1897 photo of Former Parish House of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives)

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St. Bartholomew's Church
(Episcopal)
http://www.stbarts.org

Former Parish House and Clinic

209 East 42nd Street
New York, N.Y. 10022

Organ Specifications:
► II/12 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 1084 (1910) – Chapel
► II/18 George S. Hutchings, Op. 423 (1897) – Chapel
► III/31 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 297 (1891) – Mission Room

See also the Church, Chapel and Continuo organs.


In the late 1890s there was an enormous influx of immigrants to New York City, but there was an absence of city, state, and federal aid for the poor and immigrant population. The Rev. Dr. David H. Greer, who became Rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in 1888, saw the church's role as an "institutional parish" that provides social services as well as worship and instruction. Dr. Greer's vision of a big mission house on the east side was made possible when Mrs. William H. Vanderbilt and her son, Cornelius, provided funds to purchase the land and erect the building. The new Parish House cost $500,000, including furnishings, and it opened in late 1891. Designed by Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell, the five-story fireproof building had a frontage of 75 feet and a depth of 100 feet. In accordance with the wishes of the Vanderbilts, the building did not look ecclesiastical. The first story was faced with polished stone, with buff brick on the floors above. The Parish House provided a commodious lunch room on the basement level, and the first floor featured the Rescue Mission Room in which 800 people could be seated in its auditorium and gallery for services held every evening. Next to the auditorium was a small chapel. On the first mezzanine story there was a kindergarten where hundreds of children could be taught. The second floor was given to the Sunday School, with space for 600 scholars and a primary department for 200 children. The third story was for the girls, and included schools for cooking, industry, millinery, dressmaking and housework. The fourth floor had an entrance and elevator of its own, and was for boys and men alone. On this floor was a gymnasium and a large clubroom for billiards, chess, checkers and other amusements. Refreshments and temperance drinks were available at cost price. The fourth floor mezzanine level was for a running track, and rooms for industrial training, typesetting, wood carving, typewriting, stenography, etc. The roof had a summer garden where people could hear good music and get fresh air during hot weather.

The Parish House was enlarged in 1897 with the addition of another story. Floors were reconfigured to allow expansion of various activities and to provide space for new rooms, including a chapel. This addition cost $200,000 and was again funded by the Vanderbilts.

By the 1920s, immigration had slowed dramatically, tenements gave way to apartment houses and offices, and the Parish House and Clinic on 42nd Street were closed. The land was sold, and proceeds were used to build the present community house, adjoining the church at 50th street.
             
Organ installed in a chapel in the Parish House:

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1084 (1910)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 13 registers, 12 stops, 12 ranks



The following specification is taken from an M.P. Möller ledger book that contains a copy of the agreement titled, "St. Bartholomew's Church Chapel, New York City, N.Y." The agreement (dated January 18, 1910) shows that Möller agreed "to build an organ complete and ready for use on or before the 19th day of March 1910 positively" for the sum of $2,250. A note indicates that the organ was shipped from Hagerstown via the Pennsylvania Rail Road on March 12, 1910. The two-manual organ had electro-pneumatic action and an extended console of quarter-sawn oak.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
73
8
   Doppel Floete
73
8
   Dulciana
73
4
   Flute Harmonique
73
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
4
   Violina ("not loud")
73
8
   Aeolina [sic]
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Voix Celeste (TC)
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
42
        
8
  Flute (fr. Bourdon)
—
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Swell 4'   Great to Pedal
    Swell to Swell 16'   Great to Great 4'
    Great to Swell   Swell to Great 16'
    Swell to Great 4'   Swell Unison *
    Swell to Great   Great Unison *
    Swell to Pedal  
* tablets in key jambs
               
Mechanicals
    Swell Tremulant          
    Wind Indicator          
    Crescendo Indicator          
               
Adjustable Combination Pistons
    Pistons No. 1-2 affecting Swell & Pedal Stops
    Pistons No. 3-4 affecting Great & Pedal Stops
    Two Pistons and release (1-2-0) affecting Swell & Pedal Organs
    Two Pistons and release (1-2-0) affecting Great & Pedal Organs
   
* not visibly affecting draw knobs
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible    
    Balanced Swell Pedal    
    Grand Crescendo Pedal    
    Combination Pedal Pistons    
             
Organ installed in the Parish House Chapel:

George S. Hutchings
Boston, Mass. – Opus 423 (1897)
Tubular-electric action
2 manuals, 21 registers, 18 stops, 18 ranks



This Hutchings organ was installed in a spacious new chapel constructed as part of an addition, in 1897, to the Parish House.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Dolcissimo
61
8
   Gross Flute
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Gamba
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Melodia
61
4
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute à Cheminée
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Voix Celestis
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Aeoline
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Octave (fr. Open Diap.)
12
16
   Bourdon
30
8
   Lieblich Gedeckt (fr. Bdn.)
12
10 2/3
  Quinte(fr. Bourdon)
—
        
