Charlton Street Memorial Church
(Non-denominational)

34-40 Charlton Street
New York, N.Y. 10014


The Charlton Street Memorial Church was organized in 1897 by the New York City Society to provide physical, moral and spiritual welfare for the multitudes of Italians in the neighborhood. In 1911, plans were filed by Lansing C. Holden for a new multi-purpose building at 34-40 Charlton Street. The three-story facility provided a gymnasium, bowling alley, clubs, classes of various kinds, reading room, library, etc. Services and preaching were in English and Italian. In 1931, the church merged with Bethlehem Memorial Presbyterian Chapel, a settlement house and church located at 196 Bleecker Street that had been started in 1920 by the First Presbyterian Church. The combined church closed in the late 1930s, after which the Bleecker Street property was acquired by the Little Red School House and the Charlton Street building became the associated upper school, the Elisabeth Irwin High School. Both schools exist today.
               
Eifert & Stoehr
Steinway, Long Island (1912)
Mechanical key action?
Pneumatic pedal and stop action?
2 manuals, 12 stops, 11 ranks


The following specifications were recorded (Dec. 1913) by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service firm in the area. Mohr indicated the manual and pedal compasses, but did not state the type of action employed. However, it may be assumed that this organ had mechanical key action with pneumatic pedal and stop action, as was typical of other organs by Eifert & Stoehr at the time.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Melodia
61
4
   Principal
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Vox Celeste
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Clarionet
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Cornopean
61

     

     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
16
   Lieblich Gedackt [ext. SW?]
12
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal       Swell to Great  
    Swell to Pedal       Swell to Great Octave  
               
Mechanicals
    Tremolo       Wind Indicator  
    Crescendo Indicator          
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons Nos. 1-2 affecting Great stops
    Pistons Nos. 1-2 affecting Swell stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal      
               
Sources:
     Blodgett, Richard. "The Story of Charlton Street," New York: Charlton Street Block Association, 2008.
     Gray, Christopher. New York Streetscapes: Tales of Manhattan's Significant Buildings and Landmarks. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2003.
     Miller, Lina D. The New York Charities Directory 1920 (29th edition). New York: Charity Organization Society, 1920.
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specifications (Dec. 1913) of Eifert & Stoehr Organ (1912). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     "Tells Nature of Sin," The New York Times (May 23, 1927).