Vanderbilt Cup Races

Roy: Fantastic story. All is similar today as you’ve experienced, the pedestrian bridge over the LIE, and the still disorienting LIMP entrance at Peck, being as choppy as ever, especially the bridges!. And that last hill under the GCP, like you, open ‘er up in high gear! I’ve recorded it as 8% grade but correct me if I’m wrong. Still nothing compares to that thrill?

From New VanderbiltCupRaces.com Series: My Motor Parkway Story #1- Jerry Mintz

Garden city Hotel

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Foto g Otto kahn estate

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

From Gary Hammond

Here’s my answers to this weeks mystery photos:

Hammond’s Historical Happenings

• Photo A: Playland Park, Freeport; existed 1924-1931; 9 acres at South Grove St. & Front St., Freeport (see attached post card (c.1920’s) for details)

• Photo B: Fresh Meadow Country Club, 255 Lakeville Rd., Lake Success; buildings still exist today (as does the swimming pool hidden in the trees), although much expanded

• Photo C: Kew Gardens, Queens; looking NW down LIRR tracks; lowest bridge is Lefferts Ave.; LIRR Station is just above it on right side of the tracks; next bridge is 82nd St. Bridge; then 80th St. Bridge; then the next bridge is now replaced by Jackie Robinson Pkwy; the Park at top left is part of Forest Park; road on right side of photo is Austin St.; road on left side of LIRR is Grenfell St.; all the street names are based on current road names, as I don’t know if that is the names used in the 1920’s or if they have been renamed since then

• Photo D: Is obviously a superimposed artistic rendition of a proposed school building, location unknown to me

• Photo E: Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Corporation Plant, Clinton Road & Stewart Ave., Garden City;
1. Note name “CURTISS” spelled out on the smokestack (still exists today); for many decades the building was home to Oxford Pendaflex, and is today used by both Nassau BOCES and FedEx
2. also the old gas tank (now removed), both an obstacle & navigational landmark for the aviators flying at Curtiss/Roosevelt Fields; the still site is occupied by National Grid as 600 Stewart Ave.
3. on the right are some of the old wooden WWI warehouse buildings left over from Camp Mills
4. the building on the left side of the photo also still exists, although today it is a Chase Bank
5. the 3-story building on the right, just below the gas tank, is used still by the 1st Marine Corps District, 605 Stewart Ave. (see separate history below)
6. and of course we can’t forget the LIMP running diagonal across the top left of the photo (notice the white concrete posts), pass Raymond Ct., where many of those homes still stand!

• Photo F: An unknown greenhouse complex

• Photo G: Clarence Mackay Estate, Harbor Hill, Roslyn

.    Photo H: The Lido Beach Hotel

History of Marine Corps building (from their website):

“The current 1st Marine Corps District building was built by the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P) in 1923 for a warehouse and distribution center.  The building became outdated, and A&P built a more modern warehouse further east on Stewart Ave. The vacated building took occupancy in 1941 by Sperry Gyroscope, famous for manufacturing war materials.  During their occupancy, they added several buildings, to include the guardhouse and a cafeteria. Today the cafeteria occupies the same structure, half of which was converted into the 1st MCD Enlisted Club.
The building was purchased by Navy Records Management Center (NRMC) for $319,000 immediately following the end of the war in 1945 in order to process and microfilm the paperwork of the thousands of discharged servicemen of WWII. Being on Long Island for ten years, NRMC moved to more up to date facilities in St. Louis, Mo. in 1955.
For almost a year, the building was only occupied by a small caretaker team. Alicia Patterson, publisher of an up and coming newspaper called NEWSDAY, tried to acquire the property. When she failed, she built her plant next door.
A public affairs officer was scouting the New York area to relocate the 1st MCRD&RD; headquarters. With the help of the caretaker personnel, 11 officers and 53 enlisted Marines took occupancy of the property on August 3, 1953.  In 1956, the 1st Marine Corps Reserve and Recruiting District (MCR&RD;) headquarters moved from Boston to its present location on Stewart Avenue in Garden City, N.Y.  On 11 October 1985, the District held a commemorative naming ceremony to name the building in honor of the historical Marine from the metro New York area, Cpl. John F. Mackie, the first Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor.”
Gary Hammond

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Howard, Thanks for posting these great photos. I can’t identify any of the locales, but many of them look familiar, at least in a generic way. The country club and high school especially so. The greenhouses look like they’re at the intersection of Front Street and East Meadow Avenue (formerly Newbridge Avenue) where a large nursery property was located when we moved from the city, but I don’t think there could have been so many residences nearby in the 30’s. So that locale is probably much closer to a larger population center. I’m not usually nostalgic about Long Island, but I thank you for reminding me about its many interesting features.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Foto E is the old Curtiss Engineering Co. grounds; now belongs to School District - plant where the NC flying boats were built - First Across the Atlantic!  See video of Nc-4 here… http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/video/1486853815/

Cheers,
John Bayer

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Wow,something else for your collection of goodies. At this time I would like to wish all mothers out there to have a very HAPPY MOTHERS DAY.

