Vanderbilt Cup Races

Frank-my apologies. My first thought was the tower was too far East to be seen in the ground level view of the Wheeler/Alley Pond bridge. After looking at Brian’s 8/24/11 blog LIMP Bridge Series #10 ground level Commonwealth Blvd Bridge photo, and looking at angles and perspectives, I’m pretty convinced now that that it indeed the water tower.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

This photo shows another historic feature that has never been called out before, at least to my knowledge.
In it is the hanger where Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis was kept in the days before his historic flight.
But…what remains unclear to me is which building in the photo is actually the one?
Nothing in this general photo specifically identifies it.
But in close-up photos taken of the airplane in those days before May 20th, the hanger building is in the background.  There are distinct wood-frame supports for the hanger doors that rolled horizontally back to allow an aircraft to enter or leave.
The challenge is matching the close up with the building located near the “back” of this photo, closer to Old Country Road than to wherever the photographer was located when the photo was taken.
I am fairly certain that Lindbergh’s hanger was immediately adjacent and to the east of Clinton Avenue, within 100 yards to the south of Old Country Road.  And that the roll-away doors of the hanger faced to the south.  But without the ability to enlarge this photo I cannot confirm this.
Can anyone lend a hand?
The spot merits a historical marker.

From Mystery Foto #53 Solved: Clinton Road, the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Curtiss Field Circa 1926

Frank- Correct me if I’m wrong, but the water tower you are referencing in your aerial photo link is EAST of the Winchester bridge near Creedmoore. The Wheeler/Alley Pond Bridge in question is WEST of Winchester, so I’m not sure that is the tower.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

...can’t help but notice the front of this car, which seems to be enjoying the moment!

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

For those who may have not found it, or are interested, here’s a website that was designed and maintained by Lawrence Duffie’s grandson, Bruce Duffie with information and newspaper articles.

http://www.kcstudio.com/lld3.html

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Let’s try this one more time since sometimes you get so wrapped up in the details, you miss the big picture!

-Identify this automobile and the record that it broke.
1904 Columbia that broke the Chicago to New York speed record in Oct 1904 with a time of 58 hours, 35 minutes.

-Identify one or more of the men in the Mystery Foto.
Bert Holcomb is in the driver seat and Lawrence Duffie is the front-seat passenger in this photo. Many other photos showing switched positions.

Where and when was this photo taken? Provide a rationale.
In front of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race press box on Jericho Turnpike between Hitchcock Lane and Powells Lane. The car and group made an appearance at the race since arriving in New York two days beforehand at 1:45pm on October 6, 1904.

For those who missed it and are interested; A very nice website with the cars’ history designed and maintained by Lawrence Duffie’s grandson.
http://www.kcstudio.com/lld3.html

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Brian - See two more attached. The tank doesn’t appear in the
‘24 aerial but does appear in the ‘51. Check out the northerly shadow casting over the GCP!

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Brian - Water tower found. It was actually located right alongside the GCP. Compare these two images;

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/made/images/blog/Top-713_edited-2A_edited-1-1_620_405.jpg

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/blog/10-24-2011_7-41-16_PM_edited-1.jpg

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

L. L. Whitman and probably C. S. Carris in a 1904 Columbia which made a record trip from Chicago to New York, broken by Carris in a Franklin on 05 Sep 1906: <http://www.kcstudio.com/col-nyt06.html>, et seq.  Funny -there’s all sots of info. on-line on the Franklin run but next to nothing on the earlier Columbia trip.  Wild guess - Sheepshead Bay track, behind infield (low) stands?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

I cheated, the banner on the auto indirectly gave it away. Oct 1904, this Columbia auto broke a second record from Chicago-New York of 1177 miles in 58 hours, 35 minutes. The first record was set on Sept 28 – Oct 1, 1903 in a Columbia 24hp gasoline craft, accomplishing it in 76 hours. I believe the driver is Bert Holcomb, with front passenger Lawrence Duffie, Bruce Duffie’s granddad.

This photo was taken around Oct 8, 1904 in front of the 1904 VCR grandstand, the first international road race held in the U.S., once located at today’s Jericho Tpke between Hitchcock Lane and Powells Lane. See attached.

The electric and gasoline Columbia’s were manufactured in Hartford, CT 1897-1913 by:
Pope Manufacturing Co.- 1897-1899
Columbia Automobile Co.- 1899
Columbia & Electric Vehicle Co.- 1900
Electric Vehicle Co.- 1901-1909
Columbia Motor Car Co.- 1909-1913, a division of U.S. Motor Co.- 1910-1913.

