Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - Brooklyn, NY
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Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(Roman Catholic)

2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway at East 4th Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11218
web site

Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1932)
► III/21 Geo. Kilgen & Son, Op. 4801 (1932)
First building (1894-1932)
• unknown


Original building of the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - Brooklyn, NY  
The parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was established in October 1893, to serve residents of Windsor Terrace of Brooklyn, and incorporated neighborhoods from parishes of the Holy Name, Flatbush and St. Rose of Lima, Parkville. Rev. James J. McAteer, an assistant at St. Agnes' Church, was appointed pastor of the new parish. A lot was secured on Ocean Parkway, and plans were drawn up for the new building. Father McAteer celebrated Mass in a hall at 38 Vanderbilt Avenue, Windsor Terrace. His first venture was a fair which proved so successful that in a short time ground was broken and the new church commenced. The cornerstone was laid on September 26, 1893. The new church was a frame building, 102 feet long, 52 feet wide, and 40 feet high. On the right-hand corner of the front of the building was a square tower, 72 feet high, for the bell. Over the sanctuary were three windows of stained glass, and the ceiling was of metal. The cost of the church was $17,000.

The cornerstone for present Deco-Gothic church was laid on October 25, 1931.
           
Geo. Kilgen & Son
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 4801 (1932)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 25 registers, 21 stops, 21 ranks


The organ in the present church was built in 1932 by Geo. Kilgen & Son of St. Louis. The specifications that follow were provided by Rollin Smith, organ historian and concert organist. Pipecounts were not given, but are suggested, based on similar Kilgen organs of the era.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Gamba
61
        
             
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
4
   Flute Traverso
73
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
2
   Flautino
61
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Vox Celeste (TC)
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Aeoline
73
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Melodia
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Dolce
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Unda Maris
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Contra Bourdon (resultant)
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
16
   Sub Bass
32
8
   Cello
GT
16
   Bourdon
32
8
   Flauto Dolce
SW
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', Unison Off, 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8'   Swell 16', Unison Off, 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', Unison Off, 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
             
Sources:
     "Brooklyn to Have a New Church," The New York Times (Aug. 20, 1894).
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
     Smith, Rollin. Specifications of Geo. Kilgen & Son organ, Op. 4801 (1932).

Illustrations:
     Roman Catholic Churches of Brooklyn website: http://mysite.verizon.net/timdesmond/files/churches.htm. 1894 building.
     The Sunset Park Blogspot: http://thesunsetparkblog.blogspot.com. Exterior of present church.