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St. Nicholas of Tolentine
(Roman Catholic)
2345 University Avenue at Fordham Road
The Bronx, N.Y. 10468
http://www.tolentinebronx.org/
The Parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentine was founded by the Augustinians on April 22, 1906.
Records show that 127 people attended the first Mass which was said in a little garage building on North Street near Jerome Avenue. Property on the southeast corner of Andrews Avenue and Fordham Road was purchased, and construction began soon thereafter on a two-story combination building for the church and school, and a rectory. The cornerstone was laid on July 15, 1906, by Monsignor J. F. Mooney, V.G., and on September 15, 1907, the church was dedicated by Archbishop Farley, with a Pontifical Mass sung by the Rt. Rev. W. A. Jones, O.S.A., of Puerto Rico. In the early years, the Augustinian Fathers attended to the Catholic Orphan Asylums (for both males and females) on Sedgwick Avenue and Kingsbridge Road. The school was administered by the Sisters of Charity.
By the 1920s, the University Heights area (named for the presence at that time of New York University) had developed into an attractive, middle-class neighborhood of mainly Irish residents who had left the poorer sections of the South Bronx and Manhattan. A parochial high school was established in 1927, and plans were made for a larger church that would be built on adjacent property to the east, on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Fordham Road.
Construction on the present church began in the summer of 1927, and on September 11 of that same year the cornerstone was laid by the Rt. Rev. John J. Dunn, Auxiliary Bishop of New York. As designed by Delaney, O'Connor & Schultz, the new Gothic-style edifice would be built of rock-faced ashlar trimmed in limestone, and would cost about $1,000,000 when completed. The church was oriented with its liturgical West end actually facing east, fronting University Avenue, and the main portals were to be flanked by twin towers 150 feet in height.
The lower church would provide seating for 1,200 and the upper church, with a nave measuring 200 feet long and 64 feet wide, would have a seating capacity of 1,500. On April 29, 1928, the completed lower church was blessed by Cardinal Hayes. This basement space served as the main church for many years, due to financial restraints brought on in part by the Great Depression and World War II. The upper church was completed in the 1950s and the church was consecrated in 1957.
On March 5, 2010, a fire of suspicious origin broke out in a former confessional-turned-storage room near the main entrance, causing great damage to the narthex and filling the church with smoke. The flames shot up to the choir gallery directly above the narthex, and the organ console and pipes suffered smoke and water damage.
Over the years, the demographics of the University Heights area have changed
from being predominantly Irish and is now home to mainly Hispanic and Vietnamese
immigrants. St. Nicholas of Tolentine, popularly known as "The Cathedral
of the Bronx," has also evolved to meet the needs of its parishioners and
offers services in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. |
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Kilgen Organ Company
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 7517 (1951); rev. Klauder (2012)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 58 registers, 32 stops, 38 ranks
The two-alarm fire on March 5, 2012, narrowly spared the
1951 Kilgen organ, but the resulting damage by smoke, water
and workers necessitated that the organ be cleaned and
repaired. This work was contracted to John Klauder, organ
curator, who emptied and cleaned both chambers, replaced
soot-covered leather, and repaired or replaced damaged
pipes. The 1951 console barely escaped the flames from
below but was also damaged. Klauder cleaned and refinished
the
console, upgraded the combination action, and enlarged
the specification in consultation with Daniel Kirk-Foster,
Director of Music. Following are the specifications of
the rebuilt console. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
(7" pressure)
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16 |
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Violone |
73 |
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Fourniture III ranks |
183 |
8 |
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Diapason |
73 |
16 |
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Trumpet (TC, fr. 8') |
— |
8 |
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Hohl Flute |
73 |
8 |
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Trumpet (12" w.p.) |
73 |
8 |
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Violone (fr. 16') |
— |
4 |
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Trumpet (fr. 8') |
— |
8 |
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Gemshorn |
73 |
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4 |
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Octave |
73 |
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MIDI |
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4 |
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Flute Harmonique |
73 |
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Great 16' |
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2 2/3 |
* |
Nazard |
SW |
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Great Unison Off |
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1 3/5 |
* |
Tierce |
SW |
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Great 4' |
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Rausch Quinte II ranks |
122 |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61
notes, enclosed
(7½" pressure)
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16 |
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Flute Conique |
73 |
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Scharf IV ranks |
244 |
8 |
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Geigen Diapason |
73 |
16 |
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Waldhorn |
73 |
8 |
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Rohr Floete |
73 |
8 |
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Waldhorn (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Flute Conique (fr. 16') |
— |
8 |
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Trompette |
73 |
8 |
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Viole d'Gamba |
73 |
8 |
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Oboe |
73 |
8 |
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Voix Celeste |
73 |
4 |
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Clarion |
73 |
4 |
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Principal |
73 |
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Tremolo |
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4 |
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Flute Harmonique |
73 |
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MIDI |
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2 2/3 |
* |
Nazard |
— |
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Swell 16' |
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2 |
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Octavin |
61 |
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Swell Unison Off |
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1 3/5 |
* |
Tierce |
— |
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Swell 4' |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
(6" pressure)
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8 |
