Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, New York (photo: Steven E. Lawson)

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Old First Reformed Church
(Reformed Church in America)

729 Carroll Street at Seventh Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215
http://www.oldfirstbrooklyn.org


Organ Specifications:
729 Carroll Street at Seventh Avenue (since 1886)
► III/42 M.P. Möller, Op. 5378 (1928); rev.
► III/39 Frank Roosevelt, Op. 476 (1891)
Chapel (opened 1889)
• II/ Geo. Kilgen & Son (1930s) – Sunday School
• II/ Reuben Midmer & Son (1889) – Sunday School
Livingston Street (1835-1886):
• II/24 Hall & Labagh (1845 or 1847)


First building (1666) for First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, New York  
First church building (1666)
  
The Old First Reformed Church of Brooklyn dates back to 1654 with the arrival of Domine Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, who served the people of Breukelen, Flatbush, and Flatlands. Worship was conducted under the trees, then in a barn. In 1666, the first church edifice was built in the town of Breukelen in the middle of a highway, now Fulton Street, between Lawrence and Bridge Streets.

  Second building (1776) of Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, NY
  Second church building (1776)
The original building was replaced 110 years later and included a burial ground on land which is now occupied by Macy's at the Fulton Street Mall. The growth of the church by 1805 necesssitated larger facilities, and in 1807 the cornerstone was laid for a new stone edifice, which stood on the south side of the lane, now known as Joralemon street. This third building was completed at a cost of $13,745.53, and was dedicated December 23, 1807.

First Reformed Church on Livingston Street - Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Eagle postcard (1835)  
Fourth church on Livingston Street in 1835
Brooklyn Eagle postcard
  
Over the next few decades the congregation increased to such a size that in June, 1833, the consistory voted to erect a larger building. The architectural firm of Lafever & Gallard designed the elegant and spacious Greek Revival building, which faced Livingston Street on the same lot, and featured an imposing colonnade of six columns on both front and rear. The cornerstone was laid on May 22, 1834, and when it was so far completed that the congregation could worship in it, the old one was taken down. On May 7, 1835, the new edifice was finished and consecrated.

First Reformed Church remained on Livingston Street until 1886, when a chapel was completed at Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street. This chapel was expected to accommodate the congregation for some years to come, but the rapid growth of the neighborhood was reflected in increasing membership for Old First, and plans to complete the sanctuary were pushed forward.

  Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (Engraving in May 1888 Harper's Weekly)
  Engraving in Harper's Weekly
(May 1888)
The present church, designed by George L. Morse in the Neo-Gothic style, was dedicated on September 27, 1891. The large interior includes a barrel vault ceiling, and is accented by beautiful stained glass windows, two of which were made by the Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios. The rich interior decoration is considered one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts design in the United States.


Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Steven E. Lawson)

 
 
  Roosevelt Organ Case, Op. 476 (1891) in Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 5378 (1928); rev.
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 87 registers, 44 stops, 42 ranks



In 1928, the M.P. Möller Company rebuilt the 1891 Roosevelt organ, providing a new three-manual drawknob console within the old shell. At some point, a three-manual stopkey console with preparations for gallery divisions was installed in the gallery by Paul Fritzsche of Allentown, Penn. The Geo. Kilgen & Son Co. did undetermined work on March 16, 1937, and the organ has been revised several times.

Following is the stoplist as of 2005:
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Viole d'Gambe  
2 2/3
   Twelfth  
8
   Melodia  
2
   Fifteenth  
8
   Gemshorn       Mixture III ranks  
4
   Octave  
8
   English Horn  
4
   Flute Harmonique       Tremulant  
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon  
4
   Gemshorn  
8
   Open Diapason  
2
   Principal  
8
   Violin Diapason  
2
   Flageolet  
8
   Stopped Diapason  
1 3/5
   Seventeenth  
8
   Salicional  
8
   Trompette  
8
   Viole d'Orchestre  
4
   Clarion  
8
   Voix Celeste       Tremulant  
4
   Octave       Cymbelstern Andantino  
4
   Rohr Flute       Cymbelstern Allegro  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes (no longer enclosed)
8
   English Open Diapason  
2 2/3
   Nazard  
8
   Concert Flute  
2
   Piccolo  
8
   Dulciana  
8
   Clarinet  
8
   Quintadena       Tremulant  
4
   Flute d'Amour          
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Violone  
8
   Violoncello
SW
16
   Bourdon  
8
   Flute Dolce  
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
4
   Flute  
16
   Dulciana  
16
   Tuba  
10 2/3
   Quinte  
8
   Tuba  
8
   Octave  
4
   Tuba  
               
Roosevelt Organ Case, Op. 476 (1891) in Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
 
M.P. Möller Organ Console, Op. 5378 (1928) at Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
  
Gallery Organ Console of Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
1928 Möller console (since modified)
  
Gallery console (removed)
 
  Roosevelt Organ Case, Op. 476 (1891) in Old First Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Frank Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 476 (1891)
Tracker-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 34 stops, 39 ranks




The original organ in the present church was built in 1891 by Frank Roosevelt of New York City. R.W. Woodman, organist of First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, opened the organ on November 10, 1891.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, primarily enclosed with Choir
16
   Double Open Diapason
58
4
   Hohl Flöte *
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
   Octave Quint *
58
8
   Viola di Gamba *
58
2
   Super Octave *
58
8
   Doppel Flöte *
58
  Mixture, 4 ranks *
232
4
   Octave *
58
8
   Trumpet *
58
   
   
* enclosed in Choir expression box
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon **
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Spitz Flöte
58
     Cornet, 3 ranks
174
8
   Salicional
58
8
   Cornopean
58
8
   Vox Celestis
58
8
   Oboe
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
        
4
   Gemshorn
58
    
** Treble and bass, split knob
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
58
4
   Flute d'Amour
58
8
   Dolce
58
4
   Fugara
58
8
   Concert Flute
58
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
58
8
   Quintadena
58
8
   Clarinet
58
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
10 2/3
   Quint
30
16
   Bourdon
30
8
   Violoncello
30
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great   Swell to Pedal
    Choir to Great   Great to Pedal
    Swell to Choir   Choir to Pedal
    Swell to Great Octaves    
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Swell Tremulant   Bellows Signal
    Choir Tremulant   Wind Indicator
               
Pedal Movements
    Three, affecting Great and Pedal Stops and suitable Couplers.
    Three, affecting Swell and Pedal Stops and suitable Couplers.
    Full Organ Pedal. (To draw all speaking stops without throwing out the knobs.)
    Great to Pedal Reversing Pedal.
    Engine Pedal.
    Balanced Swell Pedal.
    Balanced Great and Choir Pedal.
 
Organ in Sunday School hall at present location:

Geo. Kilgen & Son
St. Louis, Mo. (1930s)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals


A "List of Kilgen Organ Installed Recently" dated March 16, 1937, shows that there was a two-manual Kilgen organ in the "Dutch Reformed Church (First)" in Brooklyn. It seems likely that this organ replaced the 1889 Midmer organ in the Sunday School Hall behind the sanctuary. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
   
Organ in Sunday School hall at present location:

Reuben Midmer & Son
Brooklyn, N.Y. (1889)
Mechanical action
2 manuals


The chapel at the present location had an organ built in 1889 by Reuben Midmer & Son of Brooklyn. This organ was installed at the rear of the podium in the Sunday School Hall on the second floor. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
 
Organ in previous location on Livingston Street:

Hall & Labagh
New York City (1845 or 1847)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 24 stops


This organ was known to have two octaves of pedals. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
 
Sources:
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Ochse, Orpha. "A Glimpse of the 1860s," The American Organist (Nov. 1969).
     Old First Reformed Church web site: www.oldfirstbrooklyn.org
     Stiles, Henry R. History of the City of Brooklyn. Including the Old Town and Village of Brooklyn, The Town of Bushwick, and The Village and City of Williamsburgh. 1867-70.
     Trupiano, Larry. Specification of Frank Roosevelt organ, Op. 476 (1891).
     Webber, F.R. Organ scrapbook at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Stoplist of Frank of Roosevelt organ, Op. 476 (1891). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     Brooklyn Eagle (Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection). Postcard of Livingston Street church.
     Harper's Weekly (May 1888). Engraving of present building.
     Old First Reformed Church web site. Historical images.
     Lawson, Steven E. Color interior; organ case and consoles.