Vanderbilt Cup Races

From Gary Hammond

As can be seen above, the view shown in Mystery Friday Photo # 42 is not a full photo, but has been severely cropped, eliminating some great detail.  This photo was taken by the well-known Freeport photographer, Stafford, as can be seen by his signature in the lower right hand corner “Stafford / ‘08”.  A head on view of the business, taken about the same time, is shown in Nassau County, Long Island, in Early Photographs: 1869-1940, by Bette S. Weidman and Linda B. Martin, Dover, 1981, p. 124-5, photo # 173, credited as being from the collection of the Freeport Historical Society.  Another photo dated 1917 shows the Henry St. side of the building with autos lined up for repair; an earlier photo of G. Bennett Smith’s previous store shows it attached to Thomas Johnston’s Pharmacy with a window display of Edison phonographs and wax cylinders, along with a stack of tires (bicycle or auto?); and this photo can all be found in the Long Island Memories website under the Freeport Memorial Library digital holdings from the Freeport Historical Society, when looking under “Bennett Smith”.  In additional, a great ad from August 1900 in a the Methodist Episcopal Church booklet, also available on this site, advertises Smith as having “A full line of Golf Goods / High Grade Bicycles / Sundries / Special Attention given to repairs / Fulton Street / Freeport”, obviously before he had started his automobile business.
The Freeport Garage was owned by G. [George] Bennett Smith, and was located at 23 E. Merrick Road in Freeport.  The Nassau Daily Review, Saturday, January 2, 1937, p. 9, carried an extensive biographical article about G. Bennett Smith.  Born in East Rockaway, his family then lived in Bellmore, with him finally settling in Freeport.  His first interest was bicycles – circa 1895 he was the state champion bicycle racer, and he would even compete against Charles M. “Mile-A-Minute” Murphy.  He established his bicycle shop in Freeport about 1896.  In 1900 he bought the first automobile ever owned in Freeport – a Locomobile Steamer – as a result he would then wind up selling 5 Locomobiles that year – claiming to be the first automobile dealer in Nassau County!
This photo was used on the “Aero View of Freeport, Long Island, N.Y., Hughes & Bailey, Pub., N.Y., 1909.” (see https://www.loc.gov/item/75694775 - listed as “Aero View of Freeport, LI, N.Y. 1909.”)
In addition, an entry for the business under the aerial view states: “Freeport Garage, The.  Automobiles, Storage, Repairs.  Phonographs, Bicycles.  G. Bennett Smith, Prop. 23 E. Merrick Road.”  A close examination of the “View” shows an accurate rendition of the building on the corner of Merrick Rd. & Henry St.
The Nassau Daily Review of May 7, 1915 (p.6) listed him as an “agency for Cadillac – Studebaker – Dodge Bros. – Ford”.  In 1918 he would have a new “Auto Show Room” built – 1 story, 40’x35’, on Merrick Road near Main Street.
The Google Maps street view, dated January 2013, shows a vacant lot where the building once stood on the NW corner of E. Merrick Road and S. Henry Street.
As to the details in the photo : 
• Altogether 7 autos appear in the photo, with the automobiles on the right appearing to be Model N Fords. 
• The banner overhead advertises “Wm. P. Miller’s / Quick Operating Grease Gun / For Sale Here.” 
• The windows are lettered “BICYCLES / AND / SUPPLIES” and “G. BENNETT SMITH / AUTOMOBILES.” 
• Sign “GASOLINE / 18¢ / PER / GALLON” 
• Next door was a “POOL / AND / BILLIARDS” Hall. 
• Metal “U.S.M.” mailbox with padlock on side mounted to a metal post
• Motorcycle standing behind fire hydrant
• Sign next door “PLUMBING & GAS FITTING”
• 2 metal signs - Bell Telephone “TELEPHONE / PAY STATION”
• Striped cloth awnings attached with cords
• Signs in store window on left – “…CLAMS”, “…CRABS”, “Bluefish”, “Codfish”, “ORDER / taken a.. / Deliveries..”
• 4 American flags on wood stick handles
• Bicycles in the left windows
• Signs “Hartford Tires”
• Sign “Fiske Tire Agency”
• Electric streetlight on top left corner
• Gas or electric light over the door
• Glass electrical insulators on pole and building
• Sign “DANGER / Busy Crossing /SLOW DOWN.”
• Oil cans in the windows!!!  Cone top and regular tins, including Gargoyle and Vacuum Mobil Oil
• Trash in street
• One of the men in the doorway appears to be holding a grease gun

