First Baptist Church of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, N.Y. (BPL, Brooklyn Collection, 1905)
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First Baptist Church of Williamsburg

186 Keap Street at Lee Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Organ Specifications:
186 Keap Street at Lee Avenue (1885-1934)
► II/26 Johnson & Son, Op. 638 (1885)
Fifth at South Fifth Streets (1820s-1885)
► II/19 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 50 (1866)


Williamsburg Baptist Church was founded in 1823. The congregation's first edifice was located on the corner of Fifth and South Fifth Streets. In 1885 the society moved to a new building on the southeast corner of Keap Street and Lee Avenue; this building was sold in 1934 to Williamsburg Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ congregation, who in turn sold the building in 2001 after which it was razed.
             
Johnson & Son
Westfield, Mass. – Opus 638 (1885)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 25 registers, 23 stops, 26 ranks


The following specification was recorded by F.R. Webber, whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J. Webber visited the organ on February 24, 1955, and wrote:
The organ appears to be in its original condition, and the attached console is as Johnson & Son built it. No tonal changes appear to have been made.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
16
   Bourdon
58
4
   Flauto Traverso
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
   Twelfth
58
8
   Dulciana
58
2
   Fifteenth
58
8
   Viola da Gamba
58
     Mixture, 3 ranks
174
8
   Melodia
58
8
   Trumpet
58
4
   Octave
58
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt Treble (TC)
46
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt Bass
12
4
   Fugara
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Salicional
58
     Cornet Dolce, 2 ranks
116
8
   Dolcissimo
58
8
   Oboe and Bassoon
58
8
   Quintadena
58
     Tremulant  
               
Pedale Organ – 32 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
32
8
   Violoncello
SW
16
   Bourdon
32
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Great to Pedal reversible  
    Swell to Pedale       Pedale check  
    Great to Pedale       Bellows signal  
             

Organ in church located at Fifth at South Fifth Streets:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 50 (1866)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 17 stops, 19 ranks


The organ in the original church building was built in 1866 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City. From the Odell Specification and Agreement (May 1, 1866) we read that the organ was "to be enclosed in a gothic case made of pine grained oak with large speaking pipes in front illuminated or gilt." Odell included eight "Patent Pneumatic Composition" pistons and a Crescendo movement. The organ cost $3,200.

               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 56 notes
8
   Open Diapason
56
4
   Wald Flute
56
8
   Keraulophon
56
3
   Twelfth
56
8
  
Stop Diapason Bass (wood)
56
Clarionet Flute
2
   Fifteenth
56
8
  
  Sesquialtra, 3 ranks
168
4
   Principal
56
8
   Trumpet
56
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 56 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon (TC) (wood)
44
4
   Principal
56
8
   Open Diapason (TC)
44
2
   Fifteenth
56
8
   Dulciana (TC)
44
8
   Hautboy (TC)
44
8
  
Stop Diapason Bass (wood)
56
Stop Diapason Treble
  Tremulant
8
  
   
               
Pedale Organ – 25 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason (wood)
25
   
               
Couplers &c
    Swell to Great     Reversible Coupler
    Swell to Pedal     Bellows Alarm
    Great to Pedal     Compositions Stop
               
Compositions
1.
   Full Great Organ
5.
   Clarionet Flute & Wald Flute
2.
   Full to Principal
6.
   Keraulophon Solo
3.
   All the eight feet stops
7.
   Clarionet Solo
4.
   Keraulophon & Clarionet Flute
8.
   Wald Flute Solo
               
Mechanicals
    Crescendo Pedal     Rain Apperatus
             
Sources:
     Hall, Jonathan B. "A Reservoir of Inspiration: The Brooklyn Baptist Temple and its Pipe Organs," The Tracker (Oct. 2003).
     J.H. & C.S. Odell (New York City). Specification and Agreement (May 1, 1866) of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 50. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Petty, Bynum. J.H. & C.S. Odell Annotated Opus List.
     Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of Johnson & Son organ, Op. 638 (1895). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustration:
     Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Exterior (1905).