Vanderbilt Cup Races

Looks like the plane from which this photo was taken was directly over Mitchel Field in the Hempsted / Uniondale area with the camera pointed in a northerly direction. There’s Roosevelt Field (the airfield, not the mall) in the upper left with Roosevelt Raceway (horses, not cars) to the right of that; former site of the 1936 & 1937 Vanderbilt Cup Races and formerly Hazelhurst Field, where Lindbergh took off in 1927. Technically, the 1908, 1909, & 1910 V. C. Races went through a portion of the upper right corner also (Ellison Ave.).  Remnants of the L. I. Motor Parkway are also visable entering the photo at the upper left corner, proceeding south, and then east near the middle. Major east-west roads are Old Country Road near the top, Stewart Avenue (center) and Hempstead Tpke. near the bottom. A small piece of Merrick Ave. can be seen at the upper right corner. It appears that there is early constuction for the Meadowbrook Parkway extension (Old Country Rd bridge) so I’m going to date the photo around early 1954.

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

I just found an old photograph in my grandmothers basement with James L. Breese’s signature It is a black and white with four horses pulling a wagon with it looks like some well to do folks on going past a bilding or outdoor seating area with several tall open archways There is also a stamp on botton left that says copyrighted by Breese studio with 1898 in the middle. I know my grandfather Bruno Beck had once designed a car that did not make it into production . Just wondering if they could be related somehow or if the photogragh could be worth something it is under glass in its original frame but has some slight mold damage
thank you
Catherine Beck
_______________________________________________

From Howard Kroplick

Catherine, James Breese was also a prominent photographer of his era as documented by one of his relatives Mark Breese Sink. Check out this link:http://www.gallerysink.com/marksink/Breese_Essay_Sink.html

I would suggest contacting Mark about your discovery at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

Good luck!

From Southampton's James L. Breese and the Vanderbilt Cup Races

Fantastic !
The car is standing proud once again . Well done Howard…

From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "

I predict you’ll be listing a lot of names who get this one right, as nearly everyone who’s a fan of your site would recognize the Motor Parkway running east/west between the remnants of Roosevelt Field (above) and still-active Marshall Air Force Field (below).  Circa late 1940s.  Where the parkway turns north is of course Clinton Street, and Meadow Brook Polo Field is the prominent dark rectangle that abuts the parkway further to the east.

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

Great job - beautiful job Howard and team!

From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "

Congratulations and well deserved to a true Automobile Historian, Collector, and Gentlemen. I look forward to seeing you at the next car show on Long Island. I have been following your journey with this car since the bid process from the county. Keep it going!

From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "

could this be the old Flushing airport…located partially in College point and flushing.
that is now well defunct ??? Off of the now parkway that goes to the throgsneck bridge. ??

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

could this be the old Flushing airport…located partially in College point and flushing.
that is now well defunct ???

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

The picture is taken north to south.  Roosevelt Field on the top, Roosevelt Raceway next to it, and most prominently, Mitchel Field on the bottom.  Mitchel Field has the added runways and dispersal points constructed during World War II.  Hempstead Tpke.is at the bottom. Stewart Ave. is the road separating Roosevelt from Mitchel.  The Motor Parkway which really can’t be seen was south west and south Roosevelt Field and parallel to Stewart Ave. and was gone by the time this picture was taken after WWII in the late 1940’s The Vanderbilt Cup Race was held at Roosevelt Raceway made from half of Roosevelt Field in 1936 & 1937.  To the east of Mitchel Field are the Polo Fields and golf course of the Meadowbrook Club

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

From Scott Abbey

Howie - that is outstanding.  Congratulations!

From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "

Hi Howard,

Congratulations, Pebble Beach is a great Honor to win. That is one great Chrysler you have.

George

From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "

Congratulations, Howard !

From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "

Roosevelt field and raceway

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

Hi Howard:
  Well deserved and very happy for you and you must be ecstatic !!!!!!!

            Cheers and Best Always,  Cordially,  Ron Ridolph

From Video: "The 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance "

Howard
you are never too old to have a happy childhood
great car
keep on cruisin
Jay

From The 26 First in Class Winners at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Looking north across Mitchel Field about 1948.
Left to right across bottom Fulton Avenue (Hempstead Turnpike).
Old Country Road left to right across top.
Roosevelt Field in upper left ( forming a right angle)
Stewart Avenue running left to right across center at north edge of Mitchel.
Long Island Motor Parkway left to right just above Stewart Avenue
Roosevelt Raceway at top right
Clinton Road bridge over LIMP at lower left
Rectangle abutting LIMP at center right is Meadowbrook Polo Field
Meadowbrook Country Club is square boxed area at center right
Old Westbury Golf Club center left under Roosevelt Field above LIMP
LILCO gas tanks on Stewart Ave, center left

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

-Identify the location of the aeriral and key roads and structures.

For roads,along the top left to right is Old Country Road. Bottom right to center is Hempstead Turnpike. Stewart Ave cuts thru the center, paralleled by the old Stewart Central Railroad line. Clinton Road runs the west (left) side of the airfield.

Prominently in the lower center we have the Mitchel Air Force Base. Top left is Roosevelt Field Airport, not the shopping mall. Top right is Roosevelt Raceway in the revised horse racing, not the original motor speedway configuration.

Beginning at the top left corner running south (down) is the Long Island Motor parkway. It curves across Clinton till it runs along the south side of the airport and the raceway.

What is missing is the Meadowbrook parkway, which today meanders thru this scene, even eating up some of the LIMP right of way.

-What is the approximate date of the aerial? Why?

Two bookend dates: Roosevelt Raceway opened as a horse track in 1940. Construction on this portion of the Meadowbrook began in 1953. I could not narrow it down any closer.

-How is the aerial related to the Long Island Motor Parkway, the Vanderbilt Cup Races and aviation history?

How is it not? The Motor Parkway itself runs all thru the image.

Roosevelt Raceway was the site of the 1936 and 37 Vanderbilt Cup Races when it was still a motor speedway.

Roosevelt Field Airport is where Lindbergh left for France, also the 1920 Pulitzer Trophy Race. Mitchel Field held the 1925 Pulitzer Trophy Race.

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

Howard,

Wow!!  What a great honor to win at Pebble Beach.. The best to you and Roz as well the team that put the car together.

From The 26 First in Class Winners at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Roosevelt Field, Mitchell Field, and all that goes along with it.
-joe

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948

Upper Left Roosevelt Field, Upper Right Roosevelt Raceway, Lower Left Hempstead (Hofstra and 1st Presby Church and Cemetery), Lower Right Santini Hospital (or kellenberg depending on the year). Mitchel Field in the center around or just after WWII days. Above that we can still see the Meadowbrook Hunt Club, the Polo Fields and and the Raceway Paddock. Motor Parkway has given way to shrubs and houses but it looks like parts remain on the right hand side of the picture. The Meadowbrook State Parkway is not yet built so it looks pre 1955, but cannot be earlier than 1940 since Garden City houses are going up where the Motor Parkway turned. Roosevelt Field shopping Mall not yet built but the airfield looks closed. I would guess this picture is postwar maybe in a 5 year period between 1947 to 1952. I discovered that If you go north of the Marriott Hotel and make a right onto Charles Lindbergh Blvd you can still see part of the original taxiway on the southeast part of Mitchel Field behind the fence. Definitely pre-jet era also because runway 23 is not fully developed.

From Mystery Foto #82 Solved: Aerial View of Mitchel Field and Roosevelt Field on September 1, 1948