Vanderbilt Cup Races

A May 10, 1939 survey of the Bike Path at the Western Terminus was added to the post

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Richard - thanks for confirming Earhart and Rickenbacker’s attendance at the club, and congrats to you on the TOH’s approval for the historic signs. Because they installed another sign just a few weeks ago looks promising for the LIACC sign(s), as they’re still in operation during this Covid pandemic. I’ve heard these requests take considerable time to fulfill. Was the new sign installed a few weeks ago also in Levittown?

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved: The Long Island Aviation Country Club (Circa 1940-1945)

Thanks Al! I didn’t realize the red marks above were highlighting the sign’s dimensions. Now, to locate a photo of that sign. Perhaps in the Queens Borough President’s online library

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Frank. The sign on the north side of HHB west of the Parkway entrance was billboard size measuring 12’ x 42’

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Courtesy of this site, matching images for B) & C)

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Sorry Brian, I missed your earlier input

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

First impression of this iconic mystery photo of the Motor Parkway’s western terminus was the lack of signage. Little did I know there was additional signage on the NORTH side of HHB (Nassau Blvd) behind the photo, 500 ft west of the entrance. This sign must have been billboard sized to capture the attention of all eastbound travelers on busy HHB. Someone has this photo. Al’s intricate documentation continues to provide a clearer path of what was back then. Great documentation here by all!

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Sam’s dad and I were friends for too short a period of time. Then Sammy and I met at Hershey, and he was so respectful of his dad and the rest of us old brass car guys. We will miss him so much. Gone from us far, far too soon. A rare person. Loved his family & old cars.

From Sad News: We Lost a Good Friend and Master Mechanic

Brian- I realize you mentioned East of the Meadowbrook lodge, but for some reason the Clinton bridge always seems to come to my mind first.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

One more

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Just thought that the bridges that were painted - slow down for curve & keep to your right - were the highway type. Ex: 1st bridge east of Meadowbrook Lodge is Merrick Ave Pkwy Bridge. Merrick Ave is a straight run. So here’s my answers without bridge images ( in case I’m wrong )

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Al, what about “World’s Fair Boulevard” ?  Horace Harding Boulevard was officially renamed World’s Fair Boulevard for two years, 1938-1939, commemorating the New York World’s Fair.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

In 1927 A. J. Kienzle, the Parkway’s GM, ordered 5000 toll tickets inscribed, “Nassau Boulevard Lodge” when that was the name of the road. In April 1929 the name was changed to Horace Harding Blvd. Kienzle’s reaction - SOB!!!!  He calls Vanderbilt-tells him the news, Willie responds SOB!!!!  Vanderbilt calms down, tells Kienzle, “fogedabdit’, no one is to going to call it that!, some day in the future in continues, they are going to change the name of Sixth Ave. to Avenue of the Americas, same thing is going to happen…. keep using the tickets. The frugal Kienzle doesn’t even bother to over stamp the tickets with the new Boulevard name. Those tickets were in use into 1936, when new tickets for this gate were ordered for the first time inscribed “Horace Harding Blvd.” That is why toll tickets inscribed with this name are so rare.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

To those wondering why the direction signs are on the northside. The City acquired a 160 foot wide ROW for the boulevard to be built to the Nassau County line. The completed roadway seen in the photo is on the northside of the ROW which was built in 1928; The southern part of the ROW was a state of flux with utilities etc.  being laid. Hence the signs were put on the northside. The hydrant seen in the photo defines the southern edge or the 160 foot wide ROW. Great detective work by Frank"s updates on the hydrants.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Fabulous documentation; amazing!  Just noticed that “1932 sign copy 500 feet west of the Motor Parkway entrance on north side of Nassau Boulevard” is on the *NORTH* side.  Do we have pix of same?  Sam, III

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Some threads refuse to die and this one is now bugging me.  The front roof line of the red Dodge car differs from the “classic” Cantrell line in being die-straight instead of curving downward to the top of the windshield.  Was that an easier way to restore it or based on some Cantrell design of which I am unaware?  Sam, III

From From the Hugh Nutting Collection: Insight into the Woodies of Huntington's J.T. Cantrell and Company

You definitely nailed it Frank. Thought it was interesting that a hydrant is “nearby ” on Peck Ave, and my imagination got the better of me. History wise, it’s neat that the original one is still there, much less work to cap off than remove entirely.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Kleiner’s Korner has provided additional information pertaining to Motor Parkway signage in the main content section of this blog.  All courtesy of the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #40 Solved: A Historic 1938 Ground-Level View of the Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows

Congratulations to Richard! I’ve enjoyed his work at Hemmings Classic Car for years and look forward to this exciting upcoming publication.

From Update with new video: Crankshaft, Richard Lentinello's new quarterly magazine, is available for orders

Aerial photo of Camp Mills.  From “Aerial Age Weekly, Nov. 18, 1918”.

From Update #2: In Search of the Mystery Camp Mills "New York" Road