Motor Parkway Panel
keywords = Long Island Motor Parkway Vanderbilt panel toll road limited access highway automotive auto car car history Miller
Updated: 06 Mar 2006, 15:45
ET
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Motor Parkway Panel Page
[Hosted by S. Berliner, III
Consultant in Ultrasonic Processing]
This site has now been visited 
times since the counter was installed.
Motoring on the Early Motor Parkway
[photo provenance unknown]
MOTOR PARKWAY PANEL
P. O. Box 183
Glen Head, New York 11545
Tel. and FAX: 516-759-7360
To contact S. Berliner, III, please click here.
Keeping the
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY
alive in Situ and in Minds and Museums
Panelists:
Michael Abbey
Steve Anderson
S. Berliner, III (Convenor)
Denis Byrne
Vincent Fitzgerald
Robert & Susan Friedman
William H. Frohlich
Fred Hadley
Arthur J. Huneke
Mitchell Kaften
Howard Kroplick
(31 Oct 04)
Robert A. Miller
Ronald E. Ridolph
Jeff Saltzman
Umberto Velocci
Kevin Walsh
Thomas V. Walsh
[image by SB,III - 15 Feb 00 and © 2000 S. Berliner, III -
all rights reserved]
Panelists are noted Motor Parkway scholars
and active Website documentors* of the Parkway.
(* - If there is such a word!)
Panel Associates are those who have evidenced
a significant and enduring interest in
the LI Motor Parkway and the Panel's goals,
who wish to identify with the Panel,
and who have something to add to the base
of knowledge about the LIMP, such as photographs,
reminiscences, or memorabilia
(see # - Donations, below).
An e-mail list exists to link Panelists and others
with a general interest in the LIMP.
[Please note that in order to be a Member or Associate, one must have public e-mail access
or a sponsor who will forward communications by e-mail or snail-mail.]
The Motor Parkway Panel has its own domain and URL,
http://www.motorparkway.net/+
which, for the nonce, will refer you right back to
the host's main LIMP page; as we progress, we will have more to offer
directly on the new site, especially detailed, linked indices to our members' pages.
[+ - 14 Aug 2004 - Please note that this is a change
from "motorparkway.com"]
LIMP NEWS (Current Events) is now on the host's Continuation Page 0!
1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race tickets were on auction!
The Motor Parkway Panel was formed on 23 October 1999 to keep the
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY
alive in minds and museums
.
BULLDOZERS ARE SUCH INDISCRIMINATE REVISIONISTS! - SB,III
RoW = Right-of-Way.
Here's a very simple overview map of the Long Island Motor Parkway:
(04 Jun 02 map, with more accurate dating 20 Dec 2005;
by and © 2002, 2005 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
(Courtesy of Northport Public Library)
[Thumbnail image; click on picture for larger image.]
William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
The Long Island Motor Parkway (LIMP) - erroneously a.k.a. Vanderbilt
Motor Parkway@, was the brainchild of William K(issam).
Vanderbilt, Jr. (a.k.a. "II"). It
ran from the Kissena Corridor in Queens County, convenient to the New York
(Manhattan) ferries and the Queensborough (59th Street) Bridge, which had opened
in 1909, and to Vanderbilt's Lake Success home, "Deepdale", near Great Neck, out
along the Island to Lake Ronkonkoma, a distance of some 48 miles.
Construction of the Parkway was started on 06 June 1908 and it was opened virtually its full length by 1911; a 2½-mile western extension was built in 1928. The Long Island Motor Parkway closed on Easter Sunday, 16 April 1938, a victim of Robert Moses' adjacent toll-free Northern State Parkway and the continuing depression.
[Sic transit gloria mundi (sick transit reduced glory to the mundane - SB,III)!]
Links to Panel members's Web sites and to related sites follow.
[A LIMP Bibliography is on the host's LIMP Continuation Page 1A.]
Panel Events are posted at the bottom of this Motor Parkway Panel page; events of interest to LIMP afficionados in general are posted on the hosts's LIMP Continuation Page 0 at LIMP NEWS (and Current Events).
It is the intention of the Motor Parkway Panel to work with government, civic and historical groups, and commercial organizations to preserve artifacts of the LIMP, including surviving sections of original roadway and bridges, and to seek out other artifacts, reminiscences, maps, photographs, films, and records of the Parkway.
There already is a consensus among panel members that the old Motor Parkway bridge on the grounds of the Old Bethpage Village Restoration immediately west of the Nassau/Suffolk border should be cleaned up, placarded, and made accessible to OBVR visitors.
