Samuel Thorne Residence (c.1911) at right
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Mrs. Samuel Thorne Residence

914 Fifth Avenue at 73rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10021






Mrs. Samuel Thorne (née Phoebe Brinckerhoff) was a philanthropist, patron of music, and active in the Presbyterian Church. She was a manager of the Women's Hospital, and hosted many meetings of religious and charitable organizations in her home. She was married to Samuel Thorne (c.1835-1915) who, after working in his father's leather business until 1872, became interested in the Pennsylvania coal fields. He was President of the Pennsylvania Coal Company at one time. Besides the Central Trust, he was a trustee of the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company, and a director of the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad Company, the Colorado and Southern Railway, the Great Northern Railway, the Sixth Avenue Railroad Company, the Northern Securities Company, the New York Dock Company, and the Bank of America.

Samuel and Phoebe Thorne had five children: four sons and a daughter. They were members of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church for many years.

Samuel Thorne died suddenly of heart disease on July 6, 1915, while aboard the yacht of James J. Hill, Chariman of the Board of Directors of the Great Northern Railway Company. The men were enjoying their annual fishing trip on the St. John River in Québec, Canada. Mrs. Thorne was in her eighty-sixth year when she died on October 9, 1923, a week after returning from her summer home in Southampton, L.I.
           
  Aeolian Organ, Op. 907 (1901) in Mrs. Samuel Thorne Residence - New York City
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 907 (1901)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 15 stops, 15 ranks









The contract (undated) between the Aeolian Company and Mrs. Samuel Thorne shows that Aeolian would install a two-manual organ set up complete on or before October 1st, 1901, for a consideration of $6,000. Aeolian also agreed to allow $500 on the contract price for the return to them of the "Style V" Aeolian Orchestrelle presently in the Thornes' 55th Street residence. A penciled notation on the Aeolian Factory Specification shows that the Great Clarinet was ordered on May 20th (1901?) for an additional $200. This organ was actually built by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company of Boston, as Aeolian was not yet building their own pipe organs.

A Letter of Acceptance (Mar. 25, 1927) shows that Aeolian was contracted to repair worn-out parts and move this organ to "Cedarcliff," the residence of Mrs. Margaret T. Tjader in Darien, Conn. Mrs. Tjader was the daughter of the Thornes.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Grosse Flöte
61
8
   Dulciana
61
4
   Violina
61
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Viol di Gamba
61
      

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
   Dolcissimo
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Vox Celestis [TC]
49
8
   Fagotto
61
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
        
8
   Flute
30
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great     Swell to Pedal
    Swell to Great Octaves     Great to Pedal
               
Combinations Pistons
    Four under Great Organ, 1, 2, 3, 0.
    Four under Swell Organ, 1, 2, 3, 0.
    General Release
               
Accessories
    Aeolian Tempo   Swell Tremulant
    Aeolian Reroll   Motor Starter
         
    58-note roll:   92-note roll:
    Great Organ to Aeolian Grand   Great Organ to Solo
    Swell Organ to Aeolian Grand   Great Organ to Accompaniment
    Pedal Organ to Aeolian Grand   Swell Organ to Solo
        Swell Organ to Accompaniment
        Pedal Organ to Accompaniment
        Solo and Accompaniment Ventil
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversing Pedal    
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal    
    Sforzando Pedal    
           
Sources:
     Lewis, James. Factory Contract of Aeolian Organ, Op. 907 (1901).
     "Mrs. Phoebe B. Thorne" (obituary), New York Times (Oct. 10, 1923).
     "Samuel Thorne Dies On J.J. Hill's Yacht," The New York Times (Jul. 6, 1915).
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.

Illustrations:
     Fifth Avenue, New York, from Start to Finish. New York: Welles & Co., 1911. Samuel Thorne Residence (c.1911).
     Lewis, James. Interior showing Aeolian Organ, Op. 907 (1901).