Vanderbilt Cup Races

I didn’t see this until it ended, but as historian of The First Presbyterian Church of Newtown I can confirm that is the church’s former cemetery, begun 1822. Vandalized and full it closed in 1909, but the land was not sold until the late 1950s. The 1787 Old White Church across the street (which had been saved, forcing the move of the new church) actually burned down in 1927, torn down 1928. ...An old time resident (descendant of the 1652 Moore family founders of Newtown) tells me the store was later Weber’s Hardware. Queens Blvd. (Hoffman/Road to Jamaica as mentioned) was then only 2 lanes wide - on the north side. When it was enlarged to 12 in 1924, the church was given 3 choices - 1) Be an island in the middle of the road (That would have been fun getting to church!); 2) Tear down its still existing historic 1787 Old White Church Bldg. (across the street) AND its 1822 cemetery and graves, or 3) Move the new church back the equivalent of 10 lanes of traffic. Public outcry over the possible destruction of the historic 1787 church & burial ground forced the move of the new church, built 1895. It did have beautiful steeple once that DOUBLED the height of the present church. (We have a couple photos- beautiful!) The steeple did not fall in the move; the engineers were wise enough to know it wouldn’t withstand that. Instead, it was purposely taken down and all the stones numbered for reassembly later. Unfortunately that did not happen. Although the city paid some of the cost, the church still had to take out a $37,000 mortgage to cover the cost of the move. It took 30 or 40 years to repay. For a move they didn’t want!! Costs became so high they could not afford to reassemble the steeple. I often wonder if those stones are fill under Queens Blvd. No one knows where they went. The small room (not bldg.) removed at the side of the church I don’t think was damaged, but part of the plan. Too difficult to move, and the church later hoped to build an attached larger educational bldg.- which it did much later. The moving itself was considered a wonder of the world, reported even in Scotland. Before modern equipment, the church ( estimated 5 million lbs.) was hoisted onto greased huge logs, which were turned with hand winches,- so slowly and smoothly movement could not be seen. And the valuable 1895 stained glass by former Tiffany designers Sellers and Ashley did not break, except in a couple small areas. They still are there! The logs that moved the church along also still exist, under the church basement.
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Howard Kroplick:
Marjorie, thanks so much for providing the historic information on the church. Much appreciated!

From Mystery Foto #14 Solved: A Motor Parkway Sign at Queens Boulevard and Grand Avenue Circa 1928

I agree with you on that Gary. The lower wall looks newer than the top steps. Probably a later renovation. Some remains of landscaping walls built at other Pavilions around the Lake in the mid 1920s are built in this block style. This lower wall at the Trianon looks to be slightly newer,possibly mid 1930s. I hope to find a brick with the makers name on it when i visit there next week.

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

Missed a point - that cartoon is NOT of a 27 S-modell!  It depicts a much older race car, ca. 1910.  And Morticia predates ANY Mrs, Addams!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #49 Solved: Charles Addams and his wife Barbara Jean in Southampton Updated:10/30/16

From Gary Hammond:

A thought about the Petit Trianon steps remains - the concrete blocks with the bricks cemented on top don’t seem to be of the right period to be original to the 1911 time frame.  The 1911 photos show only concrete, so does Ron’s one photo of the original steps in the woods.  They seem to be solid, probably poured in wood forms, not concrete blocks with caps.  Concrete blocks were being made at that time period, but probably not used for landscape walls at the Petit Trianon.  Would be interesting if any of the bricks are marked with the maker - would help to date the age of these remains.

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

Sam,
The photos taken prior to the flight with the “Spirit” missing the spinner & prop are taken at Curtiss Field where the plane was housed.  It would take off from the field to the east - Roosevelt Field.  As per the NASM website: “While Lindbergh was flying the “Spirit” on its maiden flight from San Diego to Long Island on May 12, 1927, a crack developed in the aluminum behind the propeller, forcing him to replace the propeller spinner and nose cone just before his historic flight from New York to Paris.”  The original damaged nose cone is in the NASM collection.