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

Found Vanderbilt cup race 1st place trophy cup -last date 1958-who was it awarded to?
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From Howard Kroplick
John, not sure. Please send a jpeg to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

From ESPN.com Article "Past champions raise the bar at Indy"

The original photo, found by Art Kleiner in the Freeport Library Archive, shows another ‘cool’ thing, which could not be seen on the mystery photo: on right hand side of the photo in the background, behind indeed two more model N Fords, a 1907 model E Locomobile.
The 1917 photo shows next to the model T Ford what seems to be a 1915 Cadillac under repair, and in the background a 1917 Overland. The roadster in the foreground needs some more investigation!

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

One final guess while I can squeeze it in. That looks to be a Pope-Hartford on the left edge of the photo, but couldn’t narrow down the ‘cool’ motorized bicycle and cars on the right.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

I forgot to add my one guess at the car in front as an American Underslung.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

I think 18 cents for gasoline is about the coolest thing in this photo or anywhere else!
Spotted a few things but looking forward to the comments on this one!

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

Sam III - yes, those posts just north of Old Country Road are still there. I have the pics/proof. If you send me your email I’ll forward to you. I’d say there are 4 of them or so.

Frank - YES—-enjoy this Mets run. It’s been 9 years since we last smelled the playoffs so enjoy this! With this pitching anything is possible. And Murphy found Jesus at the right time apparently! I don’t care who he thanks after each HR as long as he keeps hitting them!!
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Dave, I have added your photo of these posts. Thanks!

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" V: East Williston to Mineola

Here’s some other things that I found. They sold bicycles,next door is a pool hall and there’s an advertisement for Wm P Miller quick operating grease gun. That’s not all . On Henry Street is the Duryea House & Tenny’s Sheet Metal Mill and also Hicks family house.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

George Bennett Smth’s Garage on the corner of Henry Street & E Merrick Rd. There’s more to come.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

When I first looked at it,I thought it was where Krug’s Hotel was,shucks,it’s not,it’s in Mineola and this is in Freeport.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

At first sight the building reminds me of Collins Auto Parts in Freeport. The type of stone block on the building & the downward hill make me think so.  They closed about 15 years ago.  Located at 23 E Merrick Rd, on the corner of Henry St. in Freeport.  Later today, on my way to work I will pass the location & take a picture of the existing building if it is still there.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

Anything’s possible with the posts. Sam, you’ve achieved beyond expectations!
ANY expression at McD would’ve been appropriate. That was one hellava trip! You guys rock. Let’s Go Mets!

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" V: East Williston to Mineola

Not much to contribute to solving this week’s mystery photo but some information provided in Kleiner’s Korner sent seperately to Howard. 

G. (George) Bennett Smith went from servicing the bicycle market to auto sales and service.  He owned the first autos (first one being a Locomobile Steamer) and opened the first auto dealership in the area in 1907 and opened a garage later at 23 E. Merrick Road (intersection of Henry Street) in Freeport.  He retired in 1937 and died in 1945.  He was very prominent in business and community affairs.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

Many cool things in that photo but the best is the old fashion mailbox and the price of gas 18 cents? Holy crap

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

My, we sure stray far afield from the VCR and LIMP, don’t we?  Don’t know the cars but the SLOW DOWN sign, the quick-acting grease gun, familiar old post-mounted mail box (they were painted with surplus Army Olive Drab), and 18¢ gas caught my eye; that latter had only gone up to 19¢ in NJ and 25¢ in NY by 1950 when I started driving (legally)- it paid to drive through the Holland Tunnel to NJ and back just to get a full tank!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

