Vanderbilt Cup Races

Eric—-this is the section you were talking about in the last post.

SB III—-We will get into more detail on the “mansion” on the next post but I’m amazed you’ve never been there or have multiple pages to send me to in it’s regard!! Research the name “BAGATELLE” and you will find all you need to know. (I’m ready for the backlash SB).

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" VIII: Wheatley Heights & Dix Hills (Half Hollows Hills)

As I had noted, I vas dere, Cholly, in 2000 <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy7.html#halfholl>, in 2002 <http://sbiii.com/limpsuff.html#halfholl>, and lastly in the Winter of 2002/03 <http://sbiii.com/limpkwya.html#wintale>.  It would be interesting to know just who owns the RoW along Bagatelle.  I spotted the RoW there *MARKED* on Google Maps <http://sbiii.com/limp-aer/buttrfly.jpg>; never noticed that before.  Also, Dave, can you or Frank or Art pin down exactly where you were when you took the “mansion” pic, please?  Art’s map doesn’t seem to jibe with the satellite view (Wildwood just runs N-S).  Sam, III

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" VIII: Wheatley Heights & Dix Hills (Half Hollows Hills)

I missed Frank’s 18 Apr post; sorry I wasn’t specific enough.  The CRRofLI was NOT built in 1871 to carry bricks, although the later 1873 Bethpage Branch was.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

Spectacular find of the Hairston’s house Edith, and yes, you’re in the right place for continued comments. I found the home on Google maps as well and will be sending Howard a 1947 bike route map from your home to the Hairstons’, as per your directions. Your trip was 1.8 miles each way, not to mention the hilly bridges to overcome towards the Hairstons’. 

Based on the 1947 aerial, of the three bridges you had to cross to reach the Hairstons’ (not including the Brush Hollow Rd bridge), two were still intact and appear passable (the Ezekiel Smith farm bridge by Maxess Rd, and the Ruland Rd bridge). The one bridge that appears to have already been removed was the Wellwood Ave bridge (Pinelawn Rd), just 500 feet short of your destination. 

Do you recall how you crossed the street here in 1947 without a bridge? Did you temporarily leave the LIMP just to cross? You mentioned when accessing Hairstons’ backyard, it was at the bottom of the hill. It’s sounds like the Wellwood Ave bridge embankments were still in place even though the bridge was removed.

When riding your bike in 1947 from home to the LIMP via Old Brush Hollow Rd, you must’ve passed through Maureen’s driveway (on the south side of the Brush Hollow bridge) to gain access to the Motor Parkway. You were so close to meeting your neighbor Maureen

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

Jim- It’s also possible that the train may be in motion and not stationary. Besides the windows looking empty (or window shades drawn) in the mystery photo, there are other photos of races at the same location where a train doesn’t appear at all on the track.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

Seems Frank has a point.
Central RR of LI was built in sections.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railroad_of_Long_Island

The Bethpage Branch was built to connect to the brickyard just 1 month after the other parts were finished.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethpage_Branch

By 1908 it may have no longer have connected to Bethpage Junction - which would make it easy to have trains remain stationery on the remaining track near Deadman’s Curve

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

If you guys do a cleanup, I’d recommend renting a couple of power brushes(like this - https://www.gravely.com/en-us/walk-behind-mowers/power-brush). These work great for cleaning off layers of dirt on the pavement, and will not damage the road underneath, especially around broken/uneven areas. Do it on a day after a good rain though, so as not to kick up a ton of dust! You might get a bit muddy, but at least there won’t be anything in the air. These will also be easier to maneuver in the woods where the cleanup will be going on. Also, count me in as a volunteer!

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" VIII: Wheatley Heights & Dix Hills (Half Hollows Hills)

Not all cars seem to have been portraited for the LIAM post card series, so it took some research to identify all cars on the photos. On the photos (always left to right if applicable):
A. A rare 1906 Pungs-Finch Limited roadster
B. A Ford truck, Bugatti and 1911 Mercer 35
C. A 1901 Waverley electric and 1904 Stevens-Duryea stanhope
D. A 1906 Cadillac and 1910 Buick model 10 toy tonneau
E. The 1910 Buick (see photo D), 1923 Ford town car and the front end of the 1907 Locomobile
F. The 1907 Locomobile model E tonneau
G. No idea, but probably someone will remember!
And finally of course the well-known 1915 Ford chief’s car

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

Ye cats and little fishes - I *KNEW* I had more on the brick works, and a map, AND a brick!  See <http://sbiii.com/longis-0.html#nasbrick>.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

As thorough as I expected, great footage!