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Viola Pomposa |
73 |
8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
8 |
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Concert Flute |
73 |
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Tremolo |
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8 |
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Cor de Nuit |
73 |
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MIDI |
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8 |
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Unda Maris (TC) |
61 |
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Choir 16' |
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4 |
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Spitz Flute |
73 |
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Choir Unison Off |
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2 2/3 |
* |
Nazard |
SW |
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Choir 4' |
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1 3/5 |
* |
Tierce |
SW |
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* derived fr. SW Scharf IV |
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
(7½" pressure)
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32 |
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Resultant (fr. 16' Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Rohr Floete |
SW |
16 |
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Contrabasse |
32 |
4 |
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Super Octave (fr. 8' Oct.) |
— |
16 |
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Bourdon |
44 |
32 |
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Grand Cornet IV ranks + |
GT |
16 |
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Violone |
GT |
16 |
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Bombarde |
32 |
16 |
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Flute Conique |
SW |
16 |
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Waldhorn |
SW |
10 2/3 |
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Flute Conique |
SW |
10 2/3 |
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Waldhorn |
SW |
8 |
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Octave |
44 |
8 |
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Waldhorn |
SW |
8 |
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Bass Flute (fr. 16' Bdn.) |
— |
8 |
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Trumpet |
GT |
8 |
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Cello (fr. Violone) |
GT |
4 |
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Trumpet |
GT |
8 |
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Flute Conique |
SW |
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MIDI |
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+ derived fr. GT 16' Violone |
Couplers
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Great to Pedal 8', 4' |
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Pedal to Great 8' |
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Swell to Pedal 8', 4' |
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Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4' |
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Choir to Pedal 8', 4' |
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All Swells to Swell |
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Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Pedal Divide |
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Choir to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Great / Choir Transfer |
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Adjustable Combinations
(Peterson ICS-4000, 100 memory levels)
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| Swell Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Great Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Choir Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Pedal Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe) |
| Generals |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe) |
| Generals |
Pistons 7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20 (thumb) |
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Accessories
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Balanced Expression Pedal – Great & Choir |
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9 "Next" pistons (thumb) |
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Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell |
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2 "Next" pistons (toe) |
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Crescendo Pedal |
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1 "Previous" piston (thumb) |
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Full Organ (thumb & toe) |
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1 "Previous" piston (toe) |
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Kilgen Organ Company
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 7517 (1951)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 40 registers, 32 stops, 38 ranks
The organ in the Upper Church was built in 1951 by the Kilgen Organ Company, successor firm to Geo. Kilgen & Son, of St. Louis. Charles Courboin, who was organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan fr. 1943-1973, designed the specifications. The fully enclosed organ is installed behind oak grills in chambers on opposite sides of the rear gallery. Kilgen provided a three-manual stop-key console that was centered at the front edge of the gallery. |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
(7" pressure)
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16 |
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Violone |
73 |
4 |
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Flute Harmonique |
73 |
8 |
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Diapason |
73 |
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Rausch Quinte II ranks |
122 |
8 |
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Hohl Flute |
73 |
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Fourniture III ranks |
183 |
8 |
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Gemshorn |
73 |
8 |
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Trumpet (12" w.p.) |
73 |
4 |
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Octave |
73 |
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Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
(7½" pressure)
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16 |
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Flute Conique |
73 |
2 |
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Octavin |
61 |
8 |
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Geigen Diapason |
73 |
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Scharf IV ranks |
244 |
8 |
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Rohr Floete |
73 |
16 |
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Waldhorn |
73 |
8 |
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Viole d'Gamba |
73 |
8 |
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Trompette |
73 |
8 |
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Voix Celeste |
73 |
8 |
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Oboe |
73 |
4 |
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Principal |
73 |
4 |
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Clarion |
73 |
4 |
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Flute Harmonique |
73 |
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Tremolo |
