Kleiner’s Korner - “Speeders, Wrecks and Cows!” or A Day in the Life of Motor Parkway Officers Zinzi and Ericson
Beginning in 1924 the Motor Parkway employed its own personnel to act as police officers. Shown here is a log of incidents compiled by Officers Thomas Zinzi and Eric Ericson over a three week period in the summer of 1924. Courtesy of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, Centerport.
Art Kleiner
Much more is written about Ericson and Zinzi in vanderbiltcupraces.com and Howard Kroplick and Al Velocci's books about the Motor Parkway and its lodges. Interestingly, Zinzi's wife was the lodgekeeper of the Massapequa lodge and Ericson is listed as the Ronkonkoma Lodge keeper.
Ticket sales at the Brentwood lodge, a speeder, and the weather! Note that fifty cent tickets were sold to motorcyclists. And where would the "Dip-O-Death" be, possibly the the Motor Parkway as it turns north near Conklin Avenue in Wyandanch?
A fire and more ticket sales! And an especially noteworthy citation admonishing Adolph Broman for allowing his cows on the Parkway! Office Ericson seemed quite concerned noting "There is no fence at this point to protect us."
Based on 1920 Census data, the Broman's lived on Straight Path Road in Wyandanch.
Adolph is listed as 23 years old with his occupation as "farmer laborer" which would probably include tending cows!
Adolph bought the residence of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor Henry A. Brown in 1920, just east of the Motor Parkway. (The County Review, Apr. 16, 1920)
The Henry A. Brown residence is shown on this 1888 map. I've added the approximate location of the Motor Parkway. (New York Public Library)
This map ndicates the approximate location of the Brown and later Broman residence and its proximity to the Motor Parkway. Assuming Broman tended cows on the nearby farms it makes sense that the cows would often wander onto a fence-less Parkway. (E. Belcher-Hyde, 1915)
Especially since this 1908 Motor Parkway survey map shows there is a Brown Boulevard that intersects with Conklin Avenue and the Motor Parkway. Not shown here is the other end of Brown Blvd. which is Straight Path Road and probably the location of the residence.
Two anonymous NY policeman stopped for speeding!
More horses and cows and speeding!
Combined report by Officers Zinze and Ericson. The weather, speeding tickets (one to season ticket holder #23) and Officer Zinze assuming gatekeeper duties in Mineola.
To wrecks, speeding and Adolf Broman's cows once again!
Ironically, Broman who is listed here as a milk dealer, bought a stolen car in 1925 and was apprehended by Huntington police officers. He was eventually cleared of any wrong doings as he was unaware the car had been stolen. Wonder if he ever drove on the Motor Parkway where his cows once wandered! (Brooklyn Daily Eagle Jan. 22, 1925)
In 1956 a police officer named Eric Ericson resigned from the Northport police force. Might this be the same Eric Ericson who patrolled the Motor Parkway? (Northport Observer Feb. 9, 1956)
Comments
A little bit more on Gustaf Eric Ericson. He was born June 10, 1895 and died February 9, 1984. In the 1930 Census he was listed as living on Rose Street, Ronkonkoma, as Lodge Keeper, Motor Parkway, age 34. Also in 1940 still at the Motor Parkway, Ronkonkoma. He also served in the Army in WWI, and was working at Grumman Aircraft Eng. Corp. in 1942. In 1942 he was described as 5’11” tall, blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, and weighing 195 lbs.
Thanks for the additional info. on Ericson, Gary!
Nice bald tire on that motorcycle! Not too safe, chasing those “speedsters”
The name Ericson immediately made me think of the Ronkonkoma lodge. Below is a “1920s photograph shows the Ronkonkoma Lodge porte cochere in the background. The young lady is Evelyn Ericson, the daughter of Eric Ericson, the Ronkonkoma lodgekeeper.The Erickson family continued to live in the lodge into the 1960s. (Photo courtesy of Evelyn Miller).”
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/the_motor_parkway_toll_collection_structures19_and_20_the_ronkonkoma_toll_g
I like the connection Bill Cruickshank relayed to me about his Grandfather, Otto McCamish [lodge keeper of the Meadow Brook lodge] accidentally flew his American flag upside down out front and ‘Tommy the cop’ came by to see if there was any trouble.
You get the feeling from that story, and Art’s post, that all the Parkway employees were a tight knit bunch. I’m sure Al V. could expand on that…
Think the speed limit for the LIMP was 40mph. Just read that speeding was measured with a stopwatch along with the general distance between 2 points prior to radar detecting. Guessing whatever mph it took to catch up with the speedster is how the officer came up with a number. The livestock crowding the parkway is amusing now, but probably wasn’t too fun back then <^^>....~
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My “symbol” at the end of my above comment was meant to be a cow, but the legs and head became separated, darn cows!
Great post and research Art! Love the cow incidents.
Typo in the report - there was never a 512 St. in NYC.
Dip-O-Death - quite possibly the grade crossing at Bagatelle Rd (Conklin Rd/Av). LIMP was mostly elevated on the west side of Bagatelle.
Speeding - yeah I can see that
Great stuff!
Greg, the Ernst, McCamish and Scheuer families were all good friends. See page 108 in my book.
Art,....The 50 cents ticket not necessarily a motorcycle ticket. the toll between the Brentwood and Lake Ronkonkoma Lodges for automobiles was 50 cents. ..............Most of the time when the Mr. is listed as the toll collector the Mrs. is really the one collecting the tolls. This situation came up when the toll collectors were enrolled as Special Deputy Sheriffs which gave them limited police powers and allowed them to carry fire arms which were bought and payed for by the Parkway. I’m guessing, “men only” ? The Parkway police had their own language when describing accident sites. There are literally dozens of these accident reports in the Parkway records at Centreport. The Dip-o-Death was the Parkway section south of Half Hollow Rd. east of Burr’s Lane,.... coming from the east, a severe downhill stretch crossing Burr’s Lane into a southbound curve just west of Bagatelle Rd. Another example is in Queens where the Motor Parkway west of today’s Francis Lewis Blvd., goes from a east west alignment to a north south direction. That section on accident reports is called the “Big Curve”
Art, With regard to the Broman’s…. some of the family still live in the area. Also, besides the cows, there is another connection between the family and the Motor Parkway. The sand pits, where the Parkway bridge embankments are located,.... one of the principals is a Broman, the grandson of Adolph.
Thanks for the info, Al. And the comments from everyone else. Never know what’s out there on LI!
Evelyn Miller was a good friend of mine for many years
She told me about her father the toll keeper and her uncle that was the Motor Parkway motorcycle cop
and how they made their own bullets and she showed me where he lived & made the bullets. she was terrific lady !
Evelyn Miller also left me as caretaker of her father Motor Parkway positions he lent to the Vanderbilt Mansion