John Wesley United Methodist Church - Brooklyn, NY
John Wesley United Methodist Church
(originally Nostrand Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church)

260 Quincy Street at Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11216
www.gbgm-umc.org/johnwesley


Organ Specifications:
260 Quincy Street – orig. Nostrand Avenue M.E. Church
► II/20 Austin Organs, Inc, Op. 303-A (1965)
• II/ Hall Organ Company (<1931)
► II/19 Austin Organ Company, Op. 303 (1910)
Berriman Street at Eastern Parkway (in 1894)
► II/24 Reuben Midmer & Son (1881)

               
Austin Organs, Inc.
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 303-A (1965)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 22 stops, 20 ranks


In 1965, Austin was contracted to rebuild the organ for a second time, providing a new stopkey console, and a few new ranks. Some of the pipes pre-dated Austin's earlier rebuild in 1910.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Swell
8
   Principal *
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Melodia
61
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Unda Maris
61
     Mixture II ranks *
122
8
   Dulciana
61
 
  
Chimes
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Gedeckt
61
4
   Violina
61
8
   Diapason
61
2
   Blockflöte *
61
8
   Rohrflöte
61
8
   Trumpet *
61
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
61
4
   Hautbois [Oboe revoiced]
61
8
   Viol Celeste
61
     Tremulant *  
4
   Flauto Traverso
61
        
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason
44
8
   Flute [ext.]
—
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Gedeckt [ext.]
—
16
   Gedeckt
SW
        
           
* new ranks added in 1965
               
  Austin Organ, Op. 303 (1910) in Nostrand Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church - Brooklyn, N.Y. (photo: Brooklyn Eagle (April 7, 1930); Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection)
 
Brooklyn Eagle (April 7, 1930)
Austin Organ Company
Hartford, Conn. – Opus 303 (1910)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 23 stops, 19 ranks


On June 1, 1910, a contract was signed by the Austin Organ Company and the Trustees of the Nostrand Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church to rebuild the existing organ. The contract for $5,000 included an electric stop-key console with A.G.O. Willis model concave and radiating pedalboard, and Austin's 2-1/2" thick, double construction, horizontal beveled shades. The old case was redesigned, and "French leaf gold bronze" was applied to the display pipes. Austin stated "the old (good) pipes out of the present organ to be used in construction of the new, same to be revoiced and in every way equal to new." This organ was rebuilt by the Hall Organ Company sometime before 1931.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Swell
16
   Bourdon
73
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
8
   Open Diapason *
73
4
   Octave *
73
8
   Melodia *
73
4
   Harmonic Flute
73
8
   Dulciana *
73
8
   Clarinet *
73
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt *
73
4
   Flauto Traverso *
73
8
   Open Diapason *
73
4
   Violina *
73
8
   Rohr Flöte *
73
8
   Tuba
73
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
73
8
   Oboe *
73
8
   Viole Celeste [TC]
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Aeoline *
73
        
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason *
44
8
   Gross Flute [ext.]
—
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Flauto Dolce [ext.]
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
        
           
* ranks retained from previous organ
             
Reuben Midmer & Son
Brooklyn, N.Y. (1881)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 24 stops, 1,076 pipes


Although the exact specifications of this organ have not yet been located, The Brooklyn Eagle (Dec. 18, 1881) described the organ as follows:


A NEW ORGAN ON THE HILL
     The new organ which has been in course of erection for a week or two past in the Nostrand avenue M. E. Church, of which the Rev. George E. Reed is pastor, is now completed and ready to be used to-day. In building this instrument, Reuben Midmer & Son, of this city, have combined the greatest variety of useful effects possible, producing an organ second to none other on the Hill, in a rich and sympathetic tone. It contains 1,076 pipes and 24 stops, comprising a flute harmonic, forming a perfect imitation of the orchestral flute; bourdon treble and bass, open and double diapason stops, dulciana, melodia, trumpet, violina, cornet, violoncello, cornopean, gamba, oboe and basoon, with various other stops, averaging about fifty pipes to each. The framework of this organ is highly ornamental and artistic in design, planned by Parrite Bros. [Parfitt Bros.?], architects, of Nostrand avenue M. E. Church. Jabaz Burns, organists, is expected to preside to-day, a cornettist to lead the singing. Rev. George E. Reed, pastor, is meeting with deserved success in this, his new field, having a congregation of nearly one thousand persons at each service.
               
Sources:
     "A New Organ on the Hill," Brooklyn Eagle (Dec. 18, 1881).
     La Jolla, Diego. Factory Specifications of Austin Organ, Op. 303 (1910) and Op. 303-A (1965).
     John Wesley United Methodist Church web site: www.gbgm-umc.org/johnwesley

Illustrations:
     The Brooklyn Eagle, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Interior photo (April 7, 1930).
     John Wesley United Methodist Church web site. Exterior.