Adrian Van Sinderen Residence

40 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201


Adrian Van Sinderen (1887-1963) was a successful banker, businessman and civic leader. After graduating from Yale in 1910, he taught at St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H. The next year he left teaching to work at J. P. Morgan, and four years later became a partner in the brokerage firm of W.A. and A.M. White, remaining a partner until his death.

Mr. Van Sinderen had a wide variety of interests, among them raising horses, collecting books, traveling and music. He bred and showed ponies, winning more than 2,500 ribbons at shows throughout the United States, and was president of the American Horse Shows Association for three decades. Besides collecting books, he was the author of more than 30, including 25 on Christmas themes, and others on travel. He established prizes at Yale for the sophomore student and the senior who demonstrated through a collection of books the most interest and imagination. An avid traveler, his journeys took him to six continents, all fifty states, and to every national park in the U.S. Mr. Van Sinderen was also an accomplished organist and a member of the St. Wilfrid Club, a professional organization of organists in New York City.

His civic and philanthropic activities included serving as president of the Brooklyn Hospital from 1930 to 1946, as a vice president of the Long Island College of Medicine, and as officer of several charitable funds. He was frequently the chairman or president for such groups as the Brooklyn Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Chapter of the Red Cross, and others. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Syracuse University in 1948, and was a member of the University, Union, Yale, Elihu, Harbor View, Grolier and India House Clubs.

Adrian Van Sinderen married the former Jean White and they produced four children: two daughers and two sons. They had homes in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Washington, Conn.

He died in a convalescent home in Middlebury, Conn., on October 1, 1963. He was 76 years old. Funerals were held at the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, and at the Congregational Church in Washington, Conn.
               
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 1937 (1921); reb. (1923)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 27 stops, 25 ranks


The three-manual Estey organ in Adrian van Sinderen's Residence was originally built in 1921 and was rebuilt in 1923. Following are the 1923 specifications with suggested pipecounts based on Estey organs of the era.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Clarabella
61
8
   Gamba
61
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
49
8
   Dulciana
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Flauto Traverso
61
8
   Closed Diapason
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Quintadena
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Salicional
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
49
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Second Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Major Flute
61
4
   Violina
61
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Viol Celeste [TC]
49
     Tremolo  
8
   Gemshorn
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes, enclosed
16
   Open Diapason
30
16
   Stopped Diapason
SW
16
   Bourdon
42
8
   Flute
—
16
   Dulciana
30
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8'   Choir to Choir 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Pedal to Pedal 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Sources:
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     Lewis, James. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 1937 (1920).
     "Norman Riesenfeld, Realty Man 30 Years," The New York Times (January 21, 1955).