago after one of your presentations at the Riverhead Museum. I grew up in Mineola and write “nostalgia” articles for the local paper, the Mineola American. I believe I sent you an article about my childhood playground, Pettit’s (Bart’s) Nursury, north of Old Country Road and my bicycle adventures along the abandoned Motor Parkway.
JG
From Answers to the Questions Raised at the Connetquot Public Library Presentation
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