St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Bridge and Tunnel Club)
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Church of St. Thomas Aquinas
(Roman Catholic)

249 Ninth Street at Fourth Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215
http://www.stthomasaquinaschurch.org

Organ Specifications:
► II/20 Wicks Organ Company, Op. 6135 (1988)
• III/ Midmer-Losh Organ Company (1968) – rebuild
► III/38 Midmer-Losh Organ Company (1925)
► III/36 Hook & Hastings Co., Op. 1301 (1886)

In November 1884, the Rev. James Donahoe was sent to establish the Parish of St. Thomas of Aquinas in South Brooklyn, the 47th parish in the Brooklyn Diocese. Father Donahoe celebrated the first Mass on November 16, 1884 in a building on 9th Street near 5th Avenue. This building, known as the "Wigwam," had been erected by the Twenty-second Ward Democratic Association for their meetings during the National Election of 1884. On Sunday, June 28, 1885, the cornerstone of the present building was blessed by Bishop Loughlin in a ceremony witnessed by over 6,000 people. The church was built within one year at a cost of $90,000, and the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Passion Sunday, April 4th, 1886. A chapel was added in 1887 on the 8th Street side of the church to house the baptistry, sacristy and altar boys' rooms.

On April 25, 2006 the Diocese of Brooklyn approved the reconfiguration and merging of Holy Family parish and St. Thomas Aquinas parish.
           
Wicks Organ Company
Highland, Ill. – Opus 6135 (1988)
Direct-Electric key action
2 manuals, 27 registers, 17 stops, 20 ranks


In 1988, the church commissioned the Wicks Organ Company to build a new two-manual organ.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes (2-3/4" wind pressure)
8
   Principal
61
2
   Blockflöte (fr. Spillpfeife)
—
8
   Rohrflöte
61
1 3/5
   Terz
61
8
   Viole
SW
     Mixture IV ranks
244
4
   Octave
61
8
   Trompette
SW
4
   Spillpfeife
73
     Two blanks  
2 2/3
   Nasat
61
     Tremolo  
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure)
8
   Gedeckt
61
1 1/3
   Quint
61
8
   Viole
61
     Blank  
8
   Viole Celeste (GG)
54
8
   Trompette
73
4
   Principal
61
4
   Clairon (fr. Trompette)
—
4
   Nachthorn
61
     Three blanks  
2
   Octavin
61
     Tremolo  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
4
   Choralbass (fr. 16' Prin.)
—
16
   Principal (1-12 wood)
56
16
   Posaune * (ext. SW)
12
16
   Bourdon
44
     Four blanks  
8
   Principal (fr. 16')
—
4
   Clairon
SW
8
   Bourdon (fr. 16')
—
    
* 5" wind pressure
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'       Great to Swell 8'  
    Swell to Pedal 8'       Swell 16', 4', Unison Off  
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'          
               
Combination Pistons
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-0 (toe)
General Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb & toe)
  General Cancel
               
Accessories
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal   Crescendo Indicator Light
    Crescendo Pedal   Sforzando Indicator Light
    Great to Pedal Reversible (toe)   Music Rack Light
    Sforzando Reversible (thumb & toe)   Pedal Light
    Lock on Combination Setter   Motor Switch
           
Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, L.I., N.Y. (1968)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals


This record may be for repairs and/or additions to the existing organ.
           
Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, L.I., N.Y. (1925)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 33 stops, 38 ranks


In 1925, the Midmer-Losh Company of Merrick, N.Y. rebuilt and electrified the 1886 Hook & Hastings organ at a cost of $10,000. The original Hook & Hastings was centrally located in the rear gallery of the church, and in the Midmer-Losh rebuild, the original façade was removed and the organ redistributed in the gallery. The Great and Swell divisions were installed low to the gallery floor, making the West End window more visible, and the Choir organ was moved to the far left (facing the gallery) of the loft and the division placed under expression.

Midmer-Losh replaced the original tracker action with a new electro-pneumatic pull-down action fitted beneath the slider chests. They also provided a new tilting-tablet console and a tremulant to the Choir. The pedal was extended to 30 notes.

Although there were no tonal changes to the original organ, M-L did add two ranks to the Swell on electro-pneumatic chests: a 49-note Vox celeste and 8’ Vox Humana of 61 notes.

When the organ was replaced in 1988 by a new Wicks instrument, the Hook & Hastings pipes and chests were acquired by Larry Trupiano of Brooklyn.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Viola d' Gamba
61
     Mixture IV ranks
244
4
   Octave
61
8
   Trumpet
61
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Flute Traverso
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Flautina
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
     Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Vox Celeste (TC)
49
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Quintadena
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Violina
61
     Tremolo  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Diapason
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Melodia
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Dulciana
61
     Tremolo  
4
   Flute
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Cello
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Trombone
30
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'       Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'  
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'       Great 4', Unison Off  
    Choir to Pedal 8'       Swell 16', 4', Unison Off  
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'       Choir 16', 4', Unison Off  
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'          
         
Hook & Hastings Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 1301 (1886)
Mechanical action
3 manuals, 31 stops, 36 ranks


The original organ in St. Thomas Aquinas Church was built in 1886 by the Hook & Hastings Company of Boston.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute harmonique
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2 2/3
   Twelfth
61
8
   Doppel Flöte (wood)
61
2
   Fifteenth
61
8
   Viola da Gamba
61
     Mixture 4 ranks
244
4
   Octave
61
8
   Trumpet
61
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon (wood)
61
4
   Flauto traverso (wood)
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Flautina
61
8
   Stopped Diapason (wood)
61
     Dolce Cornet 3 ranks
183
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Cornopean
61
8
   Quintadena
61
8
   Oboe
61
4
   Violina
61
     Tremolo  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Geigen Principal
61
4
   Flute d'amour (wood & metal)
61
8
   Melodia (wood)
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Clarinet
61
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Open Diapason
27
8
   Violoncello
27
16
   Bourdon (wood)
27
16
   Trombone (wood)
27
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Choir to Great       Great to Pedal  
    Swell to Choir       Choir to Pedal  
           
Sources:
     St. Thomas Aquinas Church website: www.stthomasaquinaschurch.org
     Trupiano, Larry. Specification of Hook & Hastings organ, Op. 1301 (1886)
     Trupiano, Larry. Specification of Midmer-Losh organ (1925).
     Trupiano, Larry. Specification of Wicks organ, Op. 6135 (1988).
     Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.

Illustration:
     Bridge and Tunnel Club website: www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com