Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17
Reflecting Friday's snow and tomorrow's Long Island blizzard forecast, here was a snowy Mystery Foto of a Motor Parkway lodge.
Mystery Foto questions:
- Identify the lodge. Provide a rationale.
The Great Neck Lodge, located in Lake Success off Lakeville Road. Rationale: The center chimney and matching porte-cochere.
- Who was the architect for the lodge?
John Russell Pope who designed the first six Motor Parkway lodges.
- What is the approximate date of the photo? Provide a rationale.
Circa 1940. Rationale: The parked 1930s/1940s car in the porte-cochere indicated the photo was taken after the Motor Parkway closed in 1938.
Comments (10) 80% correct
Congrats and kudos to Michael LaBarbera, David I, Steve Lucas, Dick Gorman, Art Kleiner, Greg O., Tim Ivers and Al Velocci for identifying the Great Neck Lodge and the 1940 approximate year of the Mystery Foto.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
The Great Neck Lodge, Lake Success: Then & Now
Circa 1909
Note the poultry and a dog.
Circa 1911
The Great Neck Lodge in 1911 was the western terminus of the Motor Parkway.
Circa 1912
With the expansion of the Motor Parkway into Queens, this STOP sign was installed at the Great Neck Lodge.
1925
Thiis D.W. Griffith film "Sally of the Sawdust", starring Carol Dempster, W.C. Fields, and Alfred Lunt, was filmed in 1925 in Bayside, Greenwich and on the "Motor Parkway".
In this segment, W.C. Fields can be seen driving in the Queens and Lake Success section of the Long Island Motor Parkway. It may be the only film record of a car driving on the Motor Parkway. The Great Neck Lodge can be seen in the above film clip at 50 seconds to 57 seconds .
Click here for the documentation of the Motor Parkway in the film.
Circa 1940
Caption: Great Neck 1940s. The Motor Parkway had closed and the lodge was now a private home for the former lodge-keepers.
Circa 1960
Woman standing on the embankment of the former Lakeville Road Motor Parkway Bridge looking east toward the former lodge.
The porte-cochere was enclosed to become part of the house.
1981
A view of the lodge looking north-west with the second-floor intact.
2011
The lodge, minus its second floor, was incorporated as the kitchen for a much larger house.
2016
Courtesy of Sammy & Dave Russo
Comments
My guess is the Great Neck Lodge, designed by John Russell Pope. The chimney is thru the center of the roof and has a nice brick portico, unlike Massapequa, Meadowbrook and Bethpage where the chimneys are on the side. Garden city has a center chimney but it has a wood portico. The year looks like the early to late 40’ s, due to the modern looking car in the driveway, and the overgrowth of nature overtaking the roadway.
I think it’s the Great Neck Lodge at Lake Success sometime after LIMP closed, swinging post barricades don’t seem to be in place & parked car, 1940s? If so, the camera would be looking northeast from on or near LIMP across from the kiosk east of the Lakeville Rd bridge. The main clue for me is the steep upward hill behind (pic left) the lodge.
If it is the Great Neck Lodge, then it’s 1 of the half dozen or so designed by architect John Russell Pope.
I think that’s one of John Russell Pope’s second group of three “sister” lodges (Great Neck, Roslyn, & Garden City) since it has a center chimney. The design of the porte-cochere is different from Roslyn & G.C. so this must be Great Neck. The date is after 1938 since the “Great Neck” sign is absent yet the lodge is still in great shape and the car looks somewhat like a late 1930’s model so I’ll go with a date of 1940.
Tough mystery, with the help of Old Man Winter himself. Definitely a John Russell Pope design lodge. So I have 6 choices with one other clue. The black/brown painted stripes under the porte cochere may give it away as the Bethpage Lodge. If true, we’re facing east and the Motor Parkway is off the photo just to the right. Also unseen to the right is the utility pole that once powered the lodge, and the Round Swamp Road parkway bridge. The lodge’s driveway for toll collector’s use should be directly behind the lodge in thIs view, also unseen and blanketed by the snow. Photo taken in the early ‘40s based on the parked car. This is just after the LIMP closed in ‘38, as all the lodge’s signs have been removed from the bricks holding up the porte cochere. Toll collectors Ida and Louis Damiano are inside hugging, trying to keep each other warm. Waiting veeery patiently for this week’s answer. LET’S GO, HURRY UP!!
One of the original John Pope Russell designs. It appears to be Bethpage, at Round Swamp Road.
Mystery Foto #10… This is the Great Neck Toll Lodge and this photo shows it after it became a private home in 1938. The photo was shot around 1940 based on the car shown in the driveway. John Russel Pope was the famous architect who designed this and five other LIMP toll lodges. Pope’s spectacular building designs included the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC
Identify the lodge. Provide a rationale. Great Neck Lodge; center chimney, foliage
Who was the architect for the lodge? John Russell Pope
What is the approximate date of the photo? Provide a rationale. 1940s; toll gates removed, signs indicating lodge name removed, car shown
-Identify the lodge. Provide a rationale.
One of the original lodges, Great Neck lodge built in 1909. Recognizable by the portico and chimney positions.
-Who was the architect for the lodge?
John Russell Pope
What is the approximate date of the photo? Provide a rationale.
1940- already in use as a private home and the car under the portico.
It looks like the Great Neck lodge off Lakeville Road constructed by John Russell Pope after it was used as a private residence with a vehicle parked in the portico, about 1940.
From Al Velocci:
The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success circa 1939-1940
Ah, the ol’ chimney trick. You’ve got me this time, but I’ll be back! ‘Till we meet again…....
How delightful to see the wonderful interest, in this Website, And your Great Photographs! Obviously many people look forward to your Historical memories!
Thank you Howard, For A job so very well done. I am certain that I am not alone in my thoughts here! Your contributions to Antique Autos, AS WELL as all that goes with the hobby! is nothing short of fabulous!