Greenpoint Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (credit: Keith Bigger)
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Greenpoint Reformed Church

136 Milton Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11222
http://greenpointchurch.org/


Organ Specifications:
136 Milton Street (since 1942)
► II/9 Austin Organ Company, Op. 1035 (1921)
149 Kent Street (1869-1942)
► II/9 Austin Organ Company, Op. 1035 (1921)
► II/15 E. & G.G. Hook, Op. 513 (1869)
Java Street near Franklin Avenue (1850-1869):
• unknown

St. Elias Melkite Catholic Church - Brooklyn, New York (credit: Keith Bigger)  
St. Elias Melkite R.C. Church  
The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Green-Point was organized with eight members, by a committee from the North classis of Long Island, on the first sabbath of May, 1848. Public worship was maintained in the loft of a store house in Franklin street, which had been fitted up for that purpose. Preaching services were maintained, without charge, by students from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, and by the neighboriing clergy, until August Ist, 1849, when the Rev. John W. Ward, from the Classis of Orange, having accepted a call, was installed as first pastor of the church. The cornerstone for the first church edifice, on Java Street near Franklin Avenue, was laid on May 1, 1850, and the building was dedicated in November of that year.

Following the Civil War, plans were made for a larger church that was erected in 1869 on Kent Street. The new edifice cost over $50,00 and was described as being in the Rhemish style. At this location, the church was also known as the Kent Street Reformed Church. By the 1940s, the congregation had declined in number and it was decided to sell the property and building when a new location could be acquired. In 1942, the congregation purchased its present building, a Greek Revival residence that had been built for Thomas C. Smith, who once owned the Brooklyn Union. Prior to the purchase by the church, the Smith residence had been used by the Greenpoint YMCA. The old church on Kent Street was sold to St. Elias Melkite Roman Catholic Church, who have occupied it ever since.
               
 

Console of Austin Organ, Op. 1035 (1921) in the Greenpoint Reformed Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (credit: Keith Bigger)
Austin Organ Company
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 1035 (1921); moved (c.1942)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 10 stops, 9 ranks



Austin Organ Company's Op. 1035 was built in 1921 and installed in the previous church located at 149 Kent Street. The organ was moved to the present church building around 1942.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Swell
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Melodia
61
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Salicional
73
     Tremolo  
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason
32
        
16
   Bourdon [ext. GT Melodia]
12
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Great 16', 4', "Great On 8'"
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', "Swell On 8'"
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons 1-8 Great
    Pistons 1-8 Swell
    Pistons 1-8 Generals
    Toe Studs 9-13 Generals
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal   Sforzando
               
E. & G.G. Hook
Boston, Mass. – Opus 513 (1869)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 14 stops, 15 ranks


The first known organ for the Greenpoint Reformed Church was built in 1869 by E. & G.G. Hook of Boston. The specifications that follow were recorded by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service firm in the area. Mohr's undated handwritten record states that the organ had tracker action, a Kinetic blower, and that the "Organ could stand a cleaning." Although Mohr did not include manual and pedal compasses, the suggested pipecounts below are based on E. &. G.G. Hook organs of the era.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
16
   Bourdon
58
8
   Dulciana
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
     Mixture, 2 ranks (12, 15)
116
8
   Stop'd Diapason Bass
12
8
   Trumpet
58
8
   Melodia [TC]
46
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Stop'd Diapason Bass
12
8
   Bassoon Bass
12
8
   Stop'd Diapason Treble [TC]
46
8
   Oboe [TC]
46
8
   Keraulophon
58
     Tremulant  
8
   Aeoline
58
        
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 25 notes
16
   Bourdon
25
        
8
   Flute
25
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Bellows Signal
    Swell to Pedal    
    Swell to Great    
               
Pedal Movements
    Swell Pedal    
               
Sources:
     Armbruster, Eugene L. The Eastern District of Brooklyn with Illustrations and Maps. pub. by the author, New York, 1912.
     Bigger, Keith. Specifications of Austin Organ, Op. 1035 (1921). Courtesy James R. Stettner.
     Greenpoint Reformed Church web site: http://greenpointchurch.org/
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specifications of E. &. G.G. Hook organ, Op. 513 (1869). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     New York Architecture Images web site: www.nyc-architecture.com
     Stiles, Henry Reed. 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. Brooklyn: pub. by subscription, 1863.
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.

Illustrations:
     Bigger, Keith. Exterior; organ console; St. Elias Melkite Greek R.C. Church.
     Greenpoint Reformed Church web site. Exterior.
     New York Architecture Images web site. Exterior.