The Vanderbilt Speedway

William K.Vanderbilt,Jr.,formed a corporation in 1906 specifically for the purpose of building a motor speedway through the town of Islip.He obtained a permit from the Suffolk County Highway Commissioner to build it paralell to the Long Island Railway's main line and about two miles north of it.Originally called "The Vanderbilt Automobile Speedway and Boulevard", the new highway was one hundred feet wide and built at a cost of
$2,700,000.It opened on October 10,1908.For several years,it hosted annual automobile races for the Vanderbilt Cup.
Later renamed Motor Parkway,the highway was given to Suffolk County by a deed of conveyance executed by Mr.Vanderbilt on May 27,1938(William was president of The Long Island Motor Parkway,Inc.).The Board of Supervisors accepted it by resolution at a meeting on July 25,1938.Harry T.Tuthill,then the Superintendent of Highways,said that the County's only costs were those for searching the title and executing the deed.Today,
Motor Parkway borders Brentwood on the north and continues to be a major area highway.