Vanderbilt Cup Races

Art, Regarding the flagmen and special officers They were paid, at least in North Hempstead, by the Town.  $250 was deposited by the A.A.A. into the Town’s Contingent Fund in early 1908 for that purpose. I assume that situation was also the case with the other town’s when it came to roadways under their respective control. Besides the farmers trying to get produce to market, there were at least two other agencies that were not happy with the public highways being closed for the races, these were the local fire departments and the U.S. Postal Service.

From A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

You call THAT a beard?  That’s NOWT a beard.  Now, THIS is a beard!  [Shades of Crocodile Dundee for you illuminati.]  A very few of you may remember when I grew it ‘way out to play a very convincing Santa for several Xmas seasons; getting close, now.  As a personal aside, I popped in to the Old Brookville police station on the North Hempstead Pike (25A) at Wolver Hollow Road on my way home from a gig one midnight, in full regalia, with a loud “HO, HO, HO!” and shook them all out of ten year’s growth!  That section of 25A still retains a bit of the bucolic character of the LIMP and the Jericho Pike of VCR days.  Actually, HK, you DO look grand!  Guess we both qualify as “Greybeards”, now.  Sam, III

From Update: Garden City Board of Trustees Met and Agreed Not to Destroy the Long Island Motor Parkway Pavement & Concrete

Here is another ad for the Petit Trianon which regularly appeared in a tourist pamplet entitled “Daily Attractions in New York”.  The ad is from the June 24 - 30, 1912 issue.  Ads for The Red Lion Inn (Great Neck) and The Lake Front Hotel (Lake Ronkonkoma) also appeared and mentioned the Motor Parkway. The map noted the Motor Parkway and the roads leading to it.  Interestingly a major road leading to it was from Port Jefferson, home of Dean Alvord’s Belle Terre community. Alvord, a real estate broker, was on the Plan and Scope Committee of the Motor Parkway, so probably the connection could be expected. Please forgive the lack or crispness on the photos (especially the map) - the digitized versions lack clarity.

From Kleiner's Korner: The Long Island Motor Parkway in Advertising Part I

Can’t remember the location of the VCC Hq. but that grove across the road sure reminds me of the Westbury Friends Meeting on the SE corner of the Jericho Pike at Post Avenue.  As I recall, Post Avenue used to run about 100’ east of its present crossing of the Pike and I think the Meetinghouse was moved at one point, so it might match.  If so, look at those industrious Hicksite Quakers at work!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Commission Headquarters on Jericho Turnpike, Westbury

A couple of observations (after watching the entire slide show twice).  First, it is notable that women spectators valued their lives; only men ventured out on the course.  Second, once again it is amazing to realize how dramatic a change the VCR and LIMP brought; what an achievement!  Third, look at the unusually- and extremely-long cross-bars on the telephone poles as a clue; ditto the turnout or entrance/exit at right and the dip in the RoW.  These last three might help narrow the choices.  Sam, III

From A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

It’s confirmed, that’s Howard with a distinguished beard : )

From Update: Garden City Board of Trustees Met and Agreed Not to Destroy the Long Island Motor Parkway Pavement & Concrete

I’ve noticed the recent streamlining here, the upgrading was a success!

From The New Features of VanderbiltCupRaces.com

I believe we are looking east on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury at the intersection of Powells Lane. On the southeast corner today is a Speedway gas station. The southwest corner has a 7-11. Since Jericho Turnpike has been significantly widened during the past 100+ years, the actual site of the building is probably under the eastbound pavement. The building was the home of John Allen who allowed (for a fee?) it to be used as the headquarters for the Vanderbilt Cup Commission during the 1906 race. Since the 1906 race was held on October 6th., the photo was probably taken that month or possibly late September.

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Commission Headquarters on Jericho Turnpike, Westbury

Howard - I forgot to mention regarding the revised caption for Ruland Rd bridge, the bridge in the painting has the “No Parking” sign intended for LIMPers. This likely to be a highway bridge under demolition, as (Powell Ave?) above temporarily truncated for the bridge’s removal. The Jericho Tpke and Old Country Rd bridges in Mineola had dips that would’ve shown more hill in the painting.

From The Long Island Motor Parkway Paintings By Harvey Kidder

From Art Kleiner:
Last paragraph.

