Vanderbilt Cup Races

Great find; thanks, Howard,m for sharing!  May I please sneak in my on-going plea for one of your ever-increasing circle of readers to help find a missing similar privately-published WKV, Jr., book(let), the heavily-illustrated one he had done about the construction of the LIMP, <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy0.html#limpbklt>?  Sam, III

From William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s 1937 Book "Flying Lanes"

That one pc you are holding may have been for a gate at the entrance???

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

You know I’ve been thinking about the 2nd apparatus, Dave. The first piece looks like a rusted propane tank for a Coleman camping stove?

Did you and Sam find these near the area where it looks like a house was demolished? Frank and I were in this area where the driveway leads to the Water District last Fall. I remember a house was there in the past ( Small basketball court ).

Lots of eyes here, someone must know what the 2nd apparatus is.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Hate to be a spoil-sport but I remember a blistering lecture on private property delivered in 1999 so by a very-irate homeowner of the north side of Robbins Drive who claimed that he and his neighbors had BOUGHT the RoW to extend their back yards.  Other than that caveat, nothing seems to have changed in there in all these years; for 1999, see <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy2.html#RoslynRd>!  Thanks again, Sam and Dave!  Sam, III (the much older one)

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

This was a great find. Very exciting to realize the full LIMP remains under this brush.

Two questions:

1) This road that leads to the water station with the posts lining it….do we think this might have been an entrance/exit ramp? Or was this made after just to access the water station? It just seems odd that the posts align this road perfectly.

2) this portion of the LIMP, who do we think owns this property? Would this just be part of the backyard of those that live to the south of this? Would this be part of the water station property?

Brian I await you analysis of the mystery pieces. I can tell you they were deeply buried. The power lines are not directly above this location so I’m actually hoping you don’t know what this is and it could be something good!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Meant to say when “all of you” cleaned the parkway west of Roslyn Road. Not Al and you.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

A short movie “The Stain” in which Theda Bara appeared as an extra featured location scenes at the Petit Trianon at Lake Ronkoma.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: Theda Bara's Film Debut in "The Stain" Filmed at Petit Trianon

The LIMP is still very evident east past the sump on the Golf Course before it turned south through same. Much of the original road with extensions are used by the Golf Course for maintenance vehicles.

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Gram and I can’t wait to hear about observations on the artifacts. This was one of OUR favorite sections of the roadway!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

great work, I think you found transmission parts.  Enjoy the series very much

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Howard, I had stop by your garage in Roslyn the other day, looking through the garage door window the view of the back of the Tucker, the paint is peeling on the trunk and on the top right rear fender. Did not notice in the photos you had posted. NEEDS RESTORATION!

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

I remember playing over there, and exploring as a kid.  Back in the late 1970’s.  The East side of Roslyn Road, before they built the house, looked much like the west side.  With a waist high stone wall built across the road.  The area was a gradual downhill, down to the sump, and the back entrance of WHGC.  We used to laugh as kids.  Because someone put up a sign near the side road to the water district that said “missile silos.”

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Brian - I also measured 1000 ft west of OLD Rosevale Ave (according to “The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway and Their Gatekeepers’ Lives” book). The original lodge still shows up west from its current location. We’re on track here. Still searching for a clear aerial of the lodge in its heyday, so to pinpoint its location on the LIMP.

From The Motor Parkway Toll Collection Structures:#19 and #20 The Ronkonkoma Toll Gate & Ronkonkoma Lodge

Sam & Dave…try beginning your next exploration off of Executive Drive.  There is an Old Courthouse Road listed on modern maps where an existing bridge over the old MP still exists…you can begin here and progress all the way to where you ended up in this post.  Great job documenting the remaining history, guys!

From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure V: The Motor Parkway East of Roslyn Road

Brian - According to Harolds post, the walkway entered the lake “when the level was high.” It may have been intended as a boat launch. Not sure about the level rising and falling. I’ve read the lake acts as a water table level indicator as it’s connected underneath to other water bodies in the area, possibly Long Island Sound as well. There are 4 or 5 holes at its bottom with the deepest at ~70 ft at its SW section.

From Femenias' Findings:Finding Petit Trianon, the Annex & the Petit Trianon's Lake Stairway Updated 3/12

Mystery Foto# 6…. I can’t really connect Theda Bara directly to the Motor Parkway but I do find that she made her screen debut in a silent movie called “the Stain” cast as an extra in the role of a Gun Moll. And this movie was shot on location at Lake Ronkonkoma. Ronkonkoma being the eastern most terminus of the Motor Parkway.
Whether that is the connection or not remains to be seen in our Monday night reveal. She had three different names over time…Theodosia Goodman, Theodosia De Cappett and of course Theda Bara.

From Mystery Foto #6 Solved: Theda Bara's Film Debut in "The Stain" Filmed at Petit Trianon

From Michael L:
Thank you so much for the wonderful story about Lindbergh’s flight and the priceless film that goes with it.  I blew the dust off my Peter Helck books and read them again.  Wonderful books, and a wonderful story. Thanks again, Michael.

From Helck Family Collection: George Robertson's Eyewitness Account of Lindbergh's Journey to History

From Arlene S
Holy cow Howard!  Is that gorgeous TUCKER yours?!  Phew!  congratulations!  It’s a beauty!!! All of Long Island will have a treat this summer for sure!

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Absolutely, Frank. The 2nd drop/stairway closer to the lake is likely Ron’s 4th photo ( crumbling steps ). And looking at Sam & Daves 1/28/17 blog, I also believe the “concrete/cement slab” is a continuation ahead of the 2nd drop/stairway. I like to think that this slab used to continue towards the lake as a small boat launch. The lake itself was a big attraction back then for recreation, etc.

From Femenias' Findings:Finding Petit Trianon, the Annex & the Petit Trianon's Lake Stairway Updated 3/12

After reading comments from Sam III, Dale, and Gary, I can now picture two drops in the 1912 photo of the circular walkway leading to the lake (photo attached). The drops were not apparent at first sight.

From Femenias' Findings:Finding Petit Trianon, the Annex & the Petit Trianon's Lake Stairway Updated 3/12