The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace
(Roman Catholic)

2866 West 17th Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11224
http://www.olsbrooklyn.com


Organ Specifications:
► II/54 Rodgers Instruments electronic (1994)
► II/21 Hilborne L. Roosevelt – Opus 204 (1884)


Original Our Lady of Solace Church - Coney Island (Brooklyn), NY  
The Church of Our Lady of Solace was founded in 1900 by the Rev. Joseph Francis Brophy. A former dance hall was converted for use by the new church, and its first Mass was celebrated on November 4, 1900, the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo. In 1906, the church was recognized as a Roman Shrine with the privilege of the Portiuncula Indulgence, a place for the special remembrance of the souls in purgatory.

In 1925, Father Brophy’s dream of a magnificent permanent church building and parish complex was finally realized. The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace, as it stands today, was erected at the site located on the northwest corner of West 17th Street and Mermaid Avenue. The combination of the popular Spanish “apse” and Italian designs brought to the church a spacious, ornate and acoustically perfect structure while creating an atmosphere of prayerful intimacy. An entire parish complex was constructed that included a school and convent, and a magnificent Italian-designed three-story rectory on a hill across Mermaid Avenue on the opposite corner.

Original 185-foot bell tower at Shrine of Our Lady of Solace Church - Coney Island (Brooklyn), N.Y. (Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)  
Attached to the church building with its baptismal chapel in its base was an imposing 185-foot campanile that could be seen from miles away. Its Meneely chimes consisting of massive fire bells were donated by the New York City Fire Department and the Tilyou family, owners of Coney Island’s greatest and last surviving of its original three great theme parks, “Steeplechase, the Funny Place.” The 185-foot bell tower had major structural issues; it was top-heavy and its foundation had been built too shallow and without pilings to support the weight of the massive belfry as well as its total height. In 1989, the bells were removed and sold. Its ornate belfry as well as its top 100 feet were razed, but the lower portion was saved and still stands today. The original 1884 Roosevelt tracker organ had become far too expensive to maintain and repair. After 1969, it was rarely used and the passing decades of neglect and decay ultimately rendered it unplayable. Our Lady of Solace School was shuttered in 2003; the auditorium/gymnasium is still used by the parish for special events, and some classrooms for the Sunday Religious Education program.

Over the decades, the destinies of the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace and America’s Playground would be inevitably intertwined. All through these changes to the Coney Island area, the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace continues to stand proudly as it serves its parishioners and community. The many processions through Coney Island started by Father Brophy continue today. Like Coney Island itself, the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace has rediscovered its vitality.
           
 

Rodgers Digital Organ (Cambridge 785) at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace - Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Robert Weigel)
Rodgers Instruments, LLC
Hillsboro, Ore. (1994)
Cambridge Model 785
Digital tone generation
2 manuals, 54 digital stops



The present Rodgers Cambridge 785 digital organ was first used at the Mass for the Assumption of Mary on Saturday, August 14, 2004.  Its dedication concert took place on Sunday, October 3, 2004.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, expressive
16
   Flauto Basso  
2 2/3
   Nasat  
8
   Principal  
2
   Super Octave  
8
   Rohrflöte  
2
   Waldflöte  
8
   Gemshorn       Fourniture IV ranks  
8
   Flute Celeste II ranks  
8
   Cromorne  
4
   Octave       Tremulant  
4
   Spitzflöte       Harp  
4
   Flute Celeste II ranks       Carillon  
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, expressive
16
   Lieblich Bourdon  
1 3/5
   Tierce  
8
   Viola Pomposa       Plein Jeu IV ranks  
8
   Viola Celeste  
16
   Contre Basson  
8
   Bourdon  
8
   Festival Trumpet  
4
   Prestant  
8
   Trompette  
4
   Flauto Traverso  
8
   Hautbois  
2 2/3
   Nazard  
4
   Clairon  
2
   Blockflöte       Tremulant  
               
Positiv Organ (floating) – 61 notes, expressive with Swell
8
   Gedackt Pommer  
1 1/3
  Quintflöte  
4
   Principal  
1
   Sifflöte  
4
   Copula       Harpsichord  
2
   Oktave          
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, expressive with Great
32
   Contre Bourdon  
4
   Choralbass  
16
   Principal  
4
   Nachthorn  
16
   Subbass       Mixture III ranks  
16
   Lieblich Bourdon  
16
   Posaune  
8
   Octave  
8
   Trompete  
8
   Gedackt  
4
   Rohr Schalmei  
           
 

Roosevelt Ogan, Op. 204 (1884) at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace - Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Robert Weigel)
Hilborne L. Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 204 (1884)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 19 stops, 21 ranks


The Roosevelt Organ located in the gallery was acquired by the church in 1924. Originally built in 1884 by Hilborne L. Roosevelt for the Second Reformed Church of New Brunswick, N.J., the organ was a rebuild of the earlier J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 29 (1865) at Second Reformed Church.

Although it was well-maintained for forty-four years, the organ gradually fell into disrepair as the parish declined. The maintenance costs escalated and it was only used only sparingly for Easter, Christmas, and weddings and funerals. By the end of 2002, the organ had become totally unplayable. In January 2007, the organ was removed by the Elsener Organ Works of Deer Park, N.Y., who will restore the organ to original condition and return it to the church in mid-2008.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, partially enclosed
8
  Open Diapason *
58
4
  Octave
58
8
  Viola di Gamba *
58
2 2/3
  Octave Quinte
58
8
  Dulciana *
58
2
   Super Octave
58
8
   Doppelflöte * (wood)
58
8
   Trumpet
58
           
* unenclosed
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon [TC] (wood)
46
4
  Flute Harmonique
58
8
  Open Diapason
58
    Cornet, 3 ranks
174
8
  Salicional [TC] [Bell Gamba]
46
8
  Oboe
58
8
  Stopped Diapason (wood)
58
    Tremulant  
4
   Gemshorn
58
     Bellows Signal  

     

     
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
  Open Diapason (wood)
27
8
  Violoncello
27
16
  Bourdon (wood)
27
       
               
Couplers (ON or OFF pistons)
    Swell Key Slip       Great Key Slip  
    Swell to Pedal       Great to Pedal  
            Swell to Great  
            Swell to Great octaves  

     

     
Pedal Accessories
    Double-action       Single-action
    Swell Piano       Swell Forte
    Great Piano       Great Crescendo Pedal
    Great to Pedal Reversible       Swell Crescendo lever
               
Roosevelt Ogan, Op. 204 (1884) at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace - Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Robert Weigel)
  
Roosevelt Ogan, Op. 204 (1884) at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace - Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Robert Weigel)
 
   
Roosevelt Ogan, Op. 204 (1884) at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace - Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Robert Weigel)
  
Roosevelt Ogan, Op. 204 (1884) at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace - Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Robert Weigel)
           
Sources:
     The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Solace web site: http://www.olsbrooklyn.com
     Weigel, Robert. Specifications of Roosevelt Organ, Op. 204 (1884), from Organ Historical Society brochure, 1969.

Illustrations:
      Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Bell tower.
      Weigel, Robert. Photos of Hilborne L. Roosevelt organ, Op. 204 (1884).