A 1908 Aeromap of Lake Ronkonkoma, the Motor Parkway Inn and an Automobile Parkway under construction
At the October 2023 meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society, Al Velocci presented a 1908 "aeromap" of Lake Ronkonkoma. Here are up-close scans of Al's unique map.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
My favorite co-author presenting the map.
The "Addition #6 , Lake Ronkonkoma property" was promoted by developer M.G. Babcock Company as "The Lakewood of Long Island."
In 1908, Lakewood, New Jersey was booming with hotels and large estates.
"In addition to the great hotels, Lakewood saw the establishment of a large number of magnificent homes, including the John D. Rockefeller Estate, now Ocean County Park; and the Grover Cleveland Cottage, formerly located on Lexington Avenue, north of Carey Street. Socialites, such as the Packs, the DeForests, the Willocks and the Lynches, settled here."
The 1908 route of the Motor Parkway can be seen as "Automobile Parkway Under Construction."
The Motor Parkway Inn can be seen on the edge of the lake. The inn would later be renamed Petit Trianon.
Comments
My great grandfather lived in Lake Ronkonkoma and worked with Willy Vanderbilt building the last part of the motor parkway. He actually bought his bathtub which was damaged on it’s way from France..
Interesting promotional piece, Al. Thanks for sharing. Here’s an ad (New York Times, Nov. 15, 1908) for the Babcock company promoting Lake Ronkonkoma inviting all persons responding to receive a free excursion (I presume to the Lake). The ad mentions “The Automobile Parkway” - wonder if the excursion traveled on the parkway. And another ad for the Wieckers Realty Company from The Times Union (May 7, 1908) mentioning an “Automobile Race Course”. As readers of this site know there were various plans to build a course near Lake Ronkonkoma which never materialized.
Art, The free excursions were by railroad. On some occasions the sponsoring realty companies would run dedicated railroad cars at certain times usually in conjunction with an on site live raffle for a free lot.