George F. Crane Residence

16 West 12th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011



George Francis Crane (1851-1933) enjoyed a long career as a prominent banker and for many was a partner in Baring, Magoun & Co. Mr. Crane partially retired in 1902, although he continued as director of several companies and retained his vice presidency and trusteeship of the Seamen's Bank for Savings. In 1903, he became a vestryman of Trinity Parish, a junior warden in 1928, and senior warden in 1931. For fifteen years he was the controller of Trinity Corporation, serving until March 1932 when he resigned due to health.

In 1888, Mr. Crane married the former Katherine P. Oliver, and the couple produced three children: two daughters and one son. Mr. Crane died on September 24, 1933, at his residence in "The Montana" at 375 Park Avenue. Prior to moving into The Montana, perhaps when it was constructed in 1917, the Cranes are believed to have lived at 16 West 12th Street. Mrs. Crane died in 1961 at the age of 98.
               
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 308 (1904)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 9 stops, 9 ranks


Estey's Op. 308, built in 1904 for the George F. Crane Residence, included a case of Flemish Oak with display pipes of gold bronze. The organ quite possibly included an automatic player.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Melodia
61
8
   Dulciana
61
4
   Principal
61
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
     [Tremolo]  
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   [Great 4']
    Swell to Pedal   [Swell 16', 4']
    [Swell to Great 16', 8', 4']    
               
Mechanicals
    Expression Pedal – Swell & Great   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal    
               
Sources:
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     "Funeral at Trinity for George F. Crane," The New York Times (Sep. 28, 1933).
     "G. F. Crane Is Dead; Retired Banker, 81," The New York Times (Sep. 25, 1933).
     Lewis, James. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 159 (1904).
     Meyer, Berger. "About New York," The New York Times (Oct. 28, 1955).
     "Mrs. George F. Crane," The New York Times (Sep. 16, 1961).
     "Rockefeller Heads Vice Grand Jury," The New York Times (Jan. 4, 1910)