William Belden Residence

City Island
The Bronx, N.Y. 10464


William Belden is perhaps best remembered in New York City history as one in a trio of investors—the others being Jay Gould and Jim Fisk—who artificially inflated the price of gold to the point where the stock market crashed on "Black Friday", September 24, 1869, causing thousands to lose their life savings. After years of prosecution and bad business deals, Belden was ultimately forced into bankruptcy by the late 1880s.
           
J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co.
New York City – Opus 172 (1879)
Mechanical key action
Pneumatic stop action
3 manuals, 26 stops, 27 ranks



In 1879, William Belden, a millionaire banker and broker, signed a contract for a three-manual and pedal organ, costing $6,700, for his residence on City Island, which was then part of Westchester County. Two years later, Belden placed an order for a three-manual organ, Op. 190 (1881) for his Fifth Avenue residence in Manhattan.

The Fifth Avenue mansion organ was sold to the Troy (NY) Savings Bank in 1890 where it is extant in the building now known as the Troy Music Hall. In 1907, the City Island organ was moved to St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Troy, N.Y.; it was later moved to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Taunton, Mass., where it was altered and enlarged by Roche to 37 ranks.

See also William Belden Residence in Manhattan.
               
Solo Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Solo Cornet (TC) (reed)
49
        
    Chime of 30 Bells          
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
8
   Melodia
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Keraulophon
61
8
   Clarionet
61
8
   Dulce d'Amour
61
8
   Trumpet (harmonic treble)
61
4
   Prestant
61
     
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Viola
61
  Mixture III ranks
183
8
   Viol d'Amour
61
8
   Cornopean (harmonic treble)
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Concert Flute
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
4
   Violina
61
4
   Clarion
61
2
   Flageolet
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
27
16
   Contra Fagotto
27
16
   Grand Bourdon
27
8
   Violoncello
27
           
Sources:
     Pinel, Stephen L. "Organs of the OHS Fiftieth Anniversary: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall". The American Organist (Feb. 2006).