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Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61
notes, enclosed (6" pressure)
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8 |
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Viola Pomposa |
73 |
4 |
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Spitz Flute |
73 |
8 |
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Concert Flute |
73 |
8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
8 |
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Cor de Nuit |
73 |
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Tremolo |
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8 |
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Unda Maris (TC) |
61 |
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Pedal Organ – 32 notes
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32 |
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Sub Bourdon (1-12 resultant) |
— |
8 |
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Bass Flute (fr. 16' Bdn.) |
— |
16 |
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Contra Bass |
32 |
8 |
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Cello (Violone) |
GT |
16 |
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Bourdon |
44 |
8 |
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Rohr Floete |
SW |
16 |
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Violone |
GT |
4 |
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Super Octave (fr. 8' Oct.) |
— |
16 |
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Flute Conique |
SW |
16 |
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Bombarde |
32 |
8 |
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Octave |
44 |
16 |
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Waldhorn |
SW |
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Couplers
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Great to Pedal 8' |
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Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4' |
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Swell to Pedal 8', 4' |
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Great to Great 4' |
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Choir to Pedal 8' |
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Swell to Swell 16', 4' |
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Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Choir to Choir 16', 4' |
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Choir to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Adjustable Combinations
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| Swell Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Great Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Choir Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Pedal Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe) |
| Full Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe) |
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Accessories
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Balanced Expression Pedal – Great & Choir |
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Great to Pedal Reversible (toe) |
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Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell |
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Full Organ (thumb & toe) |
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Crescendo Pedal |
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Organ installed in the Lower Church:
George Jardine & Son
New York City (1878)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 10 registers, 9 stops, 9 ranks
In 1927, a two-manual-and-pedal organ was installed in the Lower Church. Originally built in 1878 by George Jardine & Son for St. James Episcopal Church in Goshen, N.Y., the organ was moved and rebuilt for use in the Lower Church by William F. Smith. The following specifications were recorded (Jan. 12, 1940) by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service concern in the area. Mohr noted that the organ had 17 front pipes in gold.
This organ was rebuilt again in 1978 by William E. Baker. In 1988, the organ was sold through the Organ Clearing House and moved to Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne, Vt. In 2008 and 2009, the organ was up for auction on eBay.com. |
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Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
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8 |
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Open Diapason |
58 |
8 |
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Melodia |
58 |
8 |
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Gamba |
58 |
2 |
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Flageolet |
58 |
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Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
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8 |
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Diapason Bass |
17 |
4 |
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Clarionet Flute |
58 |
8 |
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Clarionet Flute (TF) |
41 |
4 |
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Violana |
58 |
8 |
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Dulciana (TF) |
41 |
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Tremulant |
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Pedal Organ– 27 notes
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16 |
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Bourdon |
27 |
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Couplers and Accessories
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Swell to Great (push buttons below Swell) |
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Balanced Swell Pedal |
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Great to Pedal |
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Swell to Pedal |
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Bellows Signal |
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Sources:
"A Success Story in Multiculturalism," Strangers and Aliens No Longer: The Hispanic Presence. Washington, DC, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, 2004. http://www.jknirp.com/aliens.htm
"Bishop Lays Stone for Bronx Church," The New York Times (Sep. 12, 1927).
The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
Hermalyn, Gary and Robert Kornfeld. Landmarks of The Bronx. Bronx, NY: Bronx Historical Society, 1989.
Kirk-Foster, Daniel. Specification of Kilgen Organ
as rebuilt by John Klauder (2012).
Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specification (Jan. 12,
1940) of J.H. & C. S. Odell organ (1878). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
"New Church Blessed by Cardinal Hayes," The New York Times (Apr. 30, 1928).
Nieves, Evelyn. "Archdiocese Will Close a Bronx High School," The New York Times (May 17, 1991).
Paul Opel's Organ Home Page website: http://www.sover.net/~popel/agomain.html.
Specifications of George Jardine & Son Organ (1878).
Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church website: http://www.tolentinebronx.org/
Illustrations:
eBay.com. Photos of George Jardine & Son Organ (1878) in Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne, Vt.
Gilligan, Don. Church exterior fr. front.
Kirk-Foster, Daniel. Church exterior fr. side; Rebuilt Kilgen Console (2012).
Oniffrey, David. Church interior; console and case of Kilgen Organ Company organ, Op. 7517 (1951). |
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