Vanderbilt Cup Races

Al Velocci:  What was the purpose of the large rectangular opening surrounded by concrete on one side of the bridge? Hint: Its primary function was not for use as a road or a public pedestrian walkway.
Hector Gavilla: Was this rectangular opening north or south of the railroad tracks? Accordingly, what is the orientation of the above Mystery Foto: looking east or looking west? Provide your rationale.

All complete guesses this time, but judging by the 1907 survey blueprint, it looks like the opening would have been for an access road to the Nibbe farm. That puts the opening on the north side of the tracks and makes the photo’s view to the West.

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

Mystery Foto #94 The rectangular opening was north of the rail road. The opening was NOT a Farm bridge, BUT a Farm Tunnel. It connected the Rizzo property together. Keep up the good work guys

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

Howard:  Page 83 of your book shows a photo indicating the view is “looking east”  with Central Park to the left of the tracks, and the concrete opening is described as a pedestrian walkway.  The opening appears to be large enough to accommodate a railroad car, or an equestrian path.  The accompanying map shows there may have been a farmway right of way pass through.

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

Wow what cars, but “YOURS” is still the best, even though that 1928 Chrysler Imperial Le Baron Phaeton was unrestored, it probably wasn’t as perfect and not the only one left

From Hemmings Classic Car: Pebble Beach Concours

I’m going at this methodically. Purpose for the rectangular opening on one side of the abutment, and is this opening on the N or S side of the overpass?  If not PRIMARILY a passageway for horses,cows, etc.( OK, I believe this is on the north side of the overpass; probably on farmland property.) After looking at old topo maps of this area, I noticed blue lines(water) close to this location. So I’m thinking that the opening allowed water passage. The opening looks high enough for “other uses”. I would be looking west if taking the picture. The Starlight Fuel Company photo gave me a clue. The closeup of the overpass has the steel divider for Central Ave towards the right(looking east). The mystery photo has the divider towards the left. Hope I answered this correctly. Good luck everyone.

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

I have to do this now or I won’t have a chance to do it Sunday or Monday. I’m pretty sure of my answers on this one. Well here goes nothing, wish me luck. Looking at the pictures over and over, they are a bit confusing, as you said. This is what I got out of it. The purpose of the rectangular opening is only for the construction workers. As for the directions, I hope I’m right, The bridge is going north and south, the opening is east and west, am I right on that? That’s it

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

Confusing indeed. These pictures of the Central Ave bridge were always difficult to determine their correct headings, and the construction photos never helped as well. But based on the second picture of the gent driving the auto may have helped resolve the mystery. The utility pole on the right is casting a shadow towards the left (the north), and the rectangular bridge opening can be barely seen along the left border. So I’m betting that the mystery photo is looking west, putting the opening on the north side of the tracks. I once believed the opening was used for general pedestrian use but there is a photo out there showing the opening dead-ending into a small lot, making the opening inappropriate for general pedestrian use. I was unable to find that photo again.

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

THIS WAS AND IS A SPECIAL VENUE FOR THE BUICK CLUB AND YES MY DAUGHTER STEPHANIE SHE LOVE IT   THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS

HOWIE SCHNEIDER

From Buicks Visit a Chrysler at Waterfront at Roslyn

When I first saw at the photo, I thought I would just search through Howard and Al’s book because it looked familiar. And there it was on page 84 with the caption; case closed, mystery solved. But then I thought what if the caption is wrong and there really is a mystery. Let’s assume we’re actually looking west. That means the large rectangular opening is on the north side of the tracks and could be a “farmway” opening for William Stymus to have easy access to both sections of his property.

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

I like Art’s and Michael’s comments also!

From LIHerald.com: Preserving history with a bike path

Hi ALL:  Re:  Bridge Opening——-It was to link the divided farm that was
severed by the construction and location of the LIMP.

                  Cheers and Best !!!!!  Ron

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

Howard, there was once a heated debate about which two paths behind this bridge followed the LIMP ROW. I’ve since failed to visit the site but understood it was a long, drawn out debate. It was later revealed that the ROW was the path that was least traveled (Robert Frost). I will visit there as soon as I can.
Frank

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #51: The Claremont Avenue Bridge in Old Bethpage

Cars looking good. Check out the (looks like a 442?) in gold, Chrysler’s Chrysler beaming in the sun. Nice job on the restorations guys. Lots of work had, no doubt. Keep ‘em beaming. Beautiful!

From Buicks Visit a Chrysler at Waterfront at Roslyn

It looks as if the rectangular opening was meant as a farmway bridge to provide William Stymus with pedestrian and horse cart access under the Motor Parkway to both sides of his property.

The rectangular opening was on the North (Northeast) side of the tracks. 

The photo was taken facing roughly West, since the path of Central Avenue is on the South side of the tracks to the West of the bridge; crossing the tracks on the Southeast side of the bridge, then continuing East on the North side of the tracks.

The path of the Motor Parkway right-of-way is clearly visible to the south of Central Avenue on Google Maps’ satellite image and would have continued to the North roughly where the aptly named Norcross Avenue is today.

Bob

From Mystery Foto #94 Solved: The Stymus Farmway Underpass of the Motor Parkway's Longest Bridge

I’m sure your a busy man, Howard. Fun busy, I hope. Your bridge series is the best, it’s of great interest to me. I always look forward to it. Your photos are the next best thing to a time machine.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #51: The Claremont Avenue Bridge in Old Bethpage

The Chrysler is beautiful restored.  I especially liked the nickel hardware with blue enamel…just amazing attention to detail. Thank you Howard for hosting us and giving the impromptu presentation and stories about the Chrysler. We all had a great time!
-Frank Tedesco

From Buicks Visit a Chrysler at Waterfront at Roslyn

We all had a wonderful day at Howard’s Garage. Great people, excellent cars, neat location, nice weather and good food! Who could ask for anything more?

From Buicks Visit a Chrysler at Waterfront at Roslyn

To all veterans ‘HAPPY VETERANS DAY’ and thank you.

From Mystery Foto #93 Solved: Henry Austin Clark, Jr. in his 1926 Model T Acrobatic in Southampton, NY

You sure were clowning around with this one and that’s no joke, you fooled me, I should have gotten it

From Mystery Foto #93 Solved: Henry Austin Clark, Jr. in his 1926 Model T Acrobatic in Southampton, NY

By chance is that Frank Fontaine driving that wheely car? I don’t know who that girl is. The car might be a Model A or T modified to do a wheely

From Mystery Foto #93 Solved: Henry Austin Clark, Jr. in his 1926 Model T Acrobatic in Southampton, NY