Vanderbilt Cup Races

IU Willets Rd

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

I think that’s Jericho Turnpike facing east in the Locust Grove area, near Syosset, about 200 feet east of Underhill Blvd. Along with the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on October 24, 1908, the five Sweepstakes Races held two weeks prior also used this section of Jericho Tpke. They included the Nassau, Jericho, Garden City, Meadowbrook, and Motor Parkway Sweepstakes. During the Cup Race, the #3 Mercedes, driven by Emil Stricker, caught fire along this section of the course.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

Brian Part II:  I just watched the 1908 VCR YouTube video. This same image is displayed as Jericho Tpke Railroad Crossing, Locust Grove. This may be facing east.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

*Location of Mystery:  I believe this is Jericho Tpke facing west in Locust Grove. The car is eastbound approaching the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch.

*VCR that involves this location:  October 24th 1908

*Race car that caught fire in this area:  #3 Mercedes, driven by Emil Stricker. “Caught fire at Locust Grove, his car finished in 6th place”.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

I’ve just discovered this site—Wow!  Thank you very much for sharing it with everyone.

I have a question about the course for the 1904 Race.  From the geometry of the map on the site, I would think that the run through Hicksville followed what today is Jerusalem Avenue, rather than Broadway, which is more nearly parallel to the LIRR tracks to Bethpage. Is that so?

If it is, the photo of car No. 18 on Broadway near St. Ignatius Church may depict an off-course practice tune-up, rather than the Race itself.  Similarly, the checkpoint caption for the photo of car #6 probably should refer to Jerusalem Avenue, not Broadway.

Although I sometimes pick nits (in this case because I grew up right off Jerusalem Avenue), I really do appreciate your efforts.
__________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Ron, welcome to VanderbiltCupRaces.com. I appreciate your feedback and comments. I will further research the 1904 course.

Sincerely,
Ron Wencer
Toronto

From The Incredible Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island: The Role of Hicksville Updated: 11/22/16

I’m in agreement with Howard that the bridge was part of any development that was to take place in the future. The only highway frontage the property had the time was on today’s Winchester Blvd.The north/south alignment of the Parkway in this area effectively divided the property into two parcels so a request for a crossing of the Parkway was certainly reasonable.  My guess is that the bridge, which was a proper highway bridge, was going to be part of a roadway that some day would run from Winchester Blvd. eastward to what at the time was Clinton St., today’s Commonwealth Blvd. A bigger question I have is why was the Parkway required to build a crossing at the time?  Historically, the Parkway would commit to a crossing and would agree to do so when needed. An example are the Mayan ruins in Garden City Okay, the State insisted on a crossing at the time, but why was a highway bridge built ? Did they really care if the crossing went under or over the Parkway? The Parkway preferred to go under highways rather than over as it was a lot cheaper to do so. Did the decision to build a highway bridge have any thing to do with the the triple Parkway opening ? So far, unable to find another example where the Parkway did this.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

-Identify the exact location of the Mystery Foto
The LIRR crossing on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, facing east on Jericho Turnpike in 1908, toward the present-day overpass.

-Which Vanderbilt Cup Race(s) was run on this section of the course?
1908 VCR

-Which race car caught fire in this section
#3 Mercedes driven by Emil Stricker

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: Locust Grove Section of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race Course

These are amazing photos

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album:The Motor Parkway Engineering Field Offices & a Worker Shanty

Unless Howard has a blueprint or schematic of this bridge, I figure the bridge length between the abutments was 50+ ft. Maybe heavy farm machinery drove back and forth across this bridge, therefore requiring additional bridge supports.
________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

I believe that this bridge was never used .  When it was built, New York State probably had plans to develop the hospital property on both sides and required that the Motor Parkway build the bridge as part of the sales agreement.. However, the 1937 aerial indicates the north side of the bridge led directly into heavy wooded area.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

Great photos Howard. Any idea of exact location of field office in Mineola?
_______________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Mark, no location is described in the album. Based on the other Mineola photos in the album, I assume the field office was located near the Jericho Turnpike Motor Parkway Bridge.

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

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album:The Motor Parkway Engineering Field Offices & a Worker Shanty

Fantastic Fotos! Motor Parkway history gets clearer all the time. Keep ‘em comin’! Thanks Howard

From Long Island Motor Parkway Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

Good point Al. This is one of only three bridges I’m aware of, where steel beams were used to help support. The other two were Westbury Ave and Central Ave. They all share in common the long span but why was this necessary for Creedmoor? I’m guessing it was cheaper/easier to just reach for the nearest high ground on both sides, than building a concrete bridge requiring more dirt to fill in the gaps. This 1925 photo taken from on top of the bridge three years earlier shows the outer openings still inactive.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/made/images/blog/3-1-2013_3-30-21_PM_edited-1_210_161.jpg

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

I love browsing those archives, especially the newly viewable 1940s tax photos!

From Long Island Motor Parkway Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives

Ted, Happy holidays to you and family, and wishing the best to all!

From Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Bob C:

i just want to thank you Howard for all you do throughout the year ... i wish you good health and happiness for 19 and beyond
Bob

From Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Bill H.
As always an interesting newsletter to which I look forward to each Sunday morning.
Happy New year!

From The Top Twenty-Five 2018 Posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com

Good job guys.  I have a questions regarding this location. Why was a bridge with three openings on the Parkway level built here ? This is the only location I’m aware of where multiple openings are on the Parkway level, all the others are on the highway level.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

Here I go thinking again…The article in The Brooklyn Eagle explains the construction of the underpass we all visited a couple of years ago. The oncoming Union Tpke severed the path south of the Creedmore Bridge.Wonder why the underpass wasn’t built where the path was severed? Wouldn’t have to remove the Creedmore Bridge and the tunnel would just be under Union. Would’ve / Could’ve I guess. Very glad that this image of the bridge is known!

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

I believe the photographer is looking west from a position about 50 feet east of the Creedmoor bridge which was original built as a farmway bridge to allow access to and from several farms that were on both sides of the LIMP. The building in the background is Creedmoor State Hospital on the south side of Union Turnpike which was using the bridge as a pedestrian crossing to its property on the north side of the LIMP. I’m not sure but I think I’ve seen a similar photo with a November, 1932 date so that’s my guess. Could that car belong to Robert Moses who was out looking at the road he would eventually put out of business? I couldn’t find it but I think the photo may be on the Queens Borough President’s Collection of the NYC Municipal Archives.

From Mystery Foto #52 Solved: The Creedmoor Motor Parkway Bridge in 1928

Forgot to ask what form 1040’s in.  Hee, hee, III

From Video: Restored Tucker 1040 Sold for $1.45 Million at RM Auctions