Vanderbilt Cup Races

This is the Nibbe farmway bridge in Bethpage.  The photographer is facing south.  It is located after the second “deadman’s curve” and was created to connect the west and east sections of Peter Nibbe’s farm.  The racecar was the #J11 Chalmers-Detroit and was driven by W.R. Burns who finished first in the Jericho sweepstakes averaging 46.2 mph.  The photo was taken October 10th 1908.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

The Brooklyn Eagle 1875 article mentions “Ruland’s Hill, southwest of Coram.” Was this another name for Bald Hill, which IS SW of Coram? From the veterans memorial on Bald Hill (next to the aforementioned amphitheater), on a clear day in winter, you can see both the Long Island Sound and the Great South Bay.

As a lifelong Long Islander I was always told that the highest point is Jayne’s Hill.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Frank - We couldn’t come to any conclusions about where Arlene and Carmine’s house is in relation to theirs.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Im getting Harbor Hill as the highest point in Nassau at 348.0 ft., andJaynes Hill the highest in Suffolk at 400.9 ft. Oheka castle and West Hills are nearby the summit at Jayne’s Hill. Greg, I’ve heard of moving mountains but never elevating them. Prohibitedly expensive likely.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Been waiting a while for a bethpage photo.  Nibbe bridge looking south on the motor parkway.  Motor parkway sweepstakes. jan 11 1908.  #J11 Chalmers-Detroit was driven by W. R. Burns

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

Looking South at the Nibbe farmway bridge during the Oct 10th, 1908 Motor Parkway Sweepstakes.

The #J11 Chalmers-Detroit was driven by W. R. Burns. Finished 1st in the Jericho Sweepstakes.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

This information has been very helpful, thanks for sharing this post

From Searching for a Piece of a 1921 Crow-Elkhart Sedan to Honor Her Family

Bell Blvd. between 77th ave and Kingsbury ave., looking south. Rationale. I took that walk almost every day and it sure looks like the lay of the land.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The J11 Chalmers-Detroit at the Nibbe Farmway Bridge in Central Park (Bethpage) on its way to winning the Jericho Sweepstakes

I know there were actual Ski Jumps around Long Island in the past. Near me in Farmingville there was Bald Hill Ski Bowl ( now the location of Brookhaven Amphitheater ). Read that the bowl lasted until the 1980’s. The entrance rd is still named Ski Run Lane. 330+ ‘ ASL

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Oheka and Jaynes Hill are both on the moraine, so the land where Oheka was built was already well above sea level. But Otto Kahn wanted to stand out I guess : )

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Dave- further to your point is that the Cold Spring Harbor train station was built specifically for the construction of Oheka and bringing in all the soil for it, later becoming a regular LIRR train station.
Although I don’t think most people include it because it was man-made and not natural topography.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

First of all happy new year everyone!!

Through my Gold Coast research I learned that Otto Kahn tried to purchase West Hills land because it was the highest point in Long Island. The owner wouldn’t sell, so Kahn wanted to make a point with all of his money, spent the next two years building up the land where Oheka Castle was built and THAT property is supposedly the highest point in Long Island.

Also, Walt Whitman would supposedly go up to the top of the West Hills land and write his poems. He lived nearby, as you all know. He liked to be at the high point.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Frank - It’s hard to tell from the photos on the website and the overhead photos on Google Maps. The irregularly-shaped property is across the street from my family members. It’s small and fenced in, and doesn’t look like it has any old pavement on it. I’ll ask.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Art, Recall that the hill Deepdale in Lake Success was built was in the hunt also.  Story goes top of the hill was reachable only by foot and one could see the Atlantic Ocean and Connecticut. Vanderbilt lowered the hill substantially in order to get a larger level area for his residence and auxiliary buildings “hundreds of cart loads of soil were removed and were used to fill in the swampy/marshy areas of the Lake.”

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Nice collection Dave!  Have you read them all?  Here’s a list of their works from Wikipedia.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

The South Huntington Water District has been sure that Jayne’s Hill is the highest point on L.I. since 1926.

From Kleiner's Korner Vote Request: The Ongoing Debate Over the Highest Hill on Long Island

Regarding the identities of the two women…. the original photo is owned by the Huntington Historical Society. Some 20 years ago I was allowed to make a copy. My recollection was that the photo was part of a particular family’s gift to the Society. They could possibly identify the two young ladies.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

Good Morning Art: Just looking around to see what Williamson books I have around here!  Happy Motoring, Dave.

From UPDATE - Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race in Literature and Entertainment (Part 2)

Al Prete - could this be the irregular property in Dix Hills? Homeowners Arlene and Carmine have a 275ft section of Motor Pkwy in their yard!
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_preservation_society_visits_a_hidden_section_of_t

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills

I’m accustomed to viewing maps northbound, so here’s the 1907 survey & 1917 Belcher Hyde Map.

From Mystery Foto #1 Solved: A 1940 view of the Motor Parkway at Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills