First Italian Baptist Church - Brooklyn, NY
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Devoe Street Baptist Church

140 Devoe Street at Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211

Organ Specifications:
140 Devoe Street at Manhattan Avenue (since 1911)
► II/8 Estey Organ Company, Op. 1164 (1913)
16-18 Jackson Street near Union Avenue (c.1904-razed 1911)
• unknown


In 1904, the Baptist Extension Society of Brooklyn established The First Baptist Italian Church of Brooklyn, led by the Rev. Dr. Antonio Mangano, a young pastor fresh out of seminary. The first building, located at 16 and 18 Jackson Street near Union Avenue, was demolished by the city in 1911 to make way for the Meeker Avenue Extension of what would be known as the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. A new church was built at 140 Devoe Street at Manhattan Avenue, and the adjacent mission building contained a social hall, gymnasium, dispensary, and meeting rooms. When needed, the social hall could be opened into the church, providing seating for 400 persons. The church was also known as the Dietz Memorial Baptist Church after Frederick Dietz donated $20,000 for the construction and furnishing of the church building, in memory of his wife, Marie Louise Dietz. Today, the congregation is known as the Devoe Street Baptist Church.

In the years after World War II, the demographics of Brooklyn changed dramatically as many residents moved to other neighborhoods or out of the city altogether. The old neighborhoods were soon home to a wave of European immigrants, Hassidic Jews, Hispanics and African-Americans. In the 1950s, the Italian Baptist congregation, now reduced in number, welcomed the many African-Americans residents to their church. Today, the church is predominantly and African-American congregation.
           
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 1164 (1913)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 8 stops, 8 ranks


The Estey Organ Company Shop Order, dated August 15, 1913, shows that Op. 1164 was built for the Dietz Memorial Baptist Church / First Baptist Italian Church in Brooklyn. Estey provided two groups of bronzed front pipes (but no case) and oak woodwork. The organ was voiced on 5" wind pressure.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Melodia
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Oboe [TC]
49
8
   Salicional
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal     Great Unison Separation
    Swell to Pedal     Swell to Swell 16', 4', Unison Sep.
   
Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
      
           
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal     Great to Pedal Reversible
           
Sources:
     E.P. Farnham. "The First Italian Baptist Church of Brooklyn," Missions: A Baptist Monthly Magazine, Vol. II. Boston: American Baptist Convention, 1911.
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     Stimmel, Phil: Factory Shop Order with specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 1164 (1913).

Illustration:
     Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Exterior.