Vanderbilt Cup Races

Update #2: Frank Femenias has added an analysis of a 1926 aerial to the post.

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

That’s the number 12 Locomobile with driver Joe Tracy and mechanician Al Poole during the 1906 American Elimination Trial race which took place on September 22, 1906. The Locomobile headquarters was Maple Cottage on Lakeville Road in Lakeville which is today’s Lake Success.

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: Tracy and Poole Changing A Tire During the 1906 American Elimination Race

Growing up in the Merrick area, very cool to see this photos of way before my time. As a car enthusiast now, would have been very cool to still have a raceway right up the road!

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #34: The Merrick Avenue Bridge in Westbury/East Meadow

-Identify the racer, driver and mechanician
#12 Locomobile driven by Joe Tracy, Al Poole mechanician, 90 HP. Finished 1st. Joe Tracy encountered a setback when his Locomobile suffered a flat tire and had to stop at the Diamond tire depot near the hairpin turn in Old Westbury.

-Identify the race and date of the photo
1906 American Elimination Trials-Date: Saturday, September 22, 1906

Kudos question: Where was the headquarters for this racer and its team?
For the1905 and 1906 races, the Locomobile team from nearby Bridgeport, Connecticut set up their headquarters at Maple Cottage, a farmhouse located in Lakeville (now Lake Success).

From Mystery Foto #51 Solved: Tracy and Poole Changing A Tire During the 1906 American Elimination Race

Although New York St is the best guess so far for Lee’s childhood street name, I’m not so sure. The 1926 aerial shows remnants of Camp Mill structures in between New York St and Lee’s Unknown Road, severing a continuous roadway. Were both roadways named the same? Possibly, but Lee’s neighborhood roadways seem of newer construction and could’ve taken on a different name. Mitchel Field would be reconfigured one year later from this photo. Howard, sending more aerials. What fun!

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

Update: A few corrections made to the post.

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

Check out this:  https://lrv.nassaucountyny.gov/ 

Year 1926 Aerial:  New York St. and surrounding areas in their former glory.

Year 1950 Aerial:  Homes established between Clinton Rd and Oak St. Then it literally looks like a GIANT puzzle piece was removed between Oak St., LIRR, Merrick Ave., and Hempstead Tpke. Most of us know why this area was in it’s then state, but still interesting to view.

We all know what’s here now 😊

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

Love these old photos, each unique with its own story to tell for generations to come. Could the second photo be the longest bridge over Central Ave, Bethpage? The girder appears the correct length compared to other images of the bridge

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Construction Equipment of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Excellent coverage of the area Frank. I find sometimes remnant debris left behind after highway construction in the inactive areas. Was hoping for original LIMP concrete in the photo that is located along the outskirts of the highway construction site. Planning on visiting this area on Sunday after the rain. The more eyes the better

From Update: Pilgrim State Hospital Complex and the Motor Parkway in 1938

Great images as always!

From Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: The Construction Equipment of the Long Island Motor Parkway

I explored the ROW west from Wicks Rd along the LIE south service roads. I continued thru the LIE cloverleaves up to the area around the Motor Parkway and Shinbone lane, all with negative results. I did not find any signs of remnants of the LIMP.  I plan to return to the area and explore further for any remnants.  I believe that they removed most of remnants when they built the Sagtikos Parkway and later the LIE.  I hope that there are some remnants there which I originally did not find.

From Update: Pilgrim State Hospital Complex and the Motor Parkway in 1938

Nice work. Would be a fun adventure to walk these sites with all of the knowledgeable members pointing out just where roads, bridges, buildings and other landmarks once stood.

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

After looking at your new LIMP map, Frank; I now realize there’s the original Pkwy just south and perhaps beneath the eastbound service rd.of LIE for a short stretch to Wicks Rd. Don’t think we’ll be needing Sam’s magnetometer to locate 😊

From Update: Pilgrim State Hospital Complex and the Motor Parkway in 1938

The first two photos are nice and clear.

From Updated: My Favorite Queens Motor Parkway Images for the New York City Parks Department

The Suffolk County News article posted here brings to mind my stay at The Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. The original title of this facility was “The Hospital for the Crippled and Lame”. No confusion back in the old days I guess.

