Vanderbilt Cup Races

Although this variation of opinions - perhaps even still somewhat of a controversy in this day and age - may not mean much in The Great Scheme of Things, it is a beautifully researched, documented, and written treatise on an interesting subject which probably has a large appeal to a limited audience both on and around Long Island.  To all those who contributed to this piece, thank you so much.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

It’s me again Al, lol - Your thoughts of Ruland Hill being in the vicinity is correct. There was a Mr. Ruland that owned properties around Bald Hills during the 1800’s. Couldn’t find any Ruland reference mapwise in Smithtown. Up until 1960, there was a Fire Tower Lookout on this hill, also referred as Telescope Hill. One could see for miles from atop. This location is now the Radio/Tower Station for 97.5 WALK FM. Below I marked a 1947 & 1970 Topo Map Overlay as best as possible, and a today view. When driving on Blue Point Rd at this point, it’s like a roller coaster. South Shore is visible.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

That’s the Nibbe farmway bridge in Central Park (today’s Bethpage) and we’re looking south because the direction of the various race courses that used this section of the LIMP after the bridge was built was counter-clockwise making the car heading north. Also, the distinctive tree on the right is visible in other photos of the bridge. In fact, isn’t that Peter Nibbe himself just to the left of the tree? The racer is the J-18 Chalmers-Detroit during the 1908 Jericho Sweepstakes with W. R. Burns driving. That would make the date October 10, 1908.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

Al - Below I found a reference to Rulands Hill, Smithtown. From U.S. Coastal Geodetic Survey.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Does the Avanti belong to Rich Carlsen?

From Mustang HoofBeats December 2021: A visit to Howard Kroplick's great car collection

This is the Nibbe farmway bridge in Bethpage.  The photographer is facing south.  It is located after the second “deadman’s curve” and was created to connect the west and east sections of Peter Nibbe’s farm.  The racecar was the #J11 Chalmers-Detroit and was driven by W.R. Burns who finished first in the Jericho sweepstakes averaging 46.2 mph.  The photo was taken October 10th 1908.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

The Brooklyn Eagle 1875 article mentions “Ruland’s Hill, southwest of Coram.” Was this another name for Bald Hill, which IS SW of Coram? From the veterans memorial on Bald Hill (next to the aforementioned amphitheater), on a clear day in winter, you can see both the Long Island Sound and the Great South Bay.

As a lifelong Long Islander I was always told that the highest point is Jayne’s Hill.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Frank - We couldn’t come to any conclusions about where Arlene and Carmine’s house is in relation to theirs.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Im getting Harbor Hill as the highest point in Nassau at 348.0 ft., andJaynes Hill the highest in Suffolk at 400.9 ft. Oheka castle and West Hills are nearby the summit at Jayne’s Hill. Greg, I’ve heard of moving mountains but never elevating them. Prohibitedly expensive likely.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Been waiting a while for a bethpage photo.  Nibbe bridge looking south on the motor parkway.  Motor parkway sweepstakes. jan 11 1908.  #J11 Chalmers-Detroit was driven by W. R. Burns

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

Looking South at the Nibbe farmway bridge during the Oct 10th, 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes.

The #J11 Chalmers-Detroit was driven by W. R. Burns. Finished 1st in the Jericho Sweepstakes.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

This information has been very helpful, thanks for sharing this post

From Searching for a Piece of a 1921 Crow-Elkhart Sedan to Honor Her Family

Bell Blvd. between 77th ave and Kingsbury ave., looking south. Rationale. I took that walk almost every day and it sure looks like the lay of the land.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

I know there were actual Ski Jumps around Long Island in the past. Near me in Farmingville there was Bald Hill Ski Bowl ( now the location of Brookhaven Amphitheater ). Read that the bowl lasted until the 1980’s. The entrance rd is still named Ski Run Lane. 330+ ‘ ASL

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Oheka and Jaynes Hill are both on the moraine, so the land where Oheka was built was already well above sea level. But Otto Kahn wanted to stand out I guess : )

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Dave- further to your point is that the Cold Spring Harbor train station was built specifically for the construction of Oheka and bringing in all the soil for it, later becoming a regular LIRR train station.
Although I don’t think most people include it because it was man-made and not natural topography.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

First of all happy new year everyone!!

Through my Gold Coast research I learned that Otto Kahn tried to purchase West Hills land because it was the highest point in Long Island. The owner wouldn’t sell, so Kahn wanted to make a point with all of his money, spent the next two years building up the land where Oheka Castle was built and THAT property is supposedly the highest point in Long Island.

Also, Walt Whitman would supposedly go up to the top of the West Hills land and write his poems. He lived nearby, as you all know. He liked to be at the high point.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Frank - It’s hard to tell from the photos on the website and the overhead photos on Google Maps. The irregularly-shaped property is across the street from my family members. It’s small and fenced in, and doesn’t look like it has any old pavement on it. I’ll ask.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Art, Recall that the hill Deepdale in Lake Success was built was in the hunt also.  Story goes top of the hill was reachable only by foot and one could see the Atlantic Ocean and Connecticut. Vanderbilt lowered the hill substantially in order to get a larger level area for his residence and auxiliary buildings “hundreds of cart loads of soil were removed and were used to fill in the swampy/marshy areas of the Lake.”

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Nice collection Dave!  Have you read them all?  Here’s a list of their works from Wikipedia.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)