About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
Another fantastic aerial. Thanks Howard again for sharing these gems.
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Howard Kroplick
Franks, thanks for your Femenias’ Findings. Much appreciated!
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
Mark Lieberman seemed fairly set on restoring the car. What caused him to completely change course, not restore and sell the car?
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Howard Kroplick:
Greg, excellent question. Mark needed the resources to expand his restoration business.
From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker
East Garden City looking north over Mitchel Field. Much details in this aerial. Sending attachment
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
A aerial photo of Mitchell Field air base looking towards the northeast
The LIMP bridges in the photo are the twin bridges(polo field and Roosevelt raceway), Meadowbrook Rd Merrick Ave and Meadowbrook Lodge.
Mitchell army air base, Meadowbrook Polo fields and golf course, LIRR Central branch, future Roosevelt field raceway.
The year of the photo I would say is 1933(5-2-33 ?). The photos of the field on 9/29/31 did not have the tops of the hangers painted. The photo on 5-2-33 had the hangers roofs painted. The photo on 7/30/36 had concrete aprons in front of the hangers which was not in this photo.
The collection of aerial photos I would say is from Stony Brook University digital archives
The flying biplane is in the lower right center of the photo.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
Hello to all.
*Location/Orientation: E Garden City, Westbury, East Meadow. Northeast view.
*LIMP bridges/structures: Bridges…Merrick Rd Pkwy Type, Roosevelt Field Hwy Type. Meadowbrook Club Bridge over LIMP, and Central RR Trestle over Meadowbrook Rd. Meadowbrook Lodge ( LIMP )
*Historic Properties: Meadowbrook Golf Course/Polo Fields, Mitchel Field, and Salisbury Links.
*Aerial Year/Rationale: Early 1930’s ( Runways on Mitchel Field not built until 1938 )
*Digital Collection/ University: Hofstra University Library Special Collections, Hempstead NY.
*Biplane location: shadow on Mitchel Field ( towards bottom of image, more to the right than left. Looks like Batman symbol.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
Howard, thanks for the plug on the book. I can’t wait to see that car again when its restored!
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Howard Kroplick
Tom, keep writing these wonderful books!
From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker
We are looking north-north-east over Mitchel Field in Uniondale. We can see the LIMP bridge over Merrick Avenue as well as the Meadowbrook Lodge. Additionally, the two side-by-side bridges to Roosevelt Field and Meadowbrook Polo Club can be seen. Also visible are the polo fields, the Meadowbrook Golf Club, and possibly the Salisbury Plains LIRR station. I think the date of the photo is about 1932 since the new Mitchel Field hangars are there but the officers housing is still under construction. Just a guess but the photo may be part of the Long Island Studies collection at Hofstra University. There could be a flying biplane just to the right of center, slightly above the bottom border.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
We’re looking generally north down at Mitchel Field. Running left to right from the top are Old Country Road, Stewart Avenue, and the LIRR. The Polo Grounds of the Meadow Brook Club can be seen. Lower right is the Salisbury Links golf course.
Features on maps at historicmapworks.com put this after 1914 (before Mitchel Field). Most of these features appear in the 1927 map. I don’t know when the o-housing was built at Mitchel, nor when biplanes stopped flying there.
There should be at least two LIMP bridges in this area, along with the Meadow Brook Lodge, but I cannot be sure I see them in the photo.
I would love to know what appears to be two parallel overpasses at top right corner.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
It’s absolutely incredible that those bridge abutments even still exist. The fact that there’s a business in operation around the abutments boggles the mind. I wonder how much longer they’ll continue to remain.
Rog
From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits
Hey Howard,
I am really excited for you. This will be a huge triumph (not the British car) for you.
Can’t wait to see it when it’s done.
All the best,
Rog
From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker
Northeast corner of Mitchell Field ... Polo grounds and golf course where the Meadowbrook Parkway sits today. I’d say mid to late 1920’s, no paved runways @ Mitchell yet.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
It looks like an aerial of the Mitchel Field area.
Looking north.
From the Dept. Of Agricultur digital collection at Stony Brook, August 1938.
The Mitchel runways were yet unsaved.
Stewart Avenue running left to right across top.
LIMP funnng left to right parallel to Stewart and on top of Stewart.
LIMP bridge to Roosevelt Field at top.
Meadowbrook Golf Club at right.
Meadowbrook Polo fields shown in the rectangular areas.
Merrick Avenue running bottom to top at extreme right.
Biplane is visible just to right of the buildings to the right of the Polo fields.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
Anonymous Team - Zooming in further on the curved concrete path reveals two different textures of concrete, with the bottom half closely resembling LIMP pavement (the Right-of-Way?). I’ve attached photos of other LIMP pavement discoveries for comparison.
It’s possible a crude, narrow, and circular concrete walk path was added besides an already existing and partially exposed LIMP roadway, for office personnel to avoid mud traps.
One must be on location for better judgement. Did you guys notice any other exposed concrete nearby the curved path?
From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits
Keep up the great research!
Ken Harris
From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits
Tucker still continues to fascinate—keep up the good work.
Ken Harris
From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker
Thanks Howard, a very interesting story about an amazing automobile. We are fortunate to have a Tucker here on Long Island. Thanks for sharing your car and it history with the rest of us.
From Book "Motor City Barn Finds": Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker
Answer to Bonus Question - the biplane in flight can be seen in the third photo, to the right of the polo fields in the upper right hand corner above the trees.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
It was the exploration of this exact area that caused myself and my son Gram to stop our own weekend walks on the Motorway back nearly seven years ago. The protection service of the sandpits were horrific in their guarded behavior when we asked if we could take an escorted walk on the grounds. Their usage of the abutment is likely in violation of safety regulations. Oh well. At least it assures it’s continued existence for now. Kudos to The intrepid new father/son duo for recoding this invaluable trace of the road we all love!
From Updated 12/7/2022: Then & Now: The Very Elusive Clody Farmway Bridge in the Melville Sand Pits
Just realized the photo is from an online collection so my prior answer may be incorrect. Further research warranted.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
Location of the aerial and the photographer’s orientation: Mitchell Field looking north
The Long Island Motor Parkway bridges and structures: Roosevelt Field bridge, Merrick Ave. bridge, Meadowbrook Lodge
Other historic properties that can be seen in the aerial: Meadowbrook Club/Int. Polo Fields, Salisbury Train Station, Salisbury Links
The estimated year of the aerial. Provide a rationale.: 1933 - no concrete runways, checkerboard roofs of hangers
The name of the digital collection and its university location: I’ll go with the Edith Hay Wykoff Collection/LI Estates & Historical Photo Collection which is housed at Hofstra’s LI Studies. Even if this is incorrect, its on my activity list to visit.
From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: 1932 Aerial of the Meadow Brook Hunt Club from the SMU Ritchie Collection
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