Vanderbilt Cup Races

Brian, There was a Greylock Hall in Far Rockaway in the early 1900’s.

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on the Motor Parkway Part 3 - June, 1924

Thanks for the comments, gents.  Love the map you provided, Brian.  Especially the notation for the Petit Trianon - Little Vienna.  More research needed for that.

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on the Motor Parkway Part 3 - June, 1924

Shame this John Russell Pope structure was left to be demolished

From The Bethpage Lodge (1910-1960s): A Classic Repost from 2009

Just listed an very uncommon real photo postcard for sale. It shows a 1910 view of the Locomobile test vehicles and garage…

From Then & Now: The Locomobile Factory in Bridgeport

The map below is on Instagram page for Roslyn. Aerial captured during the construction of the LIE. Appeared familiar to me, then rotated it to North; and labeled some roads.

From The Planning and Construction of the Long Island Expressway Through the Roslyn Area: 1953 – 1959

Hi Art, like when you post historical info. Tried lookin around for a mention of Greylock Hall, but no luck. Left a screenshot of a map showing properties surrounding the lake in the 1930s, into the 1940s. Realize the inns, hotels etc would change owners. One of the properties could’ve been Greylock.

Samuel Hopes life was interesting ( besides being assaulted & mugged ) States on his obituary that while residing in Lake Ronkonkoma, he was in charge of a Lilco Substation. Maybe he did this after the parkway closed. Lilco may’ve hired him to watch guard the substation, I’m sure there were people that would try to steal wire ( people still do ) and other equipment from the substations

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on the Motor Parkway Part 3 - June, 1924

Al.  I was very familiar with that Robbins property.  When delivering mail I did a route that area.  The houses that were built there are extrodinary.  Curiously, there is still one vacant lot on the west side of “Robbins Dr!”  Imagine what the owner of said property would get for that lot.  Bob

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on the Motor Parkway Part 3 - June, 1924

Bob Allen, Your question about holdouts demanding exorbitant prices. In most cases the routing of the Motor Parkway answers that question. But… sometimes the Parkway paid the price.  One example was the purchase of the Robbins parcel on the east side of Roslyn Road to the Wheatley Golf Club. The Parkway paid roughly $3,000 an acre for the parcel on the west side of Roslyn Road and paid Robbins, who figured out what was going on, and held the last parcel to complete the Parkway in that areas, $10,000 per acre. Not only that, the Parkway had to build a farmway bridge for Robbins.

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on the Motor Parkway Part 3 - June, 1924

Art, The gas station was located on the grounds of the Petit Trianon Inn. The Ronkonkoma Lodge never sold petroleum products.

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on the Motor Parkway Part 3 - June, 1924

I love the random little stories in this Kleiner’s Korner.  But getting perhaps a little off topic, what I’ve been thinking about lately is how did they assemble the property to build LIMP?  Even Robert Moses, who was able to utilize eminent domain, seems to have had problems putting roads where he wanted.  How would you get all these independent Long Island land owners to sell you relatively narrow strips of property?  Did they assure prospective sellers that their remaining property would greatly increase in value due to the parkway?  How would you deal with holdouts that demanded exorbitant prices?
Maybe I missed it, but I don’t think I’ve seen this addressed before…  Thanks!

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on the Motor Parkway Part 3 - June, 1924

I’m looking for any information on the motor Yatch Gertrude R owned by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Profile: Harry Payne Whitney

The Challenger III is at the top edge of the green in the lower right quadrant of the image. (See attached image with car circled) The event was “The Bridge VI”, an upscale, invitation only automobile show held on September 17, 2022 at The Bridge Golf Club in Bridgehampton. The golf club is on the site of the former Bridgehampton
Racing Circuit.

From Mystery Friday Foto #28 Solved; Did you find the 1962 Holman Moody Challenger III?

I grew up in Merrick, so we heard the Freeport races from our house every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. We attended some of the races as well. I saw stock cars, modifieds, and of course they always ended with a demolition derby.

From Mystery Friday Foto #27 Solved: Freeport Racetrack/Stadium

That is not Erwin Bergdoll; it is the eldest of the brothers, Louis J. Bergdoll, III.

From Mystery Foto #29 Solved: The 1908 Briarcliff Trophy Race

I believe thats Freeport Stadium. Opened in the early 1930’s, closed in the early 1980’s. The site is now occupied by industrial and retail buildings.

From Mystery Friday Foto #27 Solved: Freeport Racetrack/Stadium

The story was passed down for generations. Like myself with my grandfather, his granddaughter Laurie Ashodian heard the stories and shared the memories. Mr. Aquilina was meticulous and kept track of all things Tucker.

From An Amazing Discovery: Brand new "still in the box" 73-year old Tucker luggage

The story was passed down for generations. Like myself with my grandfather, his granddaughter Laurie Ashodian heard the stories and shared the memories. Mr. Aquilina was a very meticulous man and kept track of all things Tucker.

From An Amazing Discovery: Brand new "still in the box" 73-year old Tucker luggage

To Bob: could be, but I recall it as being nice smooth black asphalt-but as they say, with age, my short term memory is declining, while my long term memory is getting so good, I’m remembering things that may not have even happened…

Now Glen Cove Rd- that was beige concrete with black tar strips bordering every approx 50 ft section- 4 lanes, 2 in each direction, and quite adequate for cars as wide as a Model A Ford

From The Planning and Construction of the Long Island Expressway Through the Roslyn Area: 1953 – 1959

Very interesting article.  My one question is the mention in the article and by Fred Eisenstein of the roadway being asphalt.  I thought the original road was concrete, with an odd little inclined curb that rose up to a cobblestone shoulder (I recall reading-probably in Newsday-that the curb could not be negotiated with a flat tire).  I believe a good deal of the old concrete still exists under layers of asphalt-you can see it when the asphalt pot holes out.  I’ll bet the original concrete lasted a lot longer than the ensuing resurfacings that were done.

From The Planning and Construction of the Long Island Expressway Through the Roslyn Area: 1953 – 1959

That’s Freeport stadium

From Mystery Friday Foto #27 Solved: Freeport Racetrack/Stadium