Kleiner’s Korner: And now for something completely different: Part 2 (Motor Parkway 1911 - 1930)
The second installment of this series includes robberies on the Motor Parkway, fires started by Motor Parkway motorists, a proposed extension to Sag Harbor, a full day of pleasure on the Motor Parkway Parkway for $5 and more.
Art Kleiner
Willie K. opening the Motor Parkway Inn (Petit Trianon) in Lake Ronkonkoma. (The Suffolk County News May 26, 1911)
A Motor Parkway speed trial by a Mercer automobile. (The New York Tribune Nov. 23, 1911)
Lord Montagu inspecting the Parkway followed by a ride with Joe Tracy. (The New York Tribune May 25, 1912)
A 1909 Princeton graduate employed by the Motor Parkway as a Civil Enginneer. (The Fifth Year Record of the 1909 Class of Princeton University)
A trolley extending to Rockaway (sic Rocky) Hill Road? (Queens Chamber of Commerce, 1915)
Twelve men surrounded and robbed the Bethpage lodge then milked some cows and helped themselves to corn! (The New York Times Sept,, 15, 1915)
And another robbery at Lou Austin's Motor Parkway gas station (Commack). (The Patchogue Advance Dec. 10, 1926)
All because of losing at the gas station's slot machine!
Anyone hear of the Motor Parkway Heights housing development? (The New York Tribune Nov. 10, 1918)
Speeding to and fro the Petit Trianon. (Loafing Down Long Island, 1921)
Advertising a touring business on the Motor Parkway. (The New York Herald Aug. 28, 1921)
Fires started by Motor Parkway motorists. (The County Review May 5, 1922)
The Port Jefferson Echo Oct. 11, 1928
Extending the Parkway to Sag Harbor! Wishful thinking? (The East Hampton Star Mar. 26, 1926)
General Manger "Al" Kienzle's position of the land swap between the Motor Parkway and NY State near Creedmoor. (The Nassau Daily Review Mar. 28, 1929)
Comments
For those who might not know, railroad tycoon Benjamin Franklin Yoakum’s estate is now Bethpage State Park.
Interesting to note the comments in the late 1920’s saying that the LIMP had little traffic and was already falling into disrepair. If you can find some pictures of it at various locations just before it closed in 1938 that would be interesting too.
Art, There was a parkway heights development at Lake Ronkonkoma ca 1912
Art - Interesting read on shenanigans during Motor Parkway operation. I previously read another incident where they hammered the gas station shop owner over a pinball machine incident, after being served food from the owner. Absurd! All were caught and arrested.
Gary - Great revelation of Yoakum’s estate as present day Bethpage Park. I had no clue the park was location of the estate.
Frank - here’s an ad from May, 1922 promoting a residential community named Lenox Hill which was created out of the Yoakum Estate. Included in the community was an 18 hole golf course that eventually was incorporated into Bethpage Sate Park. And of course access to the Motor Parkway was a key selling feature! Ad was from a Brooklyn publication named “The Chat”.
Oakview Ave mentioned in the ad above became Oakdale Blvd from the LIRR north to Melville Rd. Still named Oakview running south of the LIRR.
Additional information pertaining to the Lenox Hills development near the Motor Parkway. From “The Brooklyn Citizen” of May 15, 1922. Interesting if true that it was developed by a group from California.