Joseph F. Knapp Residence - Brooklyn, N.Y. (www.brooklynpix.com)
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Joseph F. Knapp Residence

554 Bedford Avenue at Ross Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211




Joseph Fairchild Knapp was born in New York City on July 1, 1832. After being educated in the public schools, he started as an apprentice at the lithographers Savony & Major and by 1854 had become a partner. Savony & Major specialized in portraits, government reports, book illustrations, and architectural and scientific plates. The firm was renamed Savony, Major and Knapp, engravers, manufacturers, and lithographers three years later but by 1864 it was just Major & Knapp. As Mr. Knapp became more interested in the insurance business (he was a director of the Metropolitan Insurance Co.), his son Joseph Palmer took over more of the printing and by 1888 it became known as the Knapp Company.

In 1891, Mr. Knapp became seriously ill while in Europe and died on the steamer La Champagne while being brought home from Paris. He was 59 years old, and the funeral was held in his home on September 23, 1891. By the time his death, Metropolitan had established itself as the leader in industrial insurance, with more policies in force than Prudential and John Hancock combined.

Joseph Knapp married Phoebe Palmer (1839-1908) when she was 16 years old. Phoebe’s parents were Methodist evangelists Dr. Walter C. Palmer and Phoebe Worrall Palmer. The Knapps were very active members of St. John Methodist Episcopal Church on Bedford Avenue, where Phoebe was the organist and J. F. was the superintendent of the Sunday school. Phoebe was a prolific composer of sacred music, including the music for the hymn, "Blessed Assurance" in 1873, with text by Fanny J. Crosby. After her husband’s death, Phoebe was left with a large income, much of which she gave to charity. She moved to an apartment in the Savoy Hotel in New York City, and composed over 500 hymn tunes.
               
  Music Room in Joseph F. Knapp Residence - Brooklyn, N.Y. (www.brooklynpix.com)
George Jardine & Son
New York City (1880)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 24 stops, 24 ranks



"An exhibition was given on Thursday afternoon of last week, in Jardine & Sons' [sic] factory, on a large and beautiful three-bank organ, built for the magnificent music room of Mr. Joseph F. Knapp, of Bedford Ave., Brooklyn. The organ was thoroughly tested by the following well-known organists, Profs. Morgan, Johnston, Gueli and Loretz, and Mr. Edw. G. Jardine, and proved equal to the trial."

In 1898, this organ was moved to Phoebe Knapp's suite at the Savoy Hotel in New York.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes
8
  Open Diapason
58
4
   German [Boehm] Flute
58
8
  Melodia
58
4
   Principal
58
8
   Oboe Gamba
58
2
   Piccolo
58
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon Bass
12
4
   Violoncello [Violina]
58
16
   Bourdon [TC]
46
3
   Quintadena
58
8
   Clarinet Gamba
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Trumpet Bass
12
8
   Viol d'Amour
58
8
   Trumpet [TC]
46
8
   Vox Celestis
58
     Tremulant  
               
Solo Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Bell Open Diapason
58
4
   Harmonic Flute
58
8
   Doppel Flute
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   German Gamba
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
8
   Quintadena
58
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
8
   Violoncello
30
        
               
Couplers (by Piston Knobs)
    Swell to Great     Solo to Pedal
    Great to Pedal     Solo to Great
    Swell to Pedal      
               
Accessory Stops and Pedals
    Chime of Bells      
    Snare Drum      
    Bass Drum      
               
Combination Pedals
    Forte to Great        
    Piano to Great        
    Hydraulic Engine    
               
Sources:
     Bedford Avenue Then and Now web site: http://spoonercentral.com/knapphistory/BedfordYnT.html
     Blumhofer, Edith L. Her Heart Can See: The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005).
     Death notice of Joseph F. Knapp. City and Suburban News, The New York Times (Sept. 24, 1891).
     "Exhibition at Jardine's Factory," The Musical Critic and Trade Review (Vol. 3, No. 2, 1880).

Illustrations:
     Bedford Avenue Then and Now web site. Exterior; Music Room.