Vanderbilt Cup Races

I haven’t the faintest idea. As a guess? One of Willie K’s properties. I say “properties” because this large beautiful home, otherwise known as a “cottage” to the Robber Barons, might have been a guest home on one of Willie’s properties; Lake Success, Northport, etc. Of note is that “drywall” wasn’t available back then, or even when my parents bought a newly constructed house in Fresh Meadows in ‘52; the horizontal wood braces were installed to hold plaster to make walls.

From Mystery Friday Foto #11 Solved; The Petit Trianon Construction in Lake Ronkonkoma

Petit Trianon (Motor Parkway Inn) in Lake Ronkonkoma.
Looking east
Served as the eastern terminus of the Motor Parkway - restaurant gathering place for motorists ending their trip and those wanting a nice meal by the lake.
As the Inn opened in June of 1911 and trees have leaves I would imagine the date of the photo to be April or May. 
The structure burned down in January, 1958.  Articles from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the Times Union (wonder if the injured construction worker is in the mystery photo) and The New York Times.

From Mystery Friday Foto #11 Solved; The Petit Trianon Construction in Lake Ronkonkoma

That’s the Motor Parkway Inn under construction. Renamed later as The Petite Trianon, it served as an inn / hotel and party destination. As it’s still under construction, the date should be 1911. It was at the eastern end of the LIMP at Lake Ronkonkoma and we’re looking east. It burned down in 1958.

From Mystery Friday Foto #11 Solved; The Petit Trianon Construction in Lake Ronkonkoma

This was fascinating! Loved seeing all the variations. I hope there are still a few more out there waiting to be discovered.

From Updated: My Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate Collection (11/7/2025)

A view of ‘Colonel’ Rossevelt driving a 1912 Haynes Model 21.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

A better view

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

Petit Trianon built in 1908 at Lake Ronkonkoma NY

From Mystery Friday Foto #11 Solved; The Petit Trianon Construction in Lake Ronkonkoma

What an fantastic article. I’m a researcher on santos dumont and there are plenty of pictures of him on this wondeful event. It’s interesting that on those years his connection with the US was really intense. On your image collection would you have more images of him? His is on that trophy picture. And he was one of the main guests.
Could we talk about your images?

From Was the "Man in the Leopard Coat" the Inspiration for Jay Gatsby?

I loved seeing those great photos of Austin’s Simplex.  I remember when he just received the car back from its restoration.  Wow, what a beautiful car!  I believe I have a post card with a photo of the Simplex.
Thanks for the memories.
Rog

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 5

Fun interesting stories Art. Keep em coming.

From Kleiner's Korner: 100 Years Ago on The Motor Parkway Part 1- January-March 1924

Mystery photo #10 That building behind what I believe is fur collared TR in that sporty car is rather out of the ordinary. The window closest to us is out of perspective with the other windows. I think the door and the window are part of a round corner castle like turret. Notice also the side yard. The brick structure may be a church rectory or convent in an urban area. I was almost going to say it was his brick office in oyster bay that has since been extensively modified. The diameter of that turret is to small, there was a possibility of a lot north of the building but the next building north is too large to have been in that one time residential area.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

The passenger is Theodore Roosevelt. He was the first sitting U. S. President to ride PUBLICLY in an automobile although not in the car in this photo. This car is a 1910 Mitchell Model S. I think the photo is from sometime in 1913 since the license plate looks like a 1913 Connecticut plate. Since the location look like NYC, and if it is a 1913 photo, then maybe TR was attending the 69th. Regiment Art Show on 23rd. Street which was only a few blocks from his childhood home on 20th. Street. The significance of the plate? - No clue.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

Gram, your comments about the automotive memorabilia remined me of the time I first met Henry Austin Clark Jr. It was at the time he was disposing some of his automobiles.  Around the same time, (help me out here Walt,) he was holding on Saturdays, a “iron range” sale of automotive parts and collectibles. At the time I was restoring a 1925 Mack Truck and needed among other items, a pair of 1925 New York commercial license plates. When I inquired about the possibility of him having a pair, he said, “go up those stairs”  Up I went to this area not opened to the public. I found a beautiful pair of plates I wanted among hundreds and hundreds of well organized license plates from all over the world. These were among easily a dozen of other automotive collectible categories.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 5

1. Of course, it’s Oyster Bay’s most distinguished citizen - Teddy Roosevelt.
2. A guess - the first former President to ride in a car.
3. Absolutely no idea. However, Teddy was wealthy enough to afford the best. Unfortunately, I don’t know what the best car was back then. The car appears not to have a crank in front. If so, it must have had a self-starter. Maybe a Benz or a Pierce Arrow.
4. Probably just after Taft was inaugurated as President in March, 1909. Teddy was Police Comm of the City of NY in the 19th century. So, the police station, as it was, was probably in Oyster Bay or Nassau Co; Teddy was at the dedication of the first “modern” courthouse in Nassau (now Franklin Ave & Old Ctry Rd), which was in 1905. I also don’t see any Secret Service personnel, which was not provided to former presidents at the time. Plus, the winter coat. So, my guess is sometime in March, 1910.
5.  See remarks in “4,” above. Additionally, the brick building was probably the Town Hall of the Town of Oyster Bay, which is where the HQ police station would have been for the Village of Oyster Bay.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

This is Theodore Roosevelt riding in a 1910 Mitchell Model S.  He was the first U.S. President to ride in an automobile.  I’m guessing this is around 1914 or 1915.  The location of the photo might be Connecticut because the plate on the car is Connecticut.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

All I have is Teddy on his first automobile drive.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

Howard, Just watched the Marty Himes video again, one of the best guest speakers we ever had. That day when we visited his Museum I remember asking Marty where he got some of his collectibles and he replied, “at curbies”. ????  When he saw the questionable look on my face He smiled and told us that on rubbish collection pickup days ( mostly at upscale neighborhoods) he would beat the collection trucks and would routinely find something collectible. Miss him.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: Unpublished Long Island Automotive Museum Photos from 1958 to 1962, Part 5

Looks like Teddy Roosevelt. He was the first President to ride in a car as part of his official duties when he rode in an electric car in Hartford in 1902. He was also the first President to fly in a plane. I believe the car in the picture above is a Stutz Bearcat circa 1914-1915.

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

The fur collar has to be Theodore Roosevelt. Could the driver be Walter Gosend’s grandfather?

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride

Looks like TR with that fur collar and Walter Gosend driving the vehicle

From Mystery Friday Foto #10 Solved; Theodore Roosevelt goes for an automobile ride