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" VIII: Wheatley Heights & Dix Hills (Half Hollows Hills)

Edith Klarmann:
Don’t rightly know if this is the way to make further reference to the Hairston’s Property that I have been referring to abutting the LIMP; that said, above is a foto taken off a current street view of Google looking West the rear of which and up the hill is the LIMP or what is left of it, with the house being precisely as I remember those many years ago.
Edith

From Updated: Sam & Dave’s “Excellent Motor Parkway Hike” VI: Broad Hollow Road

Wonderful images, thank you Mr. Vargas.

As far as The Museum Image, the 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile isn’t on the overhang ( sold by Mr. Clark Jr. in 1965 ). Maybe the image was taken in 1970?

Maybe someone else wants to ID the Autos?

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

Hi Sam, could you please explain what you mean with “you’re dead wrong with the Central RR”.  Several responses stated that the railroad line was the LIRR Central Branch.  Ann and Jim also stated that the branch was used to ship brick from Bethpage. Yes there was a sub branch (Bethpage) that cut off from the main at Bethpage junction.  The main line of the Central Branch then continued to Babylon and to the Babylon village docks.  At Bethpage junction the Bethpage branch line then crossed the LIRR main line by what is now Merrits Rd and continued up Thomas Powell Blvd to the brick works.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

Thanks, Howard,
That museum was the life passion of Henry Austin Clark, also a founder of Bridgehampton Race Circuit, an automotive historian and writer and an unparalleled collector. And, not unimportant, with a great sense of humor.
Earl

From Never Before Published Photos of the Long Island Automotive Museum

My husband and children attended Mepham High School and I retired from there as an Art Teacher.  James Zarvos was one of my photography students fulfilling an assignment when he photographed an “discovered” the hidden map beneath.  I remember his phone call - “Mrs. P. do you know there is another map under there?”  If anyone would like to visit the school I’ll bet they will be glad to show it to you.  Kudos to any school that chooses to preserve instead of replace these beautiful things.
______________________________

Howard Kroplick

What was in the hidden map?

From Mystery Foto #33 Solved: The World's Largest Map of Long Island Located at Mepham High School

Sorry, folks, but you’re dead wrong on the Central RR.  A. T. Stewart built it as a competitor of the LIRR; it was later absorbed into the LIRR as the Central Branch.  CRR history at <http://sbiii.com/lirr-crr.html>. The short Bethpage Branch of the CRR, shown on a blueprint map <http://sbiii.com/crrlipix/bethbr16.jpg>, was built later to serve the brickyard, up at the north end of the branch.  The location of the photo is seen at the bottom of my <http://sbiii.com/crrlipix/btwrmap.jpg>.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

Nice presentation—keep up the good work

Ken

From Highlights from Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting: The Grand Vanderbilt Estates

Oct 10, 1908, on the high-banked Dead Man’s Curve looking south in Bethpage. It’s still there!
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/then_now_the_first_deadmans_curve_in_bethpage

The Motor Parkway Sweepstakes, the first race to use the new course, intended to test the layout, timing system, and crowd control for the upcoming 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race two weeks later.

Sweepstakes consisted of five concurrent races of varying lengths and car values; (N)assau (93.8 mi., under $1000.), (J)ericho (140.8 mi., $1000.-$2000.), (M)eadow Brook (211.1 mi., $2001.-$3000.), (G)arden City (187.7 mi., $3001.-$4000.), and (P) Motor Pkwy (234.6 mi., +$4000.). 

Trailing behind in the photo is Motor Pkwy #41, missing the “P” in front of its number, the Chadwick driven by William Haupt, mechanician Lindquist? (finished 5th) 

M36 Rainier driven by Axel Peterson, mechanician ? (finished 4th).

The motionless LIRR train behind supplied additional seating for spectators.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

Location - Bethpage ( old Central Park) Dead Man’s Curve looking south (LIMP west bound) towards the LIRR Central Branch
LIMP Motor Parkway Sweepstake races held on October 10, 1908.  1st race held on the newly opened Motor Parkway. This is also the date of the photo.
The train was a LIRR special observation train used as a viewing stand/platform.
The race cars was # 36 a Rainer driven by Axel Peterson and #41 a Chadwick driven by William Hapt

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I

The Central RR was built by Stewart to carry bricks from the Queens (later Nassau) Brickyard in present-day Old Bethpage for new buildings in Garden City.

From Mystery Foto #15 Solved: A 1908 Long Island Racing Scene at Bethpage's Deadman's Curve I