From The Art of Jack Juratovic: 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler

Howard,
Thank you for all your exploration and explanations of everything LIMP. How many times I have stood on LIMP next to American Legion on Willis Ave. and wondered how and where the bridge crossed and what it looked like. There must be more pictures like this one. I fear pictures like this are bring discarded by next of kin not realizing how important they are to people like us. How can we reach out to Long Islanders to search their attics for these treasures?
Thank you,
Mark Lanese

From The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge over Willis Avenue in Willison Park

Howard,
I’m always in awe of people who can paint or draw such accurate images of automobiles that seem to jump off the page.  Enjoy!!!
Rog

From The Art of Jack Juratovic: 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler

Terrific. I remember well how my friends and I would ride our bikes - without helmets, yet - all the way to, and just beyond, the City line. I always had at least a dime to call home if needed.
I grew up in Fresh Meadows on the other side of Horace Harding Blvd., which became the LIE when it opened in Fresh Meadows in 1959-60. I was 11 y/o in 1959 when I got my first real bike; a three-gear English racer. Being old enough, my friends and I crossed over the LIE by means of the footbridge that connected 196th St. and Peck Ave. While going along Peck Ave, we got to a point where there was a parallel “bike path”; we didn’t know that it was the Motor Parkway. What a ride, all the way to Creedmor.
The road was choppy because the pavement was very worn. Regardless, we built up tremendous 3rd gear speed going down what was the long final grade.
Your efforts in preserving the heritage of the Motor Parkway are most worthwhile, given that its preserved portions are “living history.”
Thank you.
Roy Warner
Boca Raton, FL

From New VanderbiltCupRaces.com Series: My Motor Parkway Story #1- Jerry Mintz

Foto G is the Clarence Mackay estate in Roslyn. Just another unbelievable LI Gold Coast masterpiece of yesteryear.

The main gate is still standing, right across from Roslyn HS, the water tower remains in tact and one of the beautiful horse statues at the bottom of the pic is located right on Main Street next to Roslyn Duck Pond.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Photo C - Forest HIlls, south of LIRR -
Photo D - former Mineola High School circa 1929-1935
Photo E - Curtis Manufacturing facility, Garden City.

From Mystery Fotos #19 Amost Solved : Eight Amazing 1928 Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation Archives

Our parents would all be arrested if they raised kids today the way we were raised! My kids don’t believe anything I tell them in terms of how we grew up! We baby these kids so much now!

This looks like a great idea, hearing stories and seeing the pics. I love the then and now pics so maybe insert pics of what locations look like now if possible!

From New VanderbiltCupRaces.com Series: My Motor Parkway Story #1- Jerry Mintz

Wow! What an amazing aerial of Beacon Towers! Awesome post.

From Amazing Aerials from the Cradle of Aviation: #4 A View That Might Have Inspired "The Great Gatsby"

Ted:  You’re right. This is gonna be good.

From New VanderbiltCupRaces.com Series: My Motor Parkway Story #1- Jerry Mintz

Jeff:  Great catch on your dad’s part. I’ve heard stories of real estate purchases that went kaput within 6 months because of highway development.

Chris:  Heard that one but my all time Cult fav was ‘Burnin’ for You’. And don’t forget ‘The Reaper’. Geez, I was admitted in that same hospital (LIJ) in ’76 when it was first released, diagnosed with type 1. Would you believe the hosp today, has no record of events back then?? Amazing! :D Guys, drop by every Fri to solve the mysteries, no points loss for trying, and Howard keeps ‘em interesting.

From Exclusive: 1956 Aerial Views of the Construction of the Long Island Expressway in Lake Success

What an awesome story, Jerry. I definitely would’ve explored right along with you. Even though I’m a bit of a younger generation, taking my bike far from home still wasn’t a big deal as a kid. Now I make sure my boys have their cellphones when out and about.

From New VanderbiltCupRaces.com Series: My Motor Parkway Story #1- Jerry Mintz

This should be a very interesting series.I might even have a little something,you might know about it,by where I use to live.

From New VanderbiltCupRaces.com Series: My Motor Parkway Story #1- Jerry Mintz

Nice detective work. With the northside buildings still intact today, it’s possible the mystery hotel along with the other southside dwellings were all razed (or moved) at some point for today’s 7-lane expanded boulevard. Also Willie K’s poultry house at the field looks designed by John Russell Pope, similar to the original lodges.
_________________________________________

From Howard Kroplick

Frank, I agree. It appears to be designed by Pope.

From MysteryFoto #18 Solved: An Abandoned Hotel on Little Neck Parkway and Northern Boulevard in 1926

I missed the last couple of mystery photos ( away on vacation, boys week off from school ). This one that Al provided looked interesting and difficult. Not really having the time to delve into this one, I figured at least of couple of you would solve it. And that you did. Congrats to all. Always enjoy knowing what was the past and the present.

From MysteryFoto #18 Solved: An Abandoned Hotel on Little Neck Parkway and Northern Boulevard in 1926