Old Motor Parkway

Built by William K. Vanderbilt in 1908 to be used as an auto raceway where drivers from around the world would compete for the Vanderbilt Cup made of Tiffany silver. The road ran from Queens to Ronkonkoma, about 48 miles, with 12 toll lodges and 65 bridges (the first road to build bridges to eliminate intersections). The road snaked across the Island twisting and turning around areas where landowners would not give up their land. The road was constructed of reinforced concrete. There were two layers of crushed stone laid on the roadbed separated by a sheet of wire mesh. A soupy mixture of cement and sand from Jones Beach was poured over the mixture, and brushed for texture.

After the 1910 race when 4 were killed and 20 injured it was decided the road was unsafe for racing. Tolls were $2.00, but reduced to $1.50 in 1912 and $1.00 in 1917. After 1924 with increased car ownership, 150,000 cars traveled the roadway each year. In 1933 the toll was $.40. With the opening of the Northern State Parkway in 1933 from Queens to Mineola presented the final blow to The Old Motor Parkway. It was sold to the state for back taxes. (Information from LONG ISLAND OUR STORY)

Rosalie Niemczyk Walsh added that the first "fast food" service in the U. S. was at Dick Foran's house, at the end of South Broadway and Arthur Avenue. They passed the food and drink through a window to the racers on the parkway.

Below information from a presentation by Mr. Robert Miller at the April 2000, CPHS Historical Meeting - The writing appeared in the May, 2000 CPHS NEWSLETTER

William Kissam Vanderbilt was a sports enthusiast with a strong ferver for cars and racing. He loved the freedom of driving and the speed of a car. He started Cup Races in 1904, however, it was discontinud within three years because of accidents that occurred involving drivers as well as onlookers. It was then he decided to build his own road to race on.

In 1908 ground was broken in Central Park. It was a tedious job to remove trees and stumps. The only piece of mechanized equipment was a steam tractor. Wells had to be built and water piped in. With sand from Jones Beach, limestone from Haverstraw, crushed stone and lathing, using the Hassam Paving Pattern, this was the first 12 miles of reinforced paving in the U. S. The road twisted and winded from Queens to Ronkonkoma for 45 miles with 2 separate spurs with totaled 48 miles.

The Vanderbilt Motor Parkway had gatekeepers at various points with homes adjacent to the road for the gatekeeper. Eventually, when the parkway was closed these homes were offered to the gatekeepers. The gatekeepers house in Garden City was purchased by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce. They moved the house and enlarged it to accommodate their needs.

A lovely restaurant called Petite Trianon was a favorite dining place for those going to Ronkonkoma. The Beau Sejour was a stop for elegant dining in Central Park.

Mr. Vanderbilt had the reputation of being a kind and decent man to all who worked for him.