Vanderbilt Cup Races

  After a bit of reference work, I am going to settle for MACK as they start out in 1903 and with the merger Sauer Motor and Hewitt Motor and in 1913 started to
make other products such as buses, fire trucks and specialized equipment. The first location was in Brooklyn then to Long island City.  As a side note: Artist Peter Helck was a commissioned painter in the 1940’s.

From Mystery Foto #3 Stumper: A Kings Point Callister Brothers Bus Built in Queens Village (Circa 1930s)

  Part 11:  I have started with the MACK Bus and will work on this and more
today…......

From Mystery Foto #3 Stumper: A Kings Point Callister Brothers Bus Built in Queens Village (Circa 1930s)

This week’s subject is a bit complicated due to mergers and take overs and starts
out with Island Traction in 1926 becoming Schenck Bus Company and they purchase
Universal Auto Bus Service in 1960.  They started in Great Neck, NY and moved to
Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park, NY. In 1973 MSBA came into the picture as king of public transportation.  This is a chicken and egg story and is part 1 of this project.

From Mystery Foto #3 Stumper: A Kings Point Callister Brothers Bus Built in Queens Village (Circa 1930s)

Also amazing Joe, is how you just missed Mr. Ridolph snapping away on top of the bridge, while you’re in the car with your dad, waiting for Mom. He was up there! I love this stuff. Thank you guys for recording this historic event of the bridge!

From Updated: Then & Now: Mineola LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge

A wonderful childhood experience. Thanks Joe for sharing! As I read on I can visualize myself on that bridge. Yes that woozy feeling. What strikes me most about this bridge is that same low railing protection for autos, also found in Central Ave and Westbury Ave bridge in Levittown. Thankfully no incidents ever occured with those larger sized wheels of the day. I believe the low volume’d traffic of Motor Parkway helped prevent such mishaps. But considering the overall design of the parkway, which included banked curves, guardrails, over and under bypasses, exit and entrance ramps, paved roadways (rare for the times), I believe they did pretty good for a first time attempt.

From Updated: Then & Now: Mineola LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge

Somehow I inadvertently indicated that I was not interested in receiving comments regarding this subject.  It was a mistake as that was not my intention.  I surely would like to receive any follow up comments.  Thank you, Fred.

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Jericho Toll Lodge (Kiosk) in Mineola

What 16 year old wakes up on a Sunday morning and goes to church alone??? LOL.

Great story Joe. Awesome that you found this passion at such a young age. Now if you only took pictures!!

From Updated: Then & Now: Mineola LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge

Amazing, all the area of trees and grass out front have been replaced by the expanded Old Country Road, and all that now remains is a narrow 9ft sidewalk where the short hedge once was.

From Then & Now: The First Long Island Offices of the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc.

Very cool, Frank. You can actually see the faded white line in the middle of the pavement circa 1983.

Whoa Joe, there’s nothing simple about your story of the LIMP. No doubt both you and the conductor’s hearts were racing! Thanks for sharing.

From Updated: Then & Now: Mineola LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge

I hope everyone can indulge me in telling a simple story. 

Starting in the 1970’s I would begin to run across the ruins of the old parkway through the backyards of my neighbors, or the road behind Albertson Park.  Eventually us kids even explored the private property off Old Searingtown Rd, and I was becoming fascinated.  In 1978 my friends and I found the LIRR bridge in Albertson.  I was hooked and wanted to follow the old road as far as I could.  But heading east I lost it going into the back of Wheatley Hills Golf Club.  In the spring of 1983 I was hired at the club as a busboy.  Within weeks I was asked to go clean up after some type of official board meeting in an upstairs private room.  It was there I was able to view photos of the LIMP turning south and crossing Hillside Avenue.  It was like finding gold.

On Sunday I woke up early and went to St Aiden’s mass by myself.  Afterwards I began exploring.  I was so amped up about following the ROW south, I did not even notice the ruins in Carle Place.  But as I approached the LIRR Mineola line I could see the old bridge.  I could not get to it from the north.  Instead I rode my bike all the way to the south.  I Climbed out on a ledge at the back of the parking garage.  Avoided barbed wire.  Ducked under very large power lines, and reached the base of the bridge.  There was no land fill on either side of the bridge.  Just a free standing bridge.  At 16 years old, I climbed the wall with ease.  I felt in awe standing on top of the old bridge.  It was beyond a thrill.  I felt like I had really found something special. 

On the north end of the bridge the old pavement extended beyond the bridge.  But there was no land under it.  The blacktop pavement and the cement extensions had separated.  The cement sidewalks, as I called them, sagged less then the rest of the road.  It was surreal.  I clearly remember the side steel walls were considerably lower than those at Albertson.  There I could lean up against the wall, and feel safe looking down the tracks.  Here I was afraid to go near the wall.  It was quite a drop.  I did not feel safe.  There was at least one pot hole with exposed rebar big enough for my foot to fall into.  But that was the least of it.  The first moment I stood up on top, I felt a wooziness.  Was it my imagination, or did this bridge sway?  The Albertson overpass always seemed as solid as the day they built it.  To test my theory, I jumped high and let myself land hard.  Wow.  There was no mistaking it, the bridge moved.  Moments later a westbound train passed below.  The conductor locked eyes with me, and we held that look until the train passed below me.  The bridge shook.  I knew it was time get off the bridge. 

A few weeks later my mom was shopping at a store in Carle Place, and I was waiting in the car with my dad.  I coaxed him.  “Come on, drive down this road, I want to show you something.”  We drove down Voice Rd.  All the way to the back corner of the parking lot.  As close as we could get to show him the old bridge.  And as we arrived it was clear to see.  There was a crew working to remove the bridge.  Soon it would be gone forever.  And little did I know, at this point, the Albertson bridge was already gone.  I immediately felt so fortunate I found the bridge and that I was able to climb on it before it was demolished.  To this day, I feel the same. 