The Panel has formally objected to a plan to demolish the Old Courthouse Road bridge in North Hills/Manhasset Hills; this bridge is one of the only two surviving Parkway bridges in Nassau County and the only surviving one where the Parkway went UNDER a public road.
Other projects placed before the panel for consideration include:
Creation of a complete route map, based on a popular map series, which can be put up (in sections) on one of our Web pages.
Preservation of the Duryea Road bridge site in Melville in western Suffolk County, just east of Route 110 and north of Republic Airport.
Creation of a complete plot plan, based on property maps from LIMP, LILCO/LIPA, the NYC Dept. of Parks, and Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, etc.
Determining and monumenting the exact original western terminus near Hillside Avenue and Bell Boulevard and the later 1928 terminus at Rocky Hill Road near Peck Avenue and 199th Street in the Kissena Corridor area.
Monumenting the eastern terminus at Rosevale Avenue on the western shore of Lake Ronkonkoma, the site of the Petit Trianon Inn (and nearby dormitory, now a nursing home).
In addition, the Panel might look into preservation of the extant original segment running east from Clinton Street along the southwestern boundary of the Roosevelt Field mall, just north of Stewart Avenue, in Garden City, and possible publication (perhaps limited) of the above-noted maps.
Panelists (and others) are requested to please be on the lookout for a missing historical pamphlet about the LIMP described in the
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Maintaining a list of LIMP-related road and place name equivalencies (and pitfalls).
We are open to suggestions from the public.
@ - A Note on NOMENCLATURE - The official name of this pioneer highway was the
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY
NOT the VANDERBILT MOTOR PARKWAY;
the surviving active 13-mile right-of-way in Suffolk County,
from Half Hollow Road just north of the Long Island Expressway
(U. S. Route 495, between Exits 50 and 51)
to Rosevale Avenue on the western shore of Lake Ronkonkoma,
is now used as a public road named variously "Motor Parkway" and "Vanderbilt Parkway"
and, worst of all, "Vanderbilt Motor Parkway" from Commack Road to Moreland (Wicks) Road.
(Photo 17 May 00 by and © 2000 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
[Thumbnail image; click on picture for larger image.]
Historical marker in front of Half Hollow Hills Community Library
(55 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills, north side,
opposite Half Hollow Hills School)
It should also be noted here that the Toll Lodge of the Motor Parkway which sat on the east side of Clinton Street in Garden City, just north of Stewart Avenue, was moved in March of 1989 to the downtown parking lot just east of Franklin Street on the south side of 7th Street, directly opposite the AAA/ACNY office at 229 7th Street.
For a tour guide to the Parkway, see the host's LIMP Tour Page.
An April 2000 Motor Parkway display at the Northport Public Library included an undated clipping from NEWSDAY which had to postdate the referenced article, "History Takes the High Road" [April 5] (1998; Page Number: A08; Section: News - Sylvia Adcock); it is a letter from Mrs. Joanne Sica's Fourth Grade class at the Raymond J. Lockhart school in Massapequa and it sets forth the case for conservation, preservation, and restoration of the remaining parts of the Long Island Motor Parkway far more eloquently than we could ever hope to do:
"We believe the Long island Motor Parkway should be preserved. It is an important part of our Long Island history because it was the first motor parkway in the nation to ise reinforced concrete, landscaping, banked turns for high-speed driving, safety guard rails, special highway police and a non-skid surface.
Perhaps the restored bridge and highway could be used for field trips; have old-fashioned cars drive on it and open it to the public. It can also be used as a bikeway and walkway. Maybe the long Island Marathon could take place there. A sign could be put up to tell visitors about the history of the parkway."
How far-sighted these children were; how much wisdom out of the mouths of babes. We would do well to listen, before we squander any more of our rich automotive heritage.
The article was accompanied by a photograph of the Old Bethpage Village Restoration bridge, taken back when it was still clearly visible and not yet clogged with debris; compare that visual image with the current pictures on the Convenor's LIMP page 2.
Motor Parkway Panel member Tom Walsh contributed an article on the LIMP for Larry Graff's "your About.com Guide to: Long Island, NY".
Motor Parkway Panel member Steve Anderson was quoted in a NEWSDAY article by Sidney C. Shaer, "Highway Hopes That Faded", on page A20 (Nassau edition) of the Friday, 05 Nov 99, issue, in the "Long Island - Our Future" series, "Predictions from the past that haven't come true ... yet".
