Vanderbilt Cup Races

Fantastic Foto Howard! This is Krug’s Corner Hotel and bar (1890s - 1920s), world renowned pivotal point for viewing the Vanderbilt Cup Races of 1904, 05, 06, 08, 09, and 10 of early Long Island. Krug’s location today is at the same intersection of Willis Ave and Jericho Tpke (photo below). The mystery photo photographer is looking NW, with the Jericho Tpke in the foreground, while standing in the middle of Willis Ave, just south of Jericho Tpke (photo below with tire tracks). Based on the cars, this shot was likely taken in the 1910s, along with the removal of the 2nd floor window awnings of Krugs Hotel. I don’t know the cars; anticipating this week’s answers. 5 of 6 of the cars have start-up handles in the front end. Was one an electric start car? I don’t know? Great mystery! All photos below courtesy of VanderbitCupRaces.com

More photos of Krug’s Corner below, courtesy of VanderbiltCupRaces.com.

By the way, that Rodizio place with the Green Awning in the present photo, is an excellent place to eat if you’re into red meat.

Another super picture of Krug’s Corner.  Jericho Tpke & Willis Ave.  Looks like Memorial Day Weekend.

Interesting line-up, but I cannot say when this event took place. Logically one would think of the 4th of July because of all the American flags, but the trees seem to indicate spring (or autumn??). I know of another photo of this event (uploaded), but I couldn’t find anything in the press. The year must be 1910, or maybe 1911, as the youngest cars are 1911 models. The 1911 models however were often already available end of the year before.

About the cars: some are not that easy to recognize, especially the car on the far left, which is not 100% certain. So in my eyes the cars are (from left to right):

1911 Jackson model 35
1908 Ford model K
1911 Bergdoll
1909 or 1910 Ford model T
1909 Mitchell
1909 Cadillac
1908 Jackson runabout

The Cadillac and the Jackson runabout can also be seen on the uploaded photo. I’m not a specialist in Ford recognition, so there is some doubt about the production dates, but the model K cannot be produced later than 1908, as the production of all other models stopped when the model T went into production end of 1908.

That’s Krug’s Hotel, Bar, and Restaurant located on the northwest corner of Jericho Turnpike and Willis Avenue in Mineola. So it looks like the photographer is facing northwest. I don’t see any state issued license plates on any of the cars so I’m guessing the date to be pre-1910, say 1908-1909. As to the identity of the cars, I’ll leave that to the Brass-Era guys since I have no idea.

Krugs Corner, Mineola.  1908

Mystery Foto #22… the fourth car from left is a Model T Ford, maybe 1908-1910. The building is Krug’s Corner cafe & dining room. The date of the photo could be Decoration Day 1908. That’s all I’ve got. Ty

I seriously doubt the car on the left being a Simplex, the reasons for my doubt following hereafter. I don’t know if by Simplex is meant the Smith & Mabley Simplex, or the American Simplex, which in 1910 changed its name to Amplex.
Neither of these makes however fit with the appearance of the car on the left:
The Smith & Mabley Simplex had a radiator shell with rounded lower corners, a segmented radiator core, a conspicuous, large triangular radiator emblem, strongly curved dumb irons and a deeper curve in the front axle. The front fenders were horizontal at the front, sloping after a sharp bend towards the running board.
The American Simplex had a radiator shell with flattened lower corners indeed, but had again a segmented radiator core, a rounded badge (if present), dumb irons clearly curved at the font, a front axle with a deep, long curve, and front fenders curving over the wheel and ending in a small horizontal tip.
The photo is unfortunately rather blurry, causing the uncertainty. Is the badge oval, or maybe a flattened rhombus, like the emblem on the Jackson from about 1911? Often a Jackson script was present on the radiator core, but not always. According to my observation the 1911 Jackson model 35 is the best candidate so far with most details matching, but the blurriness of the details make a definite conclusion for me impossible. It would help if a better, sharper scan would be available.

Hard to believe the 110 year photo comparison to present day. Admiring the old Long Island country scene with its dusty and rutty roadways. I’d
bet this particular corner was louder than most, and sometimes even rowdy. This area was renamed from Queens to Nassau County just 12 years earlier in 1899. It is impossible to park in such a manner on Jericho Tpke today, the flashing tow trucks will soon be arriving.

Steve is correct, pre-1910, NY State first issued license plates in 1910, front and rear of the auto.

Frank, It wasn’t always Krug’s Corner. In 1888 Frank P. Krug opened this location as the East Williston Hotel. Catered to and very popular with bicycle enthusiasts. He changed the name to Krug’s Corner in 1905 when Mineola Village incorporated.

Frank, The name of the rodizio place is Churrasqueira Bairrada Restaurant. Ask for Manny Carvalhos, tell him Al Velocci sent you.

Al - Great details of old Long Island versus what’s available online today. These are hard or impossible facts to find today. Thank you much