Evander Childs High School - Bronx, N.Y.
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Evander Childs Educational Complex

800 East Gun Hill Road
The Bronx, N.Y. 10467
http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/11/X425/default.htm






Evander Childs High School opened on September 8, 1930, and was one of twenty-one schools, including five high schools, that were part of an ambitious building program by the New York City Board of Education in the late 1920s. Evander Childs High School was the largest school opened in 1930, with accomodations for 4,700 students; its Italian Renaissance style building covers an entire block bounded by Gun Hill Road, Bronxwood Avenue, Magenta Street and Barnes Avenue. Total cost of the school when completed was $3,027,000.

After many years of decline, the Board of Education decided to close Evander Childs High School. Beginning in June 2005, Evander Childs stopped accepting new ninth graders. The building has been restructured as the Evander Childs Educational Complex, a facility that is now home to a number of smaller schools, including:
  • Bronx Aerospace Academy
  • High School for Writing and Communication Arts
  • Bronx High School for Contemporary Arts
  • Bronx Lab School
  • High School of Computers and Technology
  • Bronx Academy of Health Careers
               
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4202 (1925)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 38 registers, 31 stops, 31 ranks


In January, 1925, the M.P. Möller Company was awarded a $48,000 contract to build four identical pipe organs for four high schools in New York City. The organs were installed in Evander Childs High School (Op. 4202) in the Bronx; Bushwick High School (Op. 4203) in Brooklyn; and Bryant High School (Op. 4204) and Newtown High School (Op. 4205) in Queens.

The organ in Evander Childs High School cost $11,850 and had a three-manual stop-key console of mahogany on a movable platform. Wind pressure for the entire organ was 5", except for the 16' Tuba, which was on 10" pressure.

Click here to view the Möller Factory Specification for Opus 4202.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, partially enclosed with Choir
8
   Major Diapason
73
8
   Clarabella *
73
8
   English Diapason
73
4
   Harmonic Flute *
73
8
   Gamba *
73
4
   Octave *
73
8
   Gross Flute *
73
8
   Tuba *
73
8
   Dulciana *
CH
    
* enclosed in Choir swell box
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
73
2
   Flautino
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
     Dolce Cornet III ranks [from 2' Flautino]
8
   Stopped Flute
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Vox Celestis (TC)
61
8
   Vox Humana *
61
8
   Aeoline
73
     Tremulant  
4
   Rohr Flute
73
    
* separate chest, box and tremulant
4
   Gambette
73
        
 
      
 
      
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Dulciana
85
2
   Piccolo [harmonic]
61
8
   Geigen Principal
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   English Horn
73
8
   Dulciana (fr. 16')
—
     Tremulant  
8
   Viol Celeste
73
    
Concert Harp
49 bars
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
8
   'Cello
32
16
   Open Diapason
32
8
   Flute [Gross Flute]
GT
16
   Bourdon
32
16
   Tromba (ext. GT)
12
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8',4'    
               
Piston Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 Operating on Swell Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Operating on Great Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Operating on Choir Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 Operating on Pedal Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-0 Three Pedal Pistons and Release adjustable to full organ combinations
    When operating Pedal Pistons all stop action must automatically be cancelled (without affecting the position of the stop registers) thereby allowing the performer to prepare in advance while playing any combination desired which may be brought into operation at the desired moment by pressing Release Pistons.
               
Pedal Movements
    Crescendo-Sforzando Pedal   Balanced Choir and Great Pedal
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
               
Accessories
    Wind Indicator  
    Crescendo Indicator  
               
Sources:
     Evander Childs Educational Complex website: http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/11/X425/default.htm
     Scofield, Jeff. M.P. Möller Opus List.
     Digital Metro New York website: http://cdm.metro.org:8080/index.php
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 4202 (1925).
     "21 New Schools to Be Ready in September; Will Seat 32,891 and Cost City $18,775,000," The New York Time (June 30, 1930).

Illustration:
     Digital Metro New York web site. Exterior.