-joe

From Updated: Then & Now: Mineola LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge

Gentlemen, the kiosk does look four-sided. I’m thinking a misleading, bad angle photo not capturing all the sides. Everything else seems in place (the matching chimney stack and trim around the windows, matching roof tiles, the road sign to the west also visible in photo with car parked on ramp, the ‘09 date). I thought perhaps Harned Road at Jericho Tpke had a booth as well but that didn’t happen until 1928.

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Jericho Toll Lodge (Kiosk) in Mineola

Joe O.-  After looking at both images again, I agree there not the same buildings. The ‘West View of Toll Gate’ image is 4 sided, more of a rectangle than a square. Mr. Robertson snapped the photo from the NW to the SE ( late afternoon sun beaming on the west side of the kiosk ). The ‘East View of Toll Gate’ should be a hexagon ( 6 sided ). This image was taken from the SE to the NW, and the sun beaming on the west. Don’t think my eyes are being fooling me.

Fred-  It’s always to neat to read thru memories of you and others. Thanks

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Jericho Toll Lodge (Kiosk) in Mineola

Joe - I believe the 1909 installation of the first Mineola kiosk (top photo) was once located on today’s center median of expanded Jericho Tpke (last photo), right besides the red car passing.
The second installation was moved 50ft south in 1921.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1396j0_672hYkvbcNFJInbc1mXNJspD9f&ll=40.75468384301085,-73.62476597523755&z=20

The square building across the tpke was a transmission repair shop but previously owned by a classic car collector. Check out Walt Gosden’s comment below in this link.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_bridge_series_27_jericho_turnpike_highway_bridge_

Fred - I enjoyed reading about your tunnel experience. I would’ve done the same. Seems the tunnel was a favorite spot for many. I wonder if you knew this kid with photo taken back in 1960?

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/blog/aG15980_p1774LL3_LongIslandParkway-Tunnel_ca1960jpg_1-2.jpg

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Jericho Toll Lodge (Kiosk) in Mineola

Interesting history. Imagine the cost of rent today. I wonder who is currently in that very space now.

From Then & Now: The First Long Island Offices of the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc.

Mystery Foto #2… This pic may be Robert Graves, owner of the #3 Mercedes driven by Camille Jenatzy in the 1906 Vanderbilt cup. Possibly in the 1905 race too. Graves had a garage under construction on the course in 1906. The garage collapsed two days before the race.  that’s all I’ve got.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Owner of Paul Sartori's FIAT

That’s Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, cousin of Willie K., and owner of a Fiat that competed in the 1904 V. C. R. (as car # 10) and the 1905 race (as car # 20). The racer was driven by Paul Sartori both times and finished 16th. and 7th. respectively. As to his other V. C. R. or LIMP connections: Alfred’s first wife was Ellen “Elsie” French, a close friend of his sister Gertrude who married Harry Payne Whitney, who became Vice President and a director of Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc. Additionally, Alfred’s son, George Washington Vanderbilt III was instrumental in establishing the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cup races.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Owner of Paul Sartori's FIAT

I loved the photos of the LIMP going under Jericho Tpk.  When I was about 6, my family moved into a brand new home on Cromwell Road in Carle Place, just East of the abandoned LIMP, I think about 1953.  I quickly discovered the underpass to the North side of Jericho.  I was told NEVER to cross the Turnpike.  But one day a neighbor saw me on the other side and told my parents.  I told them that “I didn’t cross it, I went under it.”  I came clean and told them about my secret “tunnel”.  Bad move, then I was banned from the “tunnel”.

When I was a little older, I made another discovery.  The abandoned LIMP bridge over the LIRR.  I would watch the last of the steam locomotives as they flew underneath me.  I distinctly remember the smell of the coal smoke blasting all around me from under the bridge.  The steam engines were all retired in 1955.

Great memories…......Thank you so much.  Fred

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Jericho Toll Lodge (Kiosk) in Mineola

Ok.  Please help.  I am confused.  Some pictures are of a square building, and others of a building that has either 5or 6 sides?  Are there really the same place?

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Jericho Toll Lodge (Kiosk) in Mineola

Some additional info regarding the Denton Building and the Parkway.  The Parkway first took desk space in the building April 1907 paying $5.00 per month for April and May. In June they acquired their own office and the rent increased to $35.00 per month. In October that year the Parkway took on additional space moving out of Manhattan as this location became the official headquarters of the Long Island Motor Parkway. The rent increased to $75.00 per month. The Denton Building at the time was the most modern building on Long Island. It had a central heating system, electricity, indoor plumbing and an internal phone system. This is where the Parkway wanted to be, impressing potential investors. The Parkway hired the Lush Sign Works of Freeport to gold letter the office door and exterior windows. The Parkway would remain here thru 1914. In 1915 the Parkway headquarters was moved to Garden City adjacent to the Garden City Lodge into a two room “portable building” (Vanderbilt’s words). Kienzle, the general manager, could not have been too happy. Moving out of the most prestigious office building on the Island into a shed with kerosene lamps instead of electricity, a pot belly coal stove instead of central heat and an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing. The Denton building (it hasn’t been called that for years), is still there receiving a major rehabilitation a couple of years ago thankfully retaining it’s basic exterior look. Al.

From Then & Now: The First Long Island Offices of the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc.

Yes Frank,same for me.

From Then & Now: The First Long Island Offices of the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc.