Willard D. Straight Residence - New York City
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Willard D. Straight Residence

1 East 94th Street at Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10128










Maj. Willard D. Straight  
   
Willard Dickerman Straight (1880-1918), shown in a photograph from around 1917, was a diplomat and banker with J. P. Morgan. His wife, Dorothy, was the daughter of the financier William C. Whitney.

  Willard D. Straight Garage - New York City
Delano & Aldrich designed a complementary garage for the Straights at 162 East 92nd Street. The first floor had enameled brick walls, a turntable, and a "tire closet" at the rear, and in the basement was a 255-gallon gasoline tank.
           
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 1304 (1914)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 30 stops, 22 ranks



The Aeolian Specification (Mar. 4, 1914) states that this organ for the Residence of Mr. Willard D. Straight was to be completed on or about January 1, 1915; however, the organ was shipped May 13, 1915. According to the signed contract (Apr. 22, 1914), the consideration for the organ was $16,250.

On June 20, 1929, the Aeolian Company was contracted (for a consideration of $5,000) to remove the Straight organ from storage, repair and replace parts, and deliver it to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Jackson Heights, Queens.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure)
8
   Diapason
61
4
   Flute (high)
61
8
   String F
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   String P
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Flute F
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Flute P
61
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure)
8
   String F
61
16
   Flute (deep)
61
8
   String F Vibrato [TC]
49
8
   Flute F
61
8
   String P
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   String P Vibrato [TC]
49
8
   Vox Humana
61
    String P (mixture, 3 rks)
183
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes (Compounded from Manual I)
8
   Diapason
GT
4
   Flute (high)
GT
8
   String F
GT
2
   Piccolo
GT
8
   String P
GT
8
   Trumpet
GT
8
   Flute F
GT
8
   Clarinet
GT
8
   Flute P
GT
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Contra Basso F (deep)
30
16
   Flute P (deep)
SW
16
   Flute F (deep)
30
        
               
Percussion Instruments
   
Harp F & P  
    Playable from either Manual I, II or III
   
Chimes F & P  
    Playable from either Manual I, II or III
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell Octave, Sub-Octave, Release
    Choir to Pedal   Great Octave, Sub-Octave, Release
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir Octave, Sub-Octave, Release
    Choir to Great    
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons (located under Swell Organ Manual)
    Six Adjustable Tutti Combinations and Release, affective on entire Organ including Harp and Chimes. (To be spaced between "sharp" keys.)
         
    Stop-Action Connection } With these Pistons, located at left side of Combination Pistons, the Tablet Stop-Action can be made active or inactive as desired.
    Stop-Action Release }
       
               
    Coupler Combination   (Two Pistons, or one tablet to be determined.)

     

     
Accessories
    Sforzando   Choir Silent
    Tonal [Crescendo]   Swell Silent
    Great & Choir Expression   Pedal Silent
    Swell Expression   Great & Choir Tremolo
    Great Silent   Swell Tremolo
               
Aeolienne
    Normal   }   Control, 58-note music
    Reverse } Control 116-note music   Pedal Augment
    Unison   }   Aeolian Ventil
    Choir Upper   Aeolian Tempo
    Choir Lower   Aeolian Reroll
         
Foot Pistons (Located in Pedal Keyframe)
    Great to Pedal    
    Swell to Pedal    
    Choir to Pedal    
           
Sources:
     Gray, Christopher. "Streetscapes: A Mansion for Me, Another for My Cars," The New York Times (June 14, 2009).
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification for Aeolian Organ, Op. 1304 (1914).

Illustrations:
      Architecture (March 1920), Office for Metropolitan History. Exterior.
      Municipal Archives, The City of New York. Garage.
      Prints and Photographs Online, Library of Congress. Maj. Willard D. Straight.