               
Accessories
4 pistons and release to Swell and Pedal   Swell Tremulant by pedal
4 pistons and release to Great and Pedal   Sforzando pedal
General Release piston   Balanced Swell pedal to Swell organ
Great to Pedal reversible pedal   Balanced Crescendo pedal
             
  Rescue Mission Hall in Former Parish House of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church - New York City (photo: Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives)
Organ in the Parish House Rescue Mission Room:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 297 (1891)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 26 stops, 31 ranks






The "Rescue Mission Room" seated 800 people in its auditorium and gallery; adjoining this room was a small chapel. In the auditorium was an organ built in 1891 by J.H. & C.S. Odell costing $7,000. The handwritten contract states:

The design of the case to be in harmony with the architecture of the Auditorium, and to be submitted to the purchasers for approval, with the understanding that it shall be no more expensive than is usual with organs of this size. The case to be of natural hard wood and finished with a cabinet finish. The display pipes to be either gilded, silvered, or richly ornamented in gold and colors. Pneumatic compensating valves to be applied to Great, Swell, Choir, and Pedal organs, thereby giving each pipe a full supply of wind, and an easy touch and quick response to the keys.

Two stops in the Swell Organ (2' Flautina and 8' Cornopean) were omited when the organ was installed. An Odell Company Ledger Book (page 154) shows that additions—including four percussions—were made to the organ in 1892 and 1895, as follows:

  Oct. 13, 1892 1 Cornopean 61 pipes
185.00
  
    1 Clarion 61 pipes
250.00
  
    1 Harmonic Flute 61 pipes
250.00
  
    1 Pair Cymbals (cost of cymbals 22.00)
70.00
  
    1 French Gong (cost of gong 12.00)
70.00
  
    1 Triangle (cost of triangle 1.25)
30.00
  
    1 Music Box (cost of music box 190.00)
190.00
  
              (25% & 5% off above price)    
         
  1893 – 1897 [Various entries for regulating & tuning the organ]    
         
  July 18, 1895 Cleaning & repairing organ
406.00
  
    Pedal Violone
450.00
  
    Sw. Gamba 49 pipes
160.00
  
    Flautina 61 pipes
65.00
  

Following are the specifications of the organ as originally installed in 1891.
 
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
8
   Violin Diapason
61
2 2/3
  Octave Quint
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Viola di Gamba
61
     Mixture, 4 ranks
244
8
   Grosse Flöte
61
8
   Trumpet [harmonic treble]
61
4
   Octave
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
61
4
   Hohl Flöte
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
  
Flautina
"pipes omitted"
8
   Salicional
61
     Cornet, 3 ranks
183
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
8
  
Cornopean [harm. treble]
"pipes omitted"
4
   Violina
61
8
   Oboe
61
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Violin Diapason
61
4
   Rohr Flöte
61
8
   Dulciana
61
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
61
8
   Concert Flute
61
8
   Bell Clarinet
61
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
     Bass Drum  
16
   Bourdon
30
     Snare Drum  
8
   Violoncello
30
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Choir to Great       Choir to Pedal  
    Swell to Choir       Reversible Swell to Pedal
    Great to Pedal       Reversible Great to Pedal
               
Mechanical Accessories
    Swell Tremulant       Wind Indicator  
    Bellows Signal       Balanced Swell Pedal  
               
Odell Patent Pneumatic Compositions
    Great Organ:          
    1. Full Organ   5. Open, Gamba, and Grosse Flöte
    2. Full to Mixture   6. Gamba and Grosse Flöte
    3. Full to Super Octave   7. Grosse Flöte
    4. Full to Octave   8. Viola di Gamba
         
    Swell Organ:          
    1. Full Organ   5. Open, Salicional, and St. Diap.
    2. Full to Oboe   6. Salicional and Stopped Diapason
    3. Full to Flautina   7. Salicional
    4. Full to Violina   8. Hohl Flöte
               
    The above compositions are worked by Piston knobs between Keys, all double-acting.
               
Pedal Movements
    1. Piano on Choir Organ   3. Piano on Pedal Organ
    2. Forte on Choir Organ   4. Forte on Pedal Organ
             
Sources:
     "East Side Parish Work," article in The New York Times (Nov. 21, 1897).
     The Episcopal Diocese of New York Archives; Wayne Kempen, Archivist.
     "Gift of the Vanderbilts," article in The New York Times (Oct. 26, 1891).
     J.H. & C.S. Odell & Co. Ledger Book (Oct. 13, 1892 and July 18, 1895), p.154. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     St. Bartholomew's Church web site: http://www.stbarts.org
     Smith, Christine. St. Bartholomew's Church in the City of New York. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., 1988.
     Smith, Rollin. Stokowski and the Organ. Hillsdale: Pendragon Press, 2004.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 297 (1891).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1084 (1910).

Photos:
     St. Bartholomew's Church Year Book, 1895: Rescue Mission Hall. Courtesy Wayne Kempton, Archivist, Episcopal Diocese of New York.
     St. Bartholomew's Church Year Book, 1897: Exterior of Parish House. Courtesy Wayne Kempton, Archivist, Episcopal Diocese of New York.