Now you’re in my old home territory!  What happened to the stretch down south through the Mineola DPW yard to the LIRR main line and across the tracks alongside the east side of the Fairhaven Apts. to Old Country Road (with many posts)?  The posts along the south side of the WHGC were definitely moved - last I looked, there were a slew of them neatly relocated directly across the RoW and only a few feet apart.  Love your adventures - thanks!  Sam, III

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Adventure" V: East Williston to Mineola

The cars look to be near new. Lt. Pope Hartford, ctr. American Underslung, Rt. 1906 N Ford [ no running boards ]. The motor bike looks like Indian. Interesting traffic sign may pre-date traffic lights. 18 cent gas works for me. Very well built building - first story cinder blocks. The American Underslung must be very early with no headlight cross bracing. Found one with UK coachwork with no bracing.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

Wonderful photo and cool indeed: a moment frozen-in almost 110 years ago and coming to life now! I will concentrate on the cars. On the left a 1906 Pope-Hartford 20-28 HP model (it can be dated exactly because of the shape of the crank handle, which changes in the next year’s model). On the right a Ford model N (the model R was almost identical, but had running boards; the model S had differently shaped fenders). It was produced from 1906-1908. The centrepiece is an American underslung roadster, which in this shape was produced almost unchanged from 1907, the first year they offered this model, to 1909. After that year the radiator shape was different. There is one detail that points to 1907 and that is the length of the shackles between front spring and spring horn. At some time in 1907 or 1908 they were reduced considerably in length and they disappear after 1909. My guess would therefore be that the photo was made in 1907.
Were there any Vanderbilt Cup connections for these makes? Yes, Pope-Hartford had two participants in the 1910 edition (Bert Dingley and Jack Fleming), while American participated in 1909 (Willy Haupt) as well as in 1910 (William Wallace). Ford of course never participated.

And of course congrats to the Mets and good luck in the championship!!

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

The cars are a guess.  On the right possibly a Deauville?  American Underslung roadster in the center?  No guess on just the grille on the left.

Cool items?

The first photo of Manny, Moe and Jack?

It appears the cars drive in the front door for repair.

Dirt street, doesn’t even look like gravel.

Cars are parked in opposite directions on both streets indicating staying right wasn’t yet in vogue.

Appears to be a phone booth built into the building at the left.

Gas at 18 cents but no dispensing machines in view, perhaps it was sold by the can.

I’ve always loved the painted on signage, not seen much anymore.

Bicycle shop sharing space with auto repairs, probably using the same set of tools for both at the time, and both go in the same front door.

Telegraph pole concreted into the ground, perhaps it was expected to last as long as the concrete.

What appears to possibly be an Indian motorbike, by the rounded tank, just setting outside next to the fire hydrant.  I don’t believe that is a mail box next to it, may be for the peace officers of the time.

Grease gun is such a major item it earns its’ own SALE banner.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo

Circa 1908 photograph of George Bennett Smith’s garage located at the corner of 23 East Merrick Road and Henry Street, Freeport, NY.

A garage that repaired and sold supplies for automobiles. As well as being an official agent for the Ben Fish Tire Company and The Hartford Rubber Works Company, a good selection of oil and lubricants can be seen in the front window.  Not uncommon for the day, it also catered to the bicyclist, selling both new bikes and parts. As can be seen on the banner above, it seems Mr. Smith also sold the W.P. Miller ‘Quick Operating Grease Gun’ designed by William P. Miller.

To the left of the photo is a 1906 Pope-Hartford Model L 25/30h.p.
A 1908 American Underslung Model 50 takes precedence in front of the dwelling.
To the right is a Ford Model N Runabout and what looks to be the same behind.
A nicely equipped 1908 Reading Standard 1908 “Model A” sits proudly on the sidewalk. Gasoline was 18¢ but I would use it for anything today other than washing parts.
One particular detail that caught my eye was the gentleman standing second from left holding something in his left hand. Curious to know what it could be.

From Mystery Foto #42 Solved: The Vehicles and Many Cool Things in this 1908 Freeport Garage Photo