Vanderbilt Cup Races

Here’s my guess: Nassau Boulevard entrance to the LIMP, facing east on Nassau (later Horace Harding) Boulevard. The western-most entrance. In the distance is the crossing of Queens Road, or Hollis Court Blvd. It’s historic (to me) because it’s the first time I’ve seen a full photo of this entrance. One of the billboards advertises the LIMP. I’m not sure what Sterlingshire is but I’ll guess it’s a planned residential community. I can’t guess the year, but I’d say it’s the early 30s or at latest 1938, the year the LIMP closed. In the 40s there was a rudimentary service road being built on Nassau Boulevard and that road isn’t there yet.

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

Hi Walt, I can confirm that Bill Bellmer has been diligent in trying to preserve this section of the Motor Parkway. Unfortunately, politicians are politicians.

From Update: A Proposal to the Village of Garden City To Restore the Motor Parkway Concrete Posts Near Their Parking Lot

Having trouble but the latest appears to be a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker; it’s not the earlier WB-1 or -2 Wright-Bellanca.  All early Bellancas had airfoil-shaped struts and such for greater lift.  The Mack is an early heavy B-series (BQ?) and the bulldog first appeared in 1932.  Guess who was the creator for the Mack Truck Photograph Collection at the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, MI:  Henry Austin Clark, Jr.!  [Getting far afield again!]  Sam, III

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

Mrs. Vanderbilt appears to have been relieved when Willie K. crossed the finish line and wasn’t shy about showing it ! From The Autobain, Sept. 1900.

From VanderbiltCupRaces Exclusive: The 1900 Newport Automobile Races & the First Vanderbilt Cup Trophy

Gassing up at the club!  From “Aero Digest” of June, 1930.

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

For those interested in looking through the neighborhood on your own, I have circled the area below on a Google Earth screen grab in which the Sterlingshire homes were built.

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

I found a photo from a Jan 2nd 1938 Brooklyn Daily Eagle article describing the Sterlingshire homes and a photo of what I believe to be the model home. On Google Earth, I started a virtual ‘driving tour’ of the neighborhood to possibly locate a home as original as possible. The Sterlingshire neighborhood is located just East of Hollis Ct. Blvd on the North side of the Grand Central. I did come across 2 homes on 212th that are very similar to the 1938 photo, but not exact. Unlike later developments, homes were individually designed and have since been heavily modified in the last 80 years, so finding the exact home from the newspaper article may prove to be impossible.

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

Art, We know that the Vanderbilt Cup Races had timed starts, that is the racers went off one at a time, not all at once. roughly one minute apart. Was that the format of the 1901 Newport races ?

From The 1901 Newport Automobile Races

Turns out Dr. H. B. Baruch, owner of Bagattele Nursery mentioned in the comments above was also an auto enthusiast.  From “The Automobile” of August, 1901.

From Kleiner's Korner: Part V - Motor Parkway Maps and More

Here’s a smiling Willie K. in the 3 mile Race 5 (“Special Class of Five Horse Power Voiturettes in Ordinary Running Trim”).  From The Automobile, Oct., 1901.

From The 1901 Newport Automobile Races

Wow! Just wow! What a photo! Where did this come from?
The western LIMP terminus looking East Down Horace Harding Blvd in Fresh Meadows. The closer, larger of the two signs is the LIMP entrance sign “50 miles of….” I’d assume this sign was repainted and changed many times, but while the lattice and frame of the billboard are the same as the McCamish plow photos, the wording and artwork is different.
Historic for a few reasons. First, other than the McCamish photos, there really haven’t been any ground level photos of the Fresh Meadows entrance and sign. Second, this is showing an entrance that I know I’ve never seen since I believe this to be within a year of the LIMP closure.
The copy of the smaller billboard clues us in on the date.
The billboard was advertising an new housing development called Sterlingshire built facing the Grand Central Parkway at Hollis Court Blvd close by. I spotted a Brooklyn Eagle article from Feb 19, 1939 stating that after some unsettled weather around Lincoln’s Birthday, sales were good. It also states that the winter was fairly mild. In the photo, we see no foliage, damp muddy ground and an overall winter ‘feel’ so it may be safe to assume this may have been taken around the time of the article- Feb 1939

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

Thanks, Art & Gary! Wish Suffolk County Land Records had the exact format as the Nassau website. Suffolk is limited compared to Nassau. I was already aware of the old maps, but the detailed history is a nice surprise.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Hi Frank - I’ve noticed with several of the past LIMP bridges in Queens that were built with RR specs, the abutments were constructed in a way that made them “step like”. A person could scale either side to reach the top. Authorities didn’t want anyone doing that. Besides the wires above, abutments became a hindrance & eyesore.

From Documentation of the 1942 Demolition of a Queens Motor Parkway Bridge

Great documentation Art. I’m late here. Will chime in soon.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Commonwealth Blvd under the bridge used to be called Clinton Ave in 1924, before construction of the Cross Island Parkway. The opening in the fence on the left is the approximate location where old Marvin Rd once traveled, connecting Clinton Av to Alley Rd (today’s Winchester Blvd). These are great photos recording history that has been lost in time.

From Documentation of the 1942 Demolition of a Queens Motor Parkway Bridge

Great zooms on the photo Howard!

From Documentation of the 1942 Demolition of a Queens Motor Parkway Bridge

Based on the photo, the bridge before removal seems to have sat about 20ft below the power lines, power lines that were installed after the roadway was built. A safety violation today I believe, they had no choice but to remove her. What are your thoughts Brian?

From Documentation of the 1942 Demolition of a Queens Motor Parkway Bridge

Brian, as Gary notes the Nassau County site is very useful - I use it all the time.  Besides searching by address or section, blk, lot you can also go into the overall map and zero in to where you are looking.  My mouse control zooms in and out.  As you zoom in actual lots appear and you can just click on the lot you want more info. about.  If you don’t know the address or blk info. it helps a lot.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Brian, Here’s the website address: https://lrv.nassaucountyny.gov/.  I find having a Sect / Blk / Lot to be the easiest way, as the address doesn’t always seem to work for me.  But you can also access the 1926 and 1950 aerial photos this way.  The more you use it, the easier it becomes.  It took a bit of work for me to get the above information, but well worth it.  When I worked for the Nassau County Museum, I did both title and surrogate searches in Mineola - back then the Clerk’s Office had hard copies of deeds, maps, the property cards, and microfilm of the Queens Co. Deeds.  The Surrogates gave you the original files - wills, etc. to go through.  I love examining original documents, but the convenience of searching from home is also appealing - can be done 24/7.

From Kleiner's Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Amazing info, Gary. I’ve looked through Suffolk County Land Records ( County Clerk website ). There’s no need for a username/password, just have to prove your not a robot : ) lol. If your looking for older records, a trip to Riverhead is needed. Is the Nassau County website easy to explore?

From Kleiner's Korner: A Garage on the Vanderbilt Cup Race Course