From Update: Pilgrim State Hospital Complex and the Motor Parkway in 1938

Howard,

With the answers in, that last photo of the service road was taken directly on the RoW (on the dead grass), and shows exposed concrete similar to what Brian and I found recently in Wheatley Heights. Another visit here in order Brian?

From Update: Pilgrim State Hospital Complex and the Motor Parkway in 1938

Hi Gene,
First bridge after Great Neck lodge likely the Smith farmway bridge, once located south of Great Neck South High School by the trackk field

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1396j0_672hYkvbcNFJInbc1mXNJspD9f&ll=40.7631150902868,-73.69879739916951&z=16

From Updated: Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: A Motor Parkway Survey Team in Lake Success in 1909

Greg, Sam, et al,
Thanks for pointing that out Greg, however,  not sure where my reference to Rand McNally came from.  That was probably one of my first posts, back in 2004 or 2005, so will see if I can figure out what I was thinking.

From Updated: Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: A Motor Parkway Survey Team in Lake Success in 1909

Michael I. LKaplow

Howard, Richard, and all the super detectives,
Today has been one of those rainy-can’t-walk-any-of-my-Siberians Sundays. This map mystery intrigued me! The main photo looked much like other vintage photos I have seen of Pilgrim State and other NYS Psych Centers, so I started with Pilgrim. Incidentally Pilgrim has nothing to do with New England settlers or John Wayne. The facility was named for Dr. Charles W. Pilgrim, Commissioner of Mental Health in the early 1900s. With some help from Google Maps and other sites cited, I think I have solved Mystery #50, or at least parts of it. I am not sure that the source links are live. I’d’ve left this on the web response location but the map images do not show there. BTW, the LIRR History folks are as enthusiastic as the VMP folks. Great that all this is all preserved and available!!

Identify the location and orientation of the photographer.
Brentwood (Pilgrim State) looking +/- N/E based on this RR Map

This vintage map shows the wye and the spur/sidings that serviced the then new hospital. They are shown in the lower right of the main photo. Anything that is left of the tracks now is all overgrown. This map also serves to orient the Mystery Photo. http://www.lirrhistory.com/july2000/pilmap2.JPG

What is the building complex in the Mystery Foto and when was it built?
The complex is Pilgrim State Hospital c.1930 “Pilgrim State Hospital was created by the Legislature in 1929 and … officially opened for the care and treatment of patients on 825 acres … on October 1, 1931.” https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/facilities/pgpc/#history

What is located on the complex today and the property on the far right?
Pilgrim State Hospital is now the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center and hasn’t gone anywhere in 88 years! Across the future Sagtikos is now SCCC and LIU Brentwood Campus as well as Brentwood State Park just to the south of G Rd (College Rd).

Identify the roads that are not the Motor Parkway.
Crooked Hill Rd is to the right (East) and Commack Rd (old and/or new) to the left (West). Wicks Rd is to the far right (East) of the cleared land (future colleges). The Sagtikos Pkwy (opened in 1952) which runs between the two locations did not exist and neither did the LIE nor the NSP, both of which would be built to the north of the property. Within the facility the streets had letter names. G Rd is the most visible and is still around today. It cuts across the photo about mid-way up. The eastern most part of it is now known as College Rd and it ends at Wicks Rd.

Where is the Motor Parkway?
I believe that the VMP is hidden by the trees in the area just to the north of the open field that would someday be the College Campuses and is intersected by Wicks Rd on the far right (East) right where the LIE crosses Wicks now.

Where is the Long Island Railroad?
The LIRR (Ronkonkoma Branch) is and was well to the south of the Hospital. The tracks shown in the photo were a spur to the hospital and the power station and also served the State’s Edgewood facility.
http://www.lirrhistory.com/july2000/pilmap2.JPG

Kudos question: What is the date of the Mystery Foto? Provide a rationale.
Photo date: c.1930 ::: In the image, the hospital looks like it is still under construction. Can’t be sure of a more exact date but there do not appear to be significant shadows from the buildings so I’d venture not Winter on a less than sunny day!

Mike and the SnowDogs

From Update: Pilgrim State Hospital Complex and the Motor Parkway in 1938

Sam, As per Art K’s website, that was an advertisement in a 1927 Rand McNally.

From Updated: Surveyor Clinton Robertson Photo Album: A Motor Parkway Survey Team in Lake Success in 1909