St. James Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
 
Click on images to enlarge
Church of St. James
(Roman Catholic)

32 James Street
New York, N.Y. 10038
http://www.stjamesnyc.org/


Organ Specifications:
32 James Street (since 1835)
► III/36 Farrand & Votey, Op. 791 (1895)
► III/36 Frank Roosevelt, Op. 421 (1889)
• II/22 Henry Erben (1836)
49 Ann Street (1827-1833) – named Christ R.C. Church
► II/16 John Geib (1801)


St. James Roman Catholic Church can trace its roots to 1827 when Father Félix Varela bought Christ Protestant Episcopal Church on Ann Street and converted it into a Catholic church of the same name. The new parish remained at this location until 1833 when the building was declared unsafe. For the next few years, services were held in temporary quarters on William Street and, later, on Ann Street.

  St. James Roman Catholic Church - New York City
In 1835, Father Varela purchased property for a new church on James Street, and the name was changed to St. James Church. Built from 1835-37 and dedicated by Bishop Dubois in 1836, St. James Church has the distinction of having the second oldest Roman Catholic church building extant in Manhattan. No one is certain who designed the noble Greek Revival edifice, although its pedimented facade is similar to designs published by architect Minard Lafever. As originally built, the fieldstone building had a domed cupola above the roof, and the facade included the inscription "D.O.M. S. JACOBO DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO" (To God, the Best and Greatest). In 1966, the church was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Since its founding, the church has been home to many notables, including Alfred E. Smith, who served as an altar boy before becoming Governor of New York State and the first Roman Catholic candidate for the presidency. In the 1880s, Smith described the church as the "leading Catholic parish in New York, not excepting the cathedral itself."

St. James Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish fraternal organization, is also associated with St. James Church, as their first chapter in the United States was established in 1836 at this church. The Hibernians organized in response to the burning of St. Mary's Church on Grand Street, and other acts of violence against Irish clergy and property. In 1983, the Hibernians financed the restoration of St. James Church after city officials ordered it closed when the roof was in danger of collapsing.
           
  Roosevelt Organ, Op. 421 (1889) at St. James Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Farrand & Votey
Detroit, Mich. – Opus 791 (1895)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 31 stops, 36 ranks









In 1895, Farrand & Votey rebuilt the 1889 Roosevelt organ as their Opus 791. Farrand & Votey retained the Roosevelt chests, but installed electro-pneumatic action to activate the primary valves. The couplers were converted to electric action, and three couplers added. An 8' Dulciana (with pipes marked "Dolce") replaced the 2-2/3' Octave Quint on the Great. Farrand & Votey also installed an automatic player mechanism in a niche behind the music rack, but it is no longer extant. A Spencer blower was added about 1914, replacing the original Judson water motor.

Beginning in 2007, the organ building firm of Glück New York has been working to restore the organ, retaining the electrical action added in 1895 by Farrand & Votey. To date, the case has been leveled and several stops are again playable. Additional restoration work will occur as funding becomes available.

On October 13, 2008, the Organ Historical Society awarded its distinguished Historical Citation No. 369 in recognition of the Roosevelt Organ as an outstanding example of organbuilding and worthy of preservation.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, partially enclosed with Choir
16
   Double Open Diapason *
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   Open Diapason *
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Viola di Gamba
58
2
   Super Octave
58
8
   Dulciana
58
     Mixture, 3 & 4 ranks
220
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
8
  
Trumpet
58
           
* unenclosed
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [split knob: bass & treble]
58
4
   Hohl Flöte
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Salicional
58
     Cornet, 3 ranks
174
8
   Spitz Flöte
58
8
   Cornopean
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Oboe
58
4
   Gemshorn
58
     Swell Tremulant  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
58
4
   Rohr Flöte
58
8
   Concert Flute
58
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
58
8
   Dolce
58
8
   Clarionet
58

     

     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason

30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Bourdon

30
16
   Trombone
30
               
Couplers (drawknobs above Swell manual)
    Swell to Great       Swell octaves  
    Swell to Great octaves       Swell to Choir  
    Choir to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Choir to Great sub octaves       Choir to Pedal  
    Choir octaves       Great to Pedal  
               
Pedal Movements (left to right)
    3 adjustable combinations to Swell Organ    
    Full Organ [hook down]    
    Balanced Swell Pedal for Great & Choir Organs    
    Balanced Swell Pedal for Swell Organ    
    Great to Pedal Reversible    
    3 adjustable combinations to Great Organ    
               
Roosevelt Organ, Op. 421 (1889) at St. James Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
   Roosevelt Organ, Op. 421 (1889) at St. James Roman Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
           
  Roosevelt Organ, Op. 421 (1889) at St. James Catholic Church - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Frank Roosevelt
New York City – Opus 421 (1889)
Tracker-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 31 stops, 36 ranks



The 1889 Frank Roosevelt organ in St. James Church was one of many recorded by F.R. Webber (1887-1963), a noted organ historian whose "Organ Scrapbooks" are in the possession of The Organ Historical Society Archives in Princeton, N.J. Click here to view the notebook page. Webber writes the following comments:
     "The organ was built by Mr. Hilborne L. Roosevelt, but its original date and number are not listed in the Roosevelt literature. It was either rebuilt or else enlarged in 1889 by Frank Roosevelt. The rectangular, ivory nameplates of both Hilborne L. and Frank Roosevelt are on the console.
     "Metal pipes in flats are displayed on the front of the case, with a flat of wood pipes at either end. The console is of the usual handsome appearance of the later Roosevelt work, and the ivory discs are engraved in the characteristic Roosevelt special lettering."
As noted in The Music Trade Review (1889, vol. 13, no. 5, p. 116), the organ included a novel combination action:
"Romaine Callender, for many years an organist of Brantford, Ont., has perfected an invention whereby he claims to have brought the control and manipulation of the stops of the largest organs to a higher degree of perfection than has hitherto been reached. It has been introduced into a new organ just erected in St. James' Roman Catholic Church, N.Y. The organist, at any movement, by simply touching with the tips of his fingers a slender horrizontal [sic] bar placed over each set of keys, brings out an entirely new set of stops without removing either hand from the keyboard or interrupting, even for a second, the rendition of the music before him. By a most ingenious contrivance he sets beforehand the various consecutive combinations of stops which he intends to use during his performance, and as he touches the bar these combinations present themselves in their proper order and at the exact moment required. The organ at St. James' is a Roosevelt, costing $10,000. It will be heard for the first time at a public recital to-morrow evening, Oct. 6 [1889], in the church at James street and New Bowery."
Music for the dedicatory recital was furnished by William E. Mulligan, organist at St. James' Church.

The following specifications are from a Roosevelt Organ Works publication.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, partially enclosed with Choir
16
   Double Open Diapason *
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Open Diapason *
58
2 2/3
   Octave Quint
58
8
   Viola di Gamba
58
2
   Super Octave
58
8
   Doppel Flöte
58
     Mixture, 3 & 4 ranks
220
4
   Octave
58
8
  
Trumpet
58
           
* unenclosed
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [treble & bass, split knob]
58
4
   Hohl Flöte
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
2
   Flageolet
58
8
   Spitz Flöte
58
     Cornet, 3 ranks
174
8
   Salicional
58
8
   Cornopean
58
8
   Stopped Diapason
58
8
   Oboe
58
4
   Gemshorn
58
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Geigen Principal
58
4
   Rohr Flöte
58
8
   Dolce
58
2
   Piccolo Harmonique
58
8
   Concert Flute
58
8
   Clarinet
58

     

     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Violoncello
30
16
   Bourdon
30
16
   Trombone
30
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Choir to Great       Great to Pedal  
    Swell to Choir       Choir to Pedal  
    Swell Octaves on itself          
               
Mechanicals
    Swell Tremulant       Wind Indicator  
    Bellows Signal          
               
Pedal Movements (Roosevelt Patent Automatic Adjustable Combination Pedals.)
    Three, affecting Great and Pedal Stops and Couplers (to Great, to Pedal)  
    Three, affecting Swell and Pedal Stops and Couplers (to Swell, to Pedal)  
    Full Organ Pedal (Drawing all Speaking Stops without moving the knobs.)  
    Great to Pedal Reversible Coupler  
    Balanced Swell Pedal  
    Balanced Great and Choir Pedal  
           
Henry Erben
New York City (1836)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 22 stops


Henry Erben of New York City built the original organ in St. James' Catholic Church. The 1861 American Musical Directory states that the organ had "2 banks keys, 22 stops, 1¼ octaves pedals." Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.

This organ was moved to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Brooklyn.
           
Organ in church located at 49 Ann Street between William and Nassau Streets:

John Geib
New York City (1800-01)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 15 stops, 16 ranks


This organ by John Geib was built in 1800-01 for Christ Episcopal Church. Two pair of bellows, with an elegant mahogany case, gild front ornaments, 10 by 15 feet – Duble GG (begings) in front. One Sett of keys for Great organ – one set for choir & swell. The Cost 1200.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 47 notes [GG – f3]
1.
   opdiapason throughaute from duble GG to F in alt
2.
   Stopd          
3.
   principal          
4.
   12th          
5.
   15th          
6.
   Tiers          
7.
  
Cornet treble }
3ranks
Sesq. bass }
         
8.
            
9.
   Trumpet — throughaute as befor      
               
Choir & Swell (Manual II) – 47 notes [GG – f3]
1.
   Stopdiapason in choir, Bass          
2.
   Flute throughaute          
3.
   15th – do          
    Stopdiapason Treble Swell          
4.
   Dulciana – Swell          
5.
   princ. – Swell          
6.
   Vaschumana – Swell          
           
Sources:
     American Musical Directory. New York: Thomas Hutchinson, 1861.
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Glück, Sebastian. Specification details on changes made by Farrand & Votey to the Roosevelt organ.
     "Important to Organists – A Marvelous Contrivance for Controlling and Manipulating Stops," The Music Trade Review (1889:13:5:8).
     "New Appliance For Organs," The New York Times (Sept. 29, 1889: 12).
     Ogasapian, John. Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900. Braintree: The Organ Literature Foundation, 1977, p.192.
     Organ Historical Society web site: http://www.organsociety.org
     Roosevelt Organ Company, New York City. Specifications of Frank Roosevelt organ, Op. 421 (1889). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.
     Webber, F.R. "Organ scrapbook" at Organ Historical Society Archives, Princeton, N.J. Specifications of the Roosevelt organ, Op. 421 (1889); courtesy Jonathan Bowen.

Illustrations:
     Lawson, Steven E. Church exterior, interior; Roosevelt Organ, Op. 421 (1889).
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Original exterior.