Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Ann:
Hi Howard!

Brought back great memories for Bob, playing on that bridge after the roadway was taken up, and all that was left, at that time in the 1940’s, were the beams going across.  What a challenge!!

Ann

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Bridge over troubled water. There were two LIMP Hwy bridges to be built on each side of the grandstand that were never completed. This appears to be a pkwy bridge not shown on the motor pkwy atlas, that may have been used to keep storm water off the track. Today there are many storm basins in the Hempstead Plains area including one adjacent to this very spot.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

In regards to the unidentified midget race car driver pictured, the driver should be Morris “Babe” Bower, a top notch midget race driver from Philadelphia PA. Three National Midget Championship Races were held during 1939. The first was a 100-lap event, staged on a specially constructed quarter-mile banked board track on June 25 at Soldier Field, Chicago. A 150-mile race, held on a half-mile track at Roosevelt Raceway, Long Island, N. Y., on August 12, was won by Morris “Babe” Bower; second, Joe Garson and third, Perry Grimm. The final championship race was a 150-lap event held on the quarter-mile Gilmore Stadium track, in Los Angeles. The winners in each of the above races drove Offenhauser midget cars.”
According to brief information at the website posted below, Bower was a very small man which fits your website photo well. Thanks for your time, Wayne http://midgetcarpanorama.proboards.com/thread/550/midget-racer?page=1#scrollTo=1716

From Midget Auto Racing at Roosevelt Raceway in 1939

Howard - looks like a bridge to me!  Looking back in the blog I found your 1928 Motor Parkway Atlas schematic from May 18, 2013 (exactly one year ago today) on the Finding the Grandstand page (that was the page that showed us inspecting the then Josato property near Crocus Lane). The schematic shows a bridge to be built just west of the grandstand (M.W. Br. Sta 14E).  I originally thought that might be it but what you show in the mystery photo is more of a parkway bridge as the parkway runs over whatever is underneath it.  However, I then realized that Ernie actually sent the same mystery photo to me a few years ago (he found me by looking at my website and realized we are both Levittonwers) and just yesterday e-mailed him about it.  Ernie let me in on what your suggestion as to what the mystery photo might be (a culvert?) so I’m taking me out of the running this week.  Incidentally, the area behind that part of Orchard Road is now a sump so very could be a culvert.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

The area behind the boys is now a catch basin, any trace of the Parkway long gone.

When I sent Howard these images his comment was it is a culvert, which is probably what we see. In this area there is a natural valley here, now along the current Violet Lane, that extends well north and south of this area, so some drainage would be needed.

While this area is very close to the race Grandstands I have not seen it in the background of any of the pictures. That is the best chance of seeing it again.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

The 1906 race being the first use of the checkered flag? And Willie K is caught standing right beside it in the pic? That’s an incredible capture Howard! Thanks!!

From The Largest Newspaper Photo Ever Published in 1906- The Checkered Flag Finish of Louis Wagner

Hello Howard,

Please change the word “bridge” to “tunnel”  as to what the “structure” is in my previous guess. Thanks.

Steve

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

To add to my earlier comments , the bridge in the photo is shown on two drawings at station 124. The 1909 drawing makes note of a feature at sta.124 and the 1928 drawing notes Br to be built. In my earlier comments I stated that Division St (Ave) crossed the LIRR tracks and there was a brick platform for passengers going to the race I was in error, as the platform was constructed of cinders and was 1512’ long.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Looks to be the remains of the pit area located slightly west of the grandstand.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Howard- The pictures were sent. They were taken on May 10, enjoy

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

I believe that bridge crossed Division St [ Ave] . I found a map that showed Division crossing the Central Branch of the LIRR where there was a 1500 ft brick platform to handle passengers going to the races. I was unable to determine when Division was severed but the street continues a little further north and I suspect that Blacksmith Rd is on the footprint of the Division Ave right of way .

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Well, it sure looks like a bridge but the question is a bridge over what? I’m going to take a wild guess and say that it could be going over a southern entrance road to Aviation Country Club that was developed from the old road to the grandstand from Jerusalem Avenue. Since Willie K. would not allow direct access to the airfield from the Motor Parkway, maybe this was a later compromise.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

What a great photo with a couple of boys playing around with scrap wood left over from Levitt homes recently built. At first, this photo seemed obvious to me. But now, I’m overthinking;maybe. It’s behind 173 Orchid Rd, so they can be playing north or south of the LIMP. I see the overpass at the photos left. The closest overpass that was near this location was the Jerusalem Ave HWY bridge (LIMP traveling under). According to an 1949 aerial, this bridge was as “appeared” to be demolished. But, perhaps it wasn’t. I don’t think any LIMP bridges were built between Newbridge Rd and Jerusalem Ave. So, my guess is this photo is looking south, with Jerusalem Ave still bridging over the LIMP to the left. But with my guess, their playing a bit of a distance from rear of Orchid Rd.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Ok, I am a bit baffled.  Let’s think this through.  First, it appears to be a bridge.  But if the photo was truly taken in the backyard of 173 Orchid then there should be not be a bridge there.  Or? 
On 4/1/2013 you originally posted the 5/27/1947 aerial photo, and your comments list all the bridges, but not one to the west of the grandstands.  Yet the super close up in the photo seems to show something.
On 5/18/2013 the post, with the picture “Proposed Fencing @ Grandstand, Aug ‘09 shows a proposed HW Bridge to be build just west of the grandstand.  Which would be pretty much exactly where this photo was taken.
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/in_search_of_the_grandstand_press_box_officials_stand_and_pits_in_levittown

My final answer, this is a HW Bridge over the old Division Road.
I do look forward to this mystery photo being solved.  Thank you again.
-joe o.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

I think this might be where the grand stand used to be for the Long Island Motor Parkway at one time. I know it was near Orchid Road Area, in Levittown, I remember reading about it in one of the blogs as well as in the news back when they were voting regarding whether to allow housing to be built on a piece of land near Orchid Rd in Levittown as well or leave it as open space.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

The Division Avenue Bridge, just west of the Grandstand seems logical. The Pile of debris looks like cutoff wooden ends from nearby house construction. Interesting time for a photograph depicting 2 different eras, with all the new houses coming up and the bridge becoming overgrown and forgotten.

From Mystery Foto #68 Solved: A Motor Parkway Culvert in the Hempstead Plains (Levittown)

Howard- I was searching Google Earth for the Nibbe cemetery and I’m not sure if I found it or not. It looks like it is on the access road for Sportime Tennis (Norcross Ave) adjacent to the water recharge basin?

From Howard Kroplick

Greg, that is correct. It is also the burying ground for the Stymus family.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #46: Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Bethpage

Howard- What amazing pictures and the things you always seem to find, if it’s there. you’ll find it. I never noticed Nibbe Ln in all these years, very interesting, I’ll have to go and check out that area know

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #46: Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Bethpage

Howard - You didn’t let me know if you want me to send you the pictures .

From Howard Kroplick

Sure!

From Pilot Section of the Motor Parkway Trail Is Under Construction in East Meadow(Updated:June 17, 2014)

Thanks Art, I noticed what you’re saying

From Mystery Foto #67 Solved: The First East-West Transatlantic Flyers Arrive in NYC in a 1928 Chrysler