Washington Irving High School - New York City (photo: Preserve & Protect, Inc.)
Washington Irving High School

40 Irving Place at 16th Street
New York, N.Y. 10003
               
The school that was to become Washington Irving was organized in 1902 as a branch of Wadleigh High School, the only girls' high school in Manhattan at the time. Known initially as Girls' Technical High School, the school proved to be extremely successful, with classes held in five different buildings. The increasing enrollment justified the erection of a new building planned specifically for the needs of the diverse female student body. Land was purchased on Irving Place, opposite the building reputed to be associated with Washington Irving, and the name of the institution was changed to honor that great American author. In 1908, Superintendent of School buildings C.B.J. Snyder designed a seven-story brick, limestone, and terra-cotta structure with an imposing arched entrance, paired round-arched Florentine Renaissance windows on the seventh floor, a deep cornice, and a tiled hip roof. The building was to cost $600,000. Two years later the proposed building was enlarged with the addition of another story and a flat roof that would be available for recreation. Construction on the school began in 1911 and was completed in 1913.

The school's simple street elevations have a two-story limestone base, with the upper stories clad in gray brick trimmed with limestone and terra cotta. A cornice above the eighth floor is supported by wrought-iron brackets. The exterior of the original building is extremely simple. The interior public spaces of Washington Irving High School, however, are among the most impressive in any New York City school. These consist of a two-story foyer with a mezzanine balcony, and a large skylit auditorium, all designed in Snyder's favorite Collegiate Gothic mode. They also contain one of the most extensive art projects in a New York City public school, with four separate mural projects and sculpture contributed by two additional artists. In addition to these works commissioned specifically for the high school, a bust of Washington Irving by Friedrich Beer was placed in front of the building in 1935.
               
 
Console of the M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 1668 (1914) formerly installed in Washington Irving High School - New York City (photo: The American Organist, Jan. 1919)
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1668 (1914)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 62 stops, 49 ranks


The M.P. Möller organ for the auditorium of Washington Irving High School was installed in 1914 at a cost of $10,750. Specifications were drawn up by Caleb Whittier Cameron, and the organ was controlled by a movable drawknob console. Organist William Arthur Goldsworthy played the dedicatory recital on November 15, 1914.

Pipe case of the M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 1668 (1914) formerly installed in Washington Irving High School - New York City  

Following is the description in the January 1915 issue of The Diapason:

"The organ is enclosed in chambers at each side of the stage – the Great, Solo and part of the Pedal at the right, and Swell, Choir and remainder of the Pedal at the left. These chambers are 29 feet, 6 inches high, thus affording ample room for the longest pipes. The size of the instrument is wholly disguised by the fact that, except for the two small bays of pipes on each side of the proscenium arch, there is no indication of the existence of the instrument."

Over the years the organ fell into disrepair and became unplayable. Although the two cases and displays are extant, the organ's chests and pipes were removed at an unknown time. It has been reported that the console may still exist in the school basement.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed in Solo chamber
16
  Open Diapason
61
8
  Gamba
61
16
  Bourdon
61
4
  Octave
61
8
   Diapason (ff)
61
4
   Hohl Flute
61
8
  1st Open Diapason (f)
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   2nd Open Diapason (mf) *
61
16
   Tuba Profunda
SO
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Harmonic Tuba
SO
8
   Clarabella
61
4
   Tuba Clarion
SO
8
   Gemshorn
61
(8)
  
Chimes [Mayland]
20 tubes
 
     
 
 
* unenclosed
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Viol Dolce
73
4
   Violina
73
8
  Open Diapason
73
4
   Harmonic Flute
73
8
  Stopped Diapason
73
2
   Flageolet
61
8
  Viole d'Orchestre
73
    Dolce Cornet III
183
8
  Viole Celeste [TC]
61
16
   Double Oboe Horn
73
8
   Flauto Traverso
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Viole d'Gamba
73
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
8
   Spitz Flute
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Echo Salicional
73
     Tremulant  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Quintadena
73
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
8
   Geigen Principal
73
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Melodia
73
8
   French Horn
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Cor Anglais
73
8
   Unda Maris
73
     Tremulant  
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Philomela (Diapason)
GT
8
   Harmonic Tuba [ext.]
12
8
   Gross Flute
61
4
   Tuba Clarion [ext.]
12
8
   Gross Gamba
61
     Tremulant  
4
   Flute (Diapason)
GT
(4)
  
Harp Celesta [Möller]
49 bars
16
   Tuba
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed
32
  Harmonic Bass (resultant)
—
8
   Flute
GT
16
  Open Diapason
GT
8
   Melodia
CH
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Cello
SW
16
   Quintadena
CH
16
   Tuba Profunda
SO
16
   Lieblich
GT
16
   Double Oboe Horn
SW
16
   Viol Dolce
SW
8
   Harmonic Tuba
SO
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Swell 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Choir to Swell 16', 8', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Solo to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Pedal 4'   Choir 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Great to Solo 8'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Solo 8', 4'
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'   Solo 16', 4'
    Great 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great Organ Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6  
Swell Organ Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6  
Choir Organ Pistons No. 1-2-3-4  
Solo Organ Pistons No. 1-2-3-4  
Pedal Organ Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5  
Full Organ Pistons No. 1-2  
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Pedal – Great & Solo   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Pedal – Swell   Sforzando
    Balanced Pedal – Choir    
    Register Crescendo Pedal    
               
Sources:
     Cameron, Caleb Whitter. "Organs in High Schools," The American Organist (January 1919). Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1668 (1914). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     The Diapason, January 1915. Stoplist of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1668 (1914). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Preserve and Protect web site: http://www.preserve2.org/

Illustrations:
     The American Organist (January 1919). Console of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1668 (1914). Courtesy Sebastian Glück.
     Preserve and Protect web site. Façade of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1668 (1914).
               
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