All the above was seen on Bruce’s wonderful website.
http://www.bruceduffie.com 

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Comment #32….The 8/24/11 blog LIMP Bridge Series #10. Commonwealth Blvd Bridge. There’s a 1928 photo of a water tower that’s North and West of Commonwealth ( Winchester Blvd is the next main rd W/O here ). This tower looks much like the 1 in the 1932 Wheeler Farmway Bridge #2 ground photo. Must be the same tower in each photo, Frank. The tower was eventually taken down with further expansion of the GCPkwy.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Hello Howard-
Big fan. We’ve met before and each time a pleasure I have a question that I hope can send us in the right direction. About 30 years ago my brother in law’s 1969 Mach 1 was stolen in the Hicksville area. Now I realize it’s a long time but I was looking to see if there is a way to trace vin# now that the internet seems to be the answer to all things. Haha. Anyway I was looking for a first step in some direction. Thanks
Good luck with your “new” Tucker and continued success
Raymond
________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Raymond, thanks for the comment. I don’t know the answer to your question. Maybe a VanderbiltCupRaces.com viewer can help.

From Model A Ford Club of Long Island Visits Tucker 1044 at Waterfront at Roslyn

Lawrence Duffie is the front seat passenger and Bert Holcomb is the driver in a 1904 Columbia that broke the Chicago to New York speed record with a time of 58 hours 35 minutes. Unsure where the photo was taken, but maybe I’ll have an answer before the reveal.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Brian - The farm silo was covered by Howard at some point I remember. My initial search came up empty. I believe it was a water tower in the distance? Not sure. More searching is needed.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Identify this automobile and the record that it broke.  35 HP Columbia Touring Car, broke the Chicago to New York route.

Identify one or more of the men in the Mystery Foto.  Lawrence Duffie (Bruce’s grandfather), Bert Holcomb, possibly Eddie Bald, Harry Sandell or R.W. Hourran

Where and when was this photo taken? Provide a rationale.  The Vanderbilt Cup Race grandstand on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury.  October 7, 1904.  Newspaper accounts (indicating the car and drivers met at The Garden City Hotel before going to view the Cup race track) and previous blog pictures showing the grandstand.  The Columbia arrived in NY on October 6 and the Vanderbilt Cup Race was October 8.  The grandstand didn’t have the race decorations up yet and no spectators. 

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

As far as the “Tall Cylinder” seen beyond the treeline in the 1932 photo of Wheeler Farmway Bridge #2 ( Ground level photo ), I guess it’s a Farm Silo? This photo was taken in a NNE direction. When I compare this photo to the 1924 Aerial W/O Winchester Blvd, the Silo should be just past the small tree line. No matter how much I zoom into the 1924 aerial, I can’t make out the silo. No matter, I think you nailed this mystery, Greg O.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Mystery Foto # 13… The automobile was the 30 hp Colombia which broke the driving record from Chicago to New York. The driver was Bert Holcomb with help from Harry Sandell, Lawrence Duffie, R.W. Harroun and Eddie Bard. I believe that the photo was taken at Garden City Hotel on October 8,1904, the day after the record run. They were at the Vanderbilt Cup race headquarters for the race that took place on that day in 1904. The rationale for the date and place is that the Colombia was still covered with mud from the record breaking drive the day before and was now carrying a banner to announce this new record.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Brian - My thoughts are exactly the same. I could definitely picture that! Could be from the Model A Ford club of Long Island.

From Mystery Foto #11 Solved: Hundreds of Automobiles Seen in This 1952 Lake Success Aerial

Thanks Frank. I’d like to think that after following Howard and Sam’s sites, and talking with Al V. as much as possible for the last 10 years, I’ve had at least a little bit of all their extensive knowledge sink in with me!

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

First: What fun this mystery is!

Second: That W.C. Fields movie of driving on the Motor Parkway is the closest scenario to truly experience what driving on the Motor Parkway really was. I’m ecstatic it’s still available for all to see. Please keep this link available. 

I believe Greg O has nailed this tough mystery ( with the help of Joe O ).

After Brian McCarthy’s on-site observations of the multiple mystery guesses throughout Suffolk County, all showed some flaws comparing to the mystery photo, including my own guess.

Nassau County was not analysed. 

Greg’s solution still persists. The mystery photo and the movies’ still frame seem to match identical.  Any thoughts are welcomed, please join in. 

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update