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

The steps in the 1981 photo are indeed the same steps that were on the walkway behind the trianon. After coming down those steps you would follow the path down to the wall that ran along the shoreline,topped with bricks, that had a staircase down to the beach at each end of the wall. The 2016 photo shows the remains of the south end of that wall along the shoreline, and the remains of the steps that were once there.The lower stairs to the beach were constucted of cinder blocks covered by concrete. The upper set of stairs were constructed out of concrete. The ancient post marking the Southern boundary of the property is still in place just south of the Lower step remains.

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

Howie. . . . . congratulations!  Can’t wait to get an opportunity to see this great car next time I’m out in New York.

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Well, duh!  So obvious as to be painful once shown but rather funny how the curves line up.  First impressions rule (wrongly)!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

Checking for new comments (none, yet), I realized that the stairs I remember were closer to PT than Sam and Dave’s as shown on Frank’s satellite view overlay.  They were roughly where the “:W” in “WALKWAY” is and fairly-easily accessible from the path/trace shown as the bend in North Dr., although heavily overgrown.  Sam, III

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

Wheatley Heights/Wyandanch – North up
Bridges:
1. Ruland Rd parkway bridge
2. Wellwood Av parkway bridge
3. Little East Neck Rd parkway bridge
4. Colonial Springs parkway bridge (Half Hollows Rd)
1928 – Pre Long Island National Cemetery (1936), Pre Colonial Springs Golf Club (1995)
Pinelawn Memorial Park

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

Congratulations, Howard on purchasing that beautiful Tucker. One of only 47 out of 51 left in the world. Amazing.

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Mystery Foto #5….This aerial location is Wyandanch and Wheatley Heights. The bridges shown in the aerial are Little East Neck Road Motor Parkway Bridge and Half Hollows Road Motor Parkway Bridge. The photo was taken in 1928. And the other landmark is the circular roadway in the Pinelawn Memorial Park.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

No mystery whatsoever!  The curves on the LIMP at upper right give it away.  We’re directly above today’s Salisbury Park Drive and Friends Lane, with Carman Avenue heading straight down at left and Old Westbury Road down to the right.  The LIRR Central Branch runs diagonally left to right but I have no recollection of the big circle at the LIRR so I could easily be all wet here.  Let the other experts fill in the rest (especially if I’m dead wrong!).  Sam, III :·)

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

As I commented last week {?}, I have pix somewhere I took of those steps from ‘way back, ca. 1996 or earlier.  They were partly buried in brush but in good shape.  Pix of the eastern terminus and Annex at <http://sbiii.com/limpsuff.html#lakeronk>.  Sam, III

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

Oren, try my own old site, <http://sbiii.com/limtrpwy.html>, just for starters, with many links thereon.  What made me write, though, is that lead (and hangar) photo.  Look again; there’s no prop or spinner!  Does anyone know why?  Sam, III

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

The photo was taken from a point almost directly over what would become Pinelawn National Cemetery with north being at the top of the picture. The three LIMP bridges that are definitely there are: Half Hollows Road (Colonial Springs Rd.); Little East Neck Road; and Wellwood Avenue (Pinelawn Rd.) with Ruland Road and Smith Farmway (Maxess Rd.) just out of sight to the upper left. Since the cemetery was established in 1936 with the first burials starting in March, 1937, I’m going with a date of 1937 because it looks like some activity has taken place and the circular area around the LIRR station has been set up.

From Mystery Foto #5 Solved: A Long Island Motor Parkway Aerial Near Pinelawn Cemetery Circa 1928-1930

Howard,
Mazel tov!!!  It’s a beauty.  I can’t wait to see the Tucker in all its glory.
All the best.

Roger

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

A Great addition . Look forward to seeing your adventures with it !

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044

Howard, I enjoyed this story, paricularly since it deals with links to another mode of transportation, particularly important in LI history.  A few other obvious ones:
    Vanderbit family fortune made with ferries and railroads. 
  Alco, maker of Black Beast, primarily manufacturer of steam railroad locomotives

Can you and your readers come up with additional LIMP and Vanderbit Cup links to other transportation modes?

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

Howard:  Great find, and another rare car on L.I.  Good Luck Artie. GNYR.

From From Scottsdale to Roslyn: The Journey of Tucker 1044