Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #53: Clody Farmway Bridge in Huntington (Melville Sand Pits)
The 53rd bridge in the series documenting the 60 bridges built by the Long Island Motor Parkway is the Clody Farmway Bridge located in Huntington (now Melville). Located just east of the Nassau County border, it was the first Motor Parkway bridge in Suffolk County.
This farmway bridge was built in 1910 connecting the northern and southern sections of the Clody farm. Although the bridge is located on private property (the Meville sandpits) and inaccessible, the Clody Farmway Bridge has been documented to be intact, one of only eight bridges still standing and the only one in Suffolk County.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
1907 Survey
This survey of the Clody property was taken in November 1907 by C.P. Darling of Huntington..
The farmway bridge was built in 1910 where the survey noted an "existing road".
1928 Motor Parkway Atlas
The bridge was listed as the farmway bridge at station #608.
Aerial-October 27, 1928
An aerial of Nassau Brick revealed the Motor Parkway in the background. The Clody Farmway Bridge can be seen in the top right corner of the aerial.
The bridge!
Aerial-1930
An aerial of the Motor Parkway in the vicinity of the bridge.
A closeup of the Clody Farmway Bridge.
Aerial-1950
An aerial view of Old Bethpage and Melville. Note the size of the Melville sandpits.
A closeup of the Clody Farmway Bridge.
1972 (Courtesy of Margaret and George Vitale)
View looking west with the faded warning on the bridge once reading "Slow Down For Curve".
1981 (Courtesy of Ron Ridolph)
Long after the Motor Parkway closed in 1938, the 14-acre Clody Farm was purchased and made into one of the largest sandpits on the Long Island in the 1950s.
Although the huge sandpit was soon closed to the public, Ron Ridolph was able to document the Clody Motor Parkway Bridge as part of his Motor Parkway photo essay in the 1980s:
1981- Views Looking East
The Motor Parkway right-of-way was still being used as a road for deliveries. The office buildings on Route 110 can be seen in the background.
The north abutment.
1981-Views Looking West
Decades after being constructed, the embankments of the bridge were still strong enough to support a hopper capable of holding 30 tons of sand.
The north abutment with the warning "Don't Pass Cars On...(Bridges or Curves)".
The south abutment with the warning "Please Be Careful".
Pavement for the Motor Parkway is buried or has been removed. However, the curve west of the bridge can still be seen.
Bing Aerial-2012 (Courtesy of Joe Scotto)
A Bing Map "bird's eye view" of the area clearly indicates the bridge the bridge was still standing in 2012.
April 21, 2012
This 2012 photo from a public road confirms that the bridge...at least the south abutment...was very much still there.
2014 (Courtesy of Eric)
Looking West Towards Nassau County
The view today looking west.
The word "PLEASE" is faded but still visible on the south abutment.
Looking west at the south abutment.
A view from behind the south abutment.
The copy "DO(N'T) PASS" is still visible on the north abutment after 115 years.
Looking East Towards Route 110
The view today looking east.
The "1910" construction date imprint on the north abutment.
The view looking east from underneath the bridge. The Motor Parkway pavement is likely still below this gravel road.
Google Earth
Check out Wayne Consolla's online Motor Parkway map, to find the location of the Clody Farmway Bridge. Note the size the size of the Melville sandpit compared to 1950 and 1930.
Comments
Hi Howard:
Another great segment of the LIMP and a great memory for me from1981….
My Best To You Always !!!! Cheers !!!! Ron
Why won’t the owner of the sandpits let you on the property to take some pictures?
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From Howard Kroplick
Eric, good question. I assume they are concerned they will somehow lose control of the bridge.