Mystery Friday Foto #51; Snow on the Meadow Brook Motor Parkway Lodge
In honor of the first day of winter last Thursday and Christmas on Monday, we have the Meadow Brook lodge on a cold snowy morning in 1957.
Identify;
- The Motor Parkway lodge
The Meadow Brook Motor Parkway Lodge
- Approximate year of this photo (Hint: This lodge was torn down later than originally thought)
As per Otto McCamish's grandson, Bill Cruikshank, this photo is from 1957
- Lodge keeper who ended up owning this lodge
Otto McCamish was the last lodge keeper at the Meadow Brook lodge. He purchased the lodge when the parkway closed in 1938 and the family stayed until the lodge was taken down around 1960. The lodge was originally thought to be gone in the early 50's.
- The lodge keeper previous to the last lodge keeper and eventual owner
Pernelle McCamish
The Meadow Brook lodge keeper timeline 1908-1938
As per Al Velocci in the book 'The Toll Lodges of the Long Island Motor Parkway, and Their Gatekeepers' Lives'
1. Sidney A. Jones- 1908-1910 (then moved to the Great Neck and later Rocky Hill lodges)
2. George Lomas- Aug 15, 1910- 1911
3. Ed Robinson- 1911 (also manned the Mineola ticket kiosk at the same time)
4. William Piske- July 1911- Dec. 1911
5. Louis H. Trunk- Jan 1, 1912- Mar 31, 1914
6. Samuel S Saddler- Apr 1, 1914- Dec 1914
7. Mary Williams- Mar 1, 1915- May 26, 1926 (First female lodge keeper officially employed by the Long Island Motor Parkway)
8. Pernella McCamish May 27, 1926- Dec 31, 1926
9. Otto McCamish- Jan 1, 1927-1938 (The McCamish family purchased the lodge from the parkway in 1938)
Interesting foot note on Otto McCamish as per Al Velocci in his book; He was the only ex-employee to receive a paycheck after the parkway closed. After the parkway closed, an occasional motorist was still turning into a lodge entrance unaware that the parkway had closed. Parkway General Manager, A.J. Kienzle, hired McCamish to paint signs at all lodge entrances saying 'CLOSED TO ALL TRAFIC NO TRESPASSING' for 6 hours and was paid $4.50 for his time.
Congrats to Steve Lucas, Lee Chambers (thanks for the additional Doris McCamish lodge photo!), David Miller, George Philippides, and Art Kleiner for identifying the Meadow Brook Lodge. Kudos to Art for identifying Otto's wife Pernella as the official, paid lodge keeper before Otto McCamish.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!
Greg O.
Comments
That looks like the Meadow Brook Lodge on the west side of Merrick Ave. in Westbury. Not sure why, but I’m guessing the date around 1960-1961. The Lodge Keeper(s) who ended up owning the lodge were Pernella and Otto McCamish. The previous Lodge Keeper before them was Mrs. Mary Williams.
MeadowBrook Lodge, 1957. Adjacent to the remnants of the LIMP in the vicinity of where Lindbergh took off at Roosevelt Field. Another Winter time scene is below.
The Huntington Lodge east of route 110 circa 1940’s
This is the Meadowbrook lodge after the parkway was closed. The approximate date on the photo is 1950. The lodge was torn down sometime between 1951 to 1955. My only guess so far on the lodge keeper is Otto McCammish.
I believe it is the Meadowbrook lodge which is similar to the Bethpage and Massapequa lodges ( all 3 built by John Russel Pope) but with the chimney on the other side. Meadowbrook lodge was torn down in 1950s so I will guess this picture is from the late 1940s?
Could not find information on lodge keepers and owners
Answers found in Greg’s April 18th, 2020 post and Al Velocci’s “Toll Lodge” book:
The Meadow Brook Lodge
1957
Otto McCamish
Pernella McCamish, Otto’s wife was the lodge keeper prior to his appointment.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all! Keep those comments coming in!
The Meadow Brook Lodge was within walking distance of the house that had been the Commanding Officer’s Quarters which I grew up in on Mitchel Field.
Unfortunately, by the time my father became President of NCC in 1965, the lodge as seen below was long gone :(
Greg, Hiring Otto McCamish to paint the signs was a given as Otto was a painting contractor prior to be employed by the Parkway.
Amazing details presented here about the Meadow Brook Lodge. Shameful it couldn’t be preserved as the Great Neck, Roslyn, and Garden City lodges were. Today Meadow Brook sits in the corner of an empty parking lot :(
Some more research should be done on Mary Williams the first female lodgekeeper. I had heard she ran an after hours speakeasy and “club” after the Volstead act was passed. Neighboring farmers were supposedly complaining to the local police about the late-nite ruckus and noise coming from the property. Eventually they stopped complaining when she invited them into the “parties”. It can’t be verified bu5 makes for a good backstory.