From A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

From Art Kleiner:
Greg, “flagmen” and “special officers” were required by Nassau County as documented in the proceedings of the 23rd Meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 24, 1908 for the speed trials to be held on Oct. 10 and Oct. 24.  The “flagmen” were positioned on curves to warn people of approaching vehicles, while “special officers” were to inform persons that the roadway is being used for speed trials and that “standing or walking along or traveling anywhere upon said highways “that they do so at their own peril”.  Locations and distances are somewhat detailed in the attached.  Hope this provides some clues.

From A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Howard, I couldn’t seem to find anything, but is there any documentation as far as signal flagman locations?

From A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Thanks Al, your LIMP details are always amazing! The photo below shows the two gas lanterns (supplied by Motor Parkway Inc) hanging on top of this early porte cochere (no electricity yet), and a different style lantern in the driveway for toll collector use (likely installed by the toll keeper). I’m envisioning driving up to this lodge at night in the darkness, with just the gas lanterns emitting light,  and maybe a subtle light coming from within the lodge house, to help light up this toll plaza. What a sight that must’ve been!

Howard - Harvey Kidder was not kidding! His paintings prove it. The Great Neck lodge is indeed so. It’s the only south-facing Pope lodge with a slight left on the roadway heading eastward. Kidder added bright white paint (lighting) on the front of the lodge facade, as he saw it while painting. Thank god it was a sunny day to help with orientation. This was the western terminus at the time of painting. As Harold Sauter commented, the fenced-off Lakeville Rd bridge (not yet built) can be seen in the foreground!

Harold Sauter - Your input is always welcomed. If I had the capability to bike ride from Nassau Blvd to Rt 110, without interruption, on the abandoned parkway,  I would have done the same as you did. Any kid would’ve! Thank you for your experience on the Motor Pkwy and please feel free to share your experiences that you had on your journeys on the old parkway.

From The Long Island Motor Parkway Paintings By Harvey Kidder

-Identify the location of the Mystery Foto and the orientation of the photographer.

Looking East down Jericho Tpke at the intersection with Powell Lane in Westbury

-What is at this location today?

A Speedway gas station

-What was the use of the building when the Mystery Foto was taken?

Vanderbilt Cup Commission headquarters for the 1906 race

-What month and year was the photo likely taken? Provide a rationale.

1906 race was October 6th, late Sept/early Oct 1906

-Kudos question: Who owned the building?

John Allen

From Mystery Foto #20 Solved: The 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Commission Headquarters on Jericho Turnpike, Westbury

My guess is these two cars just completed a left hand turn.  The is a man waving a flag on the left side of this photo just across from this turn.  If my theory is correct, it will dramatically shrink the possible locations of this photo.  Plus, would it not be more likely the photographer would position himself near a turn?

From A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Frank, The toll lodges were electrified when there were power lines on the closest street. Parkway was required to put up and pay the poles on private property if necessary.  Prior to that the lodges were issued two lanterns which were hung on the exterior at dark. Interior lighting was by candle and lanterns, responsibility of the lodge keepers’

From The Long Island Motor Parkway Paintings By Harvey Kidder

With their contacts in the automobile industry, Fred J. Wagner and Russell A. Field joined together in 1908 to form the Wagner-Field Automobile Advertising Agency.  Little doubt one of their first customers would be the Vanderbilt Cup Race, run the same month; the firm was tasked with promoting the grandstand and parking areas.  Wagner later returned in 1917 to be Advertising Manager to “The Horseless Age”, of which he left in 1911.  Articles courtesy of The Motor World, The Automobile and The Horseless Age.

From The Residence of the Starter of Five Vanderbilt Cup Races -Fred Wagner- Rediscovered in Smithtown

Frank, It’s not a pedestrian underpass under the Parkway on the south side of the LIRR at Central Park. It is a farmway underpass for William Stymus and I believe it is the only one. Stymus provided the property for the Parkway ROW on both the north and south side of the railroad and Central Avenue. On the south side of the tracks his property had it’s frontage on Central Avenue. The Parkway ROW cut off access to his property east of the Parkway. Thus the need for the underpass. The Parkway couldn’t build an overpass further south because the Stymus frontage didn’t reach far south enough. The Parkway was very fortunate that Stymus was willing to work with them, his cooperation meant the Parkway had to build only one bridge to cross both the LIRR and Central Avenue.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #45: Central Avenue/LIRR Railroad Bridge in Bethpage

David, Always appreciated the article in the Lincoln Mercury Times, especially the sketches. Did you know if they still exist?

From Then & Now: The Bethpage Bikeway Section of the Motor Parkway in Old Bethpage

I added my film of the tour of the 1908 course. It may be Manetto Road.

From A Keystone View of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race