William L. Dowling Residence

153 84th Street at Second Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209



Scant information has been found on William L. Dowling of Brooklyn. We do know that in 1890, he purchased the Bullock Manor, a tract of land between Eighty-second and Eighty-third streets Second and Third avenues and subdivided it into building plots for sale at auction. Mr. Dowling was also instrumental in organizing, in 1896, the Bay Ridge Presbyterian Church, located on Second Avenue and Eighty-first Street. William Dowling was married to Jessie Ketcham, who died on June 15, 1935, and the couple had three daughters.
               
J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 430 (1907)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 10 stops, 10 ranks


The Articles of Agreement (January 23, 1907) between J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. and William L. Dowling, state that Odell would build a two-manual organ with tubular-pneumatic action for the Dowling Residence. Odell would provide case-work of native hard wood (Birch cabinet finished) that would harmonize with the architecture of the residence, and display pipes that would be richly and artistically decorated. The organ would be installed complete and ready for use on or about June 15, 1907, for a consideration of $2,075.

At an unknown time, the organ was removed to storage at the Odell factory. A later copy of the specifications note that the organ had a cherry case with carved corbels and tops, and was 10 feet 6½ inches wide by 8 feet 8½ inches deep by 11 feet 5 inches high. On November 13, 1919, Odell sold the organ to Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, Garnerville, N.Y., for a consideration of $2,000.
               
Great Organ – 61 notes
8
  Open Diapason
61
8
   Stopped Diapason Bass
12
8
  Dulciana (TC)
49
4
  Octave
61
8
   Melodia (TC)
49
        
               
Swell Organ – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Salicional
61
8
   Unison Bass
12
8
   Aeoline (TC)
49
4
   Rohr Flote
61
8
  Stopped Diapason (TC)
49
8
   Oboe (capped)
61
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great   Swell to Pedal
    Swell to Great Octaves   Great to Pedal
               
Pedal Movements
    Great Organ Forte   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Great Organ Piano   Balanced Swell Pedal
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Tremulant   Wind Indicator
               
Sources:
     Dowling, Jessie Ketcham. Death notice, The New York Times (Jun. 16, 1935).
     "Many Sides of Brooklyn Life," Brooklyn Eagle (Apr. 8, 1896).
     "News From the Suburbs. Bay Ridge Presbyterians Laid Their Cornerstone Yesterday," Brooklyn Eagle (Apr. 8, 1896).
     Petty, Bynum. J.H. & C.S. Odell Annotated Opus List.
     Trupiano, Larry. Articles of Agreement (Jan. 23, 1907) with Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 430 (1907) for William L. Dowling Residence, Brooklyn.
     Trupiano, Larry. Articles of Agreement (Nov. 13, 1919) for sale of J.H. & C.S. Odell Organ, Op. 430 (1907) to Trinity P.E. Church, Garnerville, N.Y.