St. James Presbyterian Church (orig. St. Nicholas Ave. Presbyterian) - New York City
  Click on image to enlarge
St. Nicholas Avenue Presbyterian Church

409 West 141st Street at St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10031


Organ Specifications:
409 West 141st Street at St. Nicholas Avenue (1905-1927)
► II/25 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 414 (1905)
310 West 139th Street (1893-1905)
• unknown


St. Nicholas Avenue Presbyterian Church was organized in 1892 as the Lenox Presbyterian Church. The society was originally located at 310 West 139th Street in a Romaneque sanctuary designed by Joseph Ireland and built from 1892-93. From 1905-1923 that building was home to the Swedish Immanuel Congregation Church, and since 1923 has been occupied by the Grace Congregational Church of Harlem.

In 1905, the congregation moved to a new church built from 1904-05 at 409 West 141st Street at St. Nicholas Avenue. Valentine & Ludlow designed the towered Gothic edifice that overlooked St. Nicholas Park and the City College of New York. At that time the congregation changed its name to St. Nicholas Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1927, the congregation merged into the North Presbyterian Church at 529 West 155th Street, and the old edifice was sold to St. James Presbyterian Church.
           
Organ in church located at 409 West 141st Street:

J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 414 (1905)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 23 stops, 25 ranks


An entry (Jan. 17, 1906) in a Ledger Book of J.H. & C.S. Odell shows that this organ was set up complete for $4,775. Odell also provided routine service until 1928.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute Harmonique
61
8
   Gamba
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Dulciana
61
2
   Super Octave
61
8
   Melodia
61
8
   Trumpet
61

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon Bass   }
61
4
   Rohr Flote
61
16
   Bourdon Treble }
4
   Violina
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Salicional
61
     Dolce Cornet III ranks
183
8
   Vox Celestis
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Aeoline
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
        

     

     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Open Diapason
30
8
   Bass Flute
30
16
   Bourdon
30
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal       Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'  
    Swell to Pedal       Swell to Swell 4'  
    Pedal to Pedal Octaves       Great to Great 4'  
               
Piston Combination Movements (Adjustable)
    Great Organ Forte       Swell Organ Forte  
    Great Organ Mezzo       Swell Organ Mezzo  
    Great Organ Piano       Swell Organ Piano  
               
Pedal Movements
    Grand Crescendo Pedal       Balanced Swell Pedal  
    Pedal Organ Forte       Great to Pedal Reversible  
    Pedal Organ Piano          
           
Organ in original church at 310 West 139th Street:

Unknown
(c.1893)

It has not been determined if the original Lenox Presbyterian Church had an organ, and if so, who built it.
           
Sources:
     Adams, Michael Henry. Harlem Lost and Found: An Architectural and Social History, 1765-1915. New York: Monacelli Press, 2002.
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Gretchen S. Sorin. Touring Historic Harlem: Four Walks in Northern Manhattan. New York: New York Landmarks Conservancy, 1997.
     Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Hickman, Cynthia. Harlem Churches at the End of the 20th Century. New York: Dunbar Press, 2001.
     J.H. & C.S. Odell Ledger Book (Jan. 17, 1908: p.262). Item regarding Odell organ in Lenox Presbyterian Church. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 