Vanderbilt Cup Races

The South Huntington Water District has been sure that Jayne’s Hill is the highest point on L.I. since 1926.

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

Regarding the identities of the two women…. the original photo is owned by the Huntington Historical Society. Some 20 years ago I was allowed to make a copy. My recollection was that the photo was part of a particular family’s gift to the Society. They could possibly identify the two young ladies.

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

Good Morning Art: Just looking around to see what Williamson books I have around here!  Happy Motoring, Dave.

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

Al Prete - could this be the irregular property in Dix Hills? Homeowners Arlene and Carmine have a 275ft section of Motor Pkwy in their yard!
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_preservation_society_visits_a_hidden_section_of_t

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

I’m accustomed to viewing maps northbound, so here’s the 1907 survey & 1917 Belcher Hyde Map.

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

I have family living on Fox Lane. They showed me where their neighbor’s property is irregularly shaped, because the Motor Parkway ran through it.

As a fan of classic theatrical cartoons, I can’t resist posting this picture, from the 1948 MGM cartoon “Lucky Ducky,” directed by Tex Avery:

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

1905 ‘X’ Mercedes HQ at the ‘Mansion House’ in Roslyn about the same time.
Photos from the Roslyn Landmark Society

From Update: Mystery Foto #52 Solved: A 1966 Chevy Impala parked in front of the historic Roslyn Grist Mill in 1967

WOW! Could that be Al Velocci’s wife and daughter? Looking forward to this week’s answer

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

WEAF mentioned above eventually became 66 WNBC.  Today, it is All-Sports, WFAN.
 

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

Perhaps the women are related to Al during a LIMP exploration near the Old Bethpage Village

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

My only guess with help from the hint photo - two beauties at the Nassau-Suffolk county line, photographer looking west into Old Bethpage Village just two years after the LIMP closed. The elevation in the far rear could be the Claremont Ave parkway bridge, to be removed ~10 years later in the 1950s. The meaning of the sign could be Nassau County’s limit of maintenance responsibility at the county line.

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

The jacket cover of the book and the map of Long Island. 

The above passages and map were from the book that can be downloaded at hathitrust.org.  The jacket cover was from gutenberg.org.

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

Thanks Dave for your comment on The “Lightning Conductor Discovers America”.  Its married authors are Charles Norris and Alice Muriel Williamson who wrote many novels with Alice specializing in motor travel romances.  Their first “Lighting Conductor” story was written in 1903 and was called “The Lightning Conductor: The Strange Adventures of a Motor Car” and took place in Europe.  It was made into a movie in 1914 and was shown in America. 

As you note the American version was written in 1916.  In the passages that I’ve attached the beauty of Long Island the Motor Parkway allows the passenger to witness is described, along with praise for the builder of the parkway, although not named.  Several pages of the story describe Long Island and mention the route taken.

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

Love the story about the Summer and Winter bodies on the Locomobiles, etc, and the refurbishing of each when Not in “Use”.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Al, Willie K’s mother Alva Vanderbilt Belmont married William K. Vanderbilt in 1875 and divorced him in 1895. One year later, Alva married Oliver (O.H.P.) Belmont, one of William K. Vanderbilt’s friends.

After Belmont died in 1908, Alva socially went by the name Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont. In various newspapers, she was also called Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. 

https://www.nps.gov/vama/blogs/womens-history-month-spotlight-alva-vanderbilt-belmont.htm

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Thanks Walt! So interesting.

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Al, that was what I was wondering about too. The Locomobile was by no means an inexpensive car , the body alone on the car shown here was in the $3,000 to S4,500 range. Just the body. I am sure that the Vanderbilt’s mentioned all ordered their cars from Hare’s Motors in NY City. That showroom album mentioned shows wonderful body styles, huge photos .  Advantage was that all the major body designers and builders were not far away - the furthest were in Amesbury, Mass. but so many were here locally.
Walt

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Great foto, Al!  I think the photographer was standing where the LIMP & Half Hollow Rd intersect, facing west. The 2 ladies behind the maintenance sign are smiling east. The parkway wasn’t maintained west of this sign & onwards.

The cool postcard shows the parkway west of the Jones property. The 1917 map below shows Jones properties largely just east of Half Hollow Rd, & a property just west of Half Hollow Rd. I’m also showing reference to a couple of photos taken by the mystery duo during the 1960’s. Think the postcard & the 1960’s show the the same curve in the parkway from opposite directions. Then the gated private rd, which I think is where the maintenance sign was.

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

Walt, In 1918 “Birdie” was Mrs. Vanderbilt Jr.  Could the Locomobile belong to Willie’s mother ?

From Walt Gosden Article: A Vanderbilt Locomobile

Howard,
I really enjoyed all the Motor Parkway stuff mentioned in the above articles.  I finally learned who Christopher Morley was.  Thanks
Roger

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