Motor Parkway Panel convenor Sam Berliner contributed the cover story on the LIMP (especially as it traversed the narrow central portion of the Town of Oyster Bay - through Central Park/Bethpage) for the Winter 2000 issue FREEHOLDER, "The History Magazine of the Town of Oyster Bay", the publication of the Oyster Bay Historical Society, of which he is a member.
Let us motor off to the very far end of the Parkway and "do" lunch at le restaurant Petit Trianon; c'est tres joli, ça! In case you are not sure you wish to patronise Willie's little place on the western shore of Lake Ronkonkoma, here, courtesy of Motor Parkway Panel member Tom Walsh, is an original advertisement:
(Courtesy of Thomas V. Walsh, Esq., Mar 00)
[Thumbnail image; click on picture for VERY large image.]
{from the host's main LIMP page.}
45 miles at 40MPH with "no police traps, no dust"!
[Other material listed "No Speed Limit. No Grade Crossings. No Dust. No Police Traps."]
The Petit Trianon establishment was variously termed "Inn" and "Restaurant"
(more often the former, unlike the example presented here)
in different official LIMP publications
{ya pays yer money and ya takes yer cherce).
Well, here's a kicker! Panelist Ron Ridolph sent me a xerographic copy of the Petit Trianon letterhead:
It shows only the name itself, with no "Inn" or "Restaurant", "under management Arthur H. Myers" and the telephone number was 30 RONKONKOMA.
Several other restaurants are linked to the Parkway in various ways; Sempre Vivolo in Hauppauge IS (per Bob Miller) the Brentwood Toll Lodge (relocated 100'), the Bonwit Inn is on the site of the Commack Spur Toll Lodge, there are two Bennigan's on the RoW (Roosevelt Raceway and Hauppauge), and there are several diners along the RoW. One must assume that there were privately-owned eateries (probably associated with service stations) all along the original Parkway, as well, since it took several hours to make the entire run from NYC to Ronkonkoma.
# - DONATIONS
Arrangements have been made to store donated documents and memorabilia in permanent, safe storage; similar arrangements are being made for artifacts. No donation can be accepted without prior, written approval of the Panel. Anyone wishing to donate materials should contact the Convenor.
LIMP LINKS
Some links to sites of specific and general interest to the Long Island Motor Parkway afficionado:
Panelist's Pages:
Michael Abbey's Vanderbilt Parkway page, with photos and links and a somewhat-blurry 1925 map.
Steve Anderson's Long Island (Vanderbilt) Motor Parkway page, with photos and links, on his NYC Area Roads, Crossings, and Exits site, where you will also find a rough map and more quotations from NEWSDAY's Sylvia Adcock and info on, and links to, Web Rings (not my thing) for East Coast Roads, Interstate Highways, New York City, and Long Island.
Vince Fitzgerald's Motor Parkway page, on his Hempstead Plains Long Island historical site.
Jeff Saltzman's Streetlight Site's Photo Gallery's Park Scenes area with "Vanderbilt" Motor Parkway in Queens, with "The present western terminus between 67th & 64th Aves", "Two views midway between 69th & 67th Aves", "Two views at 199th St & 69th Ave.", and "Dead end at Clearview Expwy."
In addition, Motor Parkway panelists, Sue and Rob Friedman, have a site about the Bronx's old "Freedomland".
Kevin Walsh's outstanding Forgotten NY site blossomed, on its "Street Scenes" section, with a Motor Parkway page (unbeknownst to me - sorry Kevin); he focuses on the Queens segment.
Panel Associate Denis Byrne has a Parkway page at http://www.geocities.com/denisbyrne/motorpk.html.
Panel Member Art Huneke's ARRt'sARRchives includes a LIMP page.
Panel Associate Dr. Mark DeSantis has a page primarily on the Vanderbilt Cup races.
Your HOST'S LI MOTOR PARKWAY PAGE INDEX:
I've added a local search function:
Enter Keywords:
The index on this page has been truncated to save page space; see the LIMP Index on the page preceding the host's main LIMP page, which now includes a
Geographical Index.
.
HISTORY OF THE LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY,
now continued on the LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY HISTORY page.
PERSONAL LI MOTOR PARKWAY APOCRYPHA
now being continued on the LIMP Apocrypha Page.
LIMP POSTS (and reinforced concrete).
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY TIMELINE.
LINKS to the LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY.
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY BIBLIOGRAPHY.
LIMP NEWS (and Current Events)
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY TODAY.
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY BRIDGES.
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY at confluence of Marcus/Lakeville/NSParkway.
More on the Long Island Motor Parkway.
Views of the Long Island Motor Parkway Today.
I. U. Willets Road Fragment.
Roslyn Road Fragment.
Bridge at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
Horace Harding (of Boulevard fame).
Open LIMP Matters - Questions and Speculations.
Crossings from Roslyn Road to the Maxess Road Bridge.
Old Courthouse Road Bridge, New Hyde Park.
Garden City Toll Lodge.
Crossings Continued - Maxess/Duryea Road Bridge.
More on Duryea Road Crossing.
LI MOTOR PARKWAY SPURS.
PERSONAL LI MOTOR PARKWAY APOCRYPHA,
and now continued on the LIMP Apocrypha Page.
LEVITTOWN GRANDSTAND AREA.
DEAD MAN'S CURVE REDIVIVUS.
LI MOTOR PARKWAY at WlLLISTON/ALBERTSON/SEARINGTOWN.
Dubious Artifact at NSP/NHP Road.
Queens Vignettes.
OLD BETHPAGE AREA Update.
ROUTE 110 SAND PITS AREA Update.
WHEATLEY HEIGHTS/HALF HOLLOW HILLS AREA
North Hills.
Mineola - Carle Place.
LONG ISLAND MOTOR PARKWAY at confluence of
Marcus/Lakeville/NSParkway, continued
(with Great Neck Toll Lodge).
Road Names - Old and New (and Bogus).
Additional WILLISTON-NEW HYDE PARK ROAD Documentation.
Bronx River Parkway.
1941 Queens Aerial Photos.
Western Terminus
(195th-199th St./Peck Av./Underhill Blvd./Horace Harding Blvd./LIE).
Fresh Meadows Ballfields and Theater
Eastern Terminus (Lake Ronkonkoma).
QUEENS COUNTY.
NASSAU COUNTY.
SUFFOLK COUNTY.
You could start by visiting
the 
or the
of the Hosts's series of Long Island Motor Parkway pages.
There is a lot of automotive material on the host's ORDNANCE and HISTORY pages.
Also, if you like automotive history, see the links on the host's Automotive page.
Then there are the host's general Long Island and History pages.
Other sites of general interest include:
National Parks Service -
Historic American Engineering Record.
National Historic Landmarks Program.
National Register of Historic Places.
Society for Industrial Archeology
(The SIA's Roebling Chapter in NYC does not seem to have a Web presence)
American Heritage of Invention & Technology
(a great magazine of which I am a charter subscriber)
Association for Industrial Archaeology (UK)
Industrial Heritage (UK Magazine)
Industriekultur - Museum Virtuell, USA page
(Deutsche Gesellschaft für Industriekultur e.V. in Zusammenarbeit mit dem
Geographischen Institut der Universität zu Köln)
Industrial Archaeology and Industrial History web ring.
Panel Events are/will be posted here:
LECTURES AND SLIDE SHOWS
TO COMMEMORATE
THE 100th ANIVERSARY OF THE
VANDERBILT CUP RACE
These were held at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt
Museum on Thursdays in October (7th, 14th, 21st, and
28th) at 7:30 PM - see the
LIMP NEWS (and Current Events) section on LIMP cont.
page 0 for the full announcement.
(06 Oct 04)
and 
(31 Oct 04)
THE WILLIAM K. VANDERBILT MOTOR PARKWAY
a lecture and slide show presentation by Robert Miller, Historian
...a very special program co-sponsored by the Central Park Historical
Society and the Bethpage Library on Wednesday, 26 Apr 00.
Rober Miller presented information about the the building and
subsequent demise of this road. The presentation stimulated history
buffs to rediscover parts of the roadway, bridges and gatehouses that
still exist in the Central Park (Bethpage) area.
The Northport Public Library presented Bob Miller on Friday, 24 Mar 00.
The Queens Borough Public Library presented Bob Miller on Saturday, 18 Mar 00.
Mr. Miller varies his programs so that there is always something new to discover.
Events of general interest to LIMP afficionadoes are/will be posted on the hosts's LIMP Continuation Page 0 at LIMP NEWS (and Current Events).
See you at the next event ( "can never get enough of that wonderful stuff!"),
THUMBS UP!
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This page hosted by S. Berliner, III
Consultant in Ultrasonic Processing
"changing materials with high-intensity sound"
Technical and Historical Writer, Oral Historian
Popularizer of Science and Technology
Rail, Auto, Air, Ordnance, and Model Enthusiast
Light-weight Linguist, Lay Minister, and Putative Philosopher
To contact S. Berliner, III, please click here.
© Copyright S. Berliner, III - 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005,
2006
- All rights reserved.
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