Mrs. Laura E. Wells Residence

804 West End Avenue at 99th Street
New York, N.Y. 10025


Mrs. Laura E. Wells married Lester Orton Peck, of Redding, Conn., on August 12, 1898. For eighteen years, Mr. Peck was connected with New York City business concerns and traveled extensively as a salesman for paper makers. In 1900, he retired from business and purchased a large farm in Redding Ridge, Conn., where he had a colonial-style house built. The townhouse on West End Avenue was also purchased in 1900.

By 1913, the townhouse had become the residence of Joseph L. Hollander, after which it was owned by someone with the surname 'Peck.' The townhouse was ultimately replaced by a large apartment building.
           
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 911 (1901)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 19 stops, 10 ranks
Aeolian Player


The Aeolian contract, dated July 2, 1901, indicates that this duplexed organ was to be located in the butler's pantry. Aeolian would provide a carved screen of quartered oak in the existing doorway that faced the music room, and the two-manual console, built of mahogany and containing the Aeolian player, would be placed against the wall adjoining the doorway. The total cost of the organ was $6,850, less a $500 allowance for trading in the Aeolian Grand then in the residence. This organ was actually built by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company of Boston for the Aeolian Company. The Memorandum of Agreement (Aug. 2, 1901) by Hutchings-Votey shows that there would be an additional charge of $100 for extra work necessary on the detached console, plus another $100 "for building the organ tubular pneumatic so as to avoid the cost of batteries." A Letter of Acceptance (July 28, 1902) shows that Aeolian charged $650 to rebuild the console player so that it could play 116-note music.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Open Diapason
61
8
   French Horn, bass
21
8
  Viol di Gamba
61
4
   Flute Harmonique, treble [TA]
40
8
   Gemshorn
61
4
   Flute Harmonique, bass
21
8
   Dolcissimo
61
8
   Corno d'Amour, treble [TA]
40
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
49
8
   Corno d'Amour, bass
21
8
   French Horn, treble [TA]
40
8
   Quintadena
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (duplexed from Great)
8
  Open Diapason
—
8
   French Horn, bass
—
8
  Viol di Gamba
—
4
   Flute Harmonique, treble [TA]
—
8
   Gemshorn
—
4
   Flute Harmonique, bass
—
8
   Dolcissimo
—
8
   Corno d'Amour, treble [TA]
—
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
—
8
   Corno d'Amour, bass
—
8
   French Horn, treble [TA]
—
8
   Quintadena
—

     

     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
  Contra Bass
30
   
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great     Swell to Pedal
    Swell to Great Octaves     Great to Pedal
               
Accessories
    Great Organ to Aeolian     Aeolian Return
    Swell Organ to Aeolian     Aeolian Tempo
    Pedal Organ to Aeolian     Tremulant
    Balanced Swell Pedal      
           
    Four Combination Pistons on Great Organ: 1, 2, 3, 0
    Four Combination Pistons on Swell Organ: 1, 2, 3, 0
           
Sources:
     Legislative History and Souvenir of Connecticut (Vol. VIII, 1911-1912). Hartford: William Harrison Taylor, 1912.
     "Engagements." The New York Times (Oct. 5, 1913).
     "In the Real Estate Field." The New York Times (Sep. 26, 1900).
     New York Social Register 1920. New York: Social Register Association, 1920.
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications and contract (July 2, 1901) of Aeolian Organ, Op. 911.
     Trupiano, Larry. Memoradum of Agreement (Aug. 2, 1901) between Hutchings-Votey Company and The Aeolian Company.