Update From the Pickering Collection: Images of the Vanderbilt Cup Races and Long Island
Roslyn resident William Pickering (1865-1929) was one of the earliest Long Island photographers documenting many of the people, buildings and events in Nassau County including the Vanderbilt Cup Races. In 2009, Catherine Pickering shared with me these photos and postcards taken by her grandfather.
Update: This original 2012 post has been updated with additional Pickering images and a link to a profile of William Pickering's Photography and News Dealer Store located at 193 East Broadway, Roslyn
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Frank Nutt driving the #1 Haynes during the 1905 American Elimination Trail.
Vincenzo Lancia driving the #4 Fiat during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
The Alco Black Beast on its way to winning the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
The turn at Massapequa-Hicksville Road section of the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup Race course.
Looking west to the grandstand and press box on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1909 from the Jerusalem Avenue Bridge.
A crowd at one of the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Images of Long Island
Long Island became part of aviation history in 1919 when an airship crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the very first time and ended its voyage at Roosevelt Field. In this Pickering photo, the British Army's 643-foot dirigible R-34 can be seen after landing. This note accompanied the photo taken on July 8, 1919: Pencil: "The R-34 filed from England to Roosevelt Field Sunday July 8 (William?) Stamped. In pencil on front lower corner: "Photo by Pickering", also stamped lower right. "Brother Tom drove Dad to the field to take the picture. I went also. (Annie) The first dirigible to cross the Atlantic 641 feet long 5-250 horsepower engines, 4 1/2 days- 33 1/4 miles per hour. R-34 flew from Scotland to Roosevelt Field, (Sunday) July 6th 1919. Left from East Fortune Scotland July 2nd (Annie)
World War I Armistice Parade in front of the Pickering's Photography and News Dealer Store on East Broadway, Roslyn.
The Roslyn Dairy horse and carriage
Girl Pioneers marching east on the Roslyn milldam in 1914.
Comments
Howard,
Thanks for highlighting William’s contributions to the history of Roslyn and other events whick took place on Long Island in the early 1900s. The Bryant Library has an extensive collection of his photos.
From Art S.
“I just opened up the latest, wonderful issue. The detective work on the Springfield Blvd shot’s terrific. Spencer & I often walk by it.
But, as significant as the dirigible flight of July 1919 was, an ‘aeroplane’ (equipped with a radio) was flown by Alcock & Brown in the previous month from New Foundland to Ireland.
Also, look at the description of the landing at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R33_class_airship
I’d have guessed that R34 was one of the German reparation ships but it was built in England.”
Again a nice set of photos. Though the racing cars are a bit tiny, one small caption error comes to light: Lancia with Fiat nr. 4 is competing in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup race, not the one of 1905. By a twist of fate (?) Lancia received the same number in both races, but in 1905 the number was painted dark on a light background, and in 1906 light on a dark background.
The car in the Armistice Parade on the second photo could well be a small Mack truck. I’m not a real truck specialist, so please correct me if I’m wrong!
A little ‘then and now’
A nice then and now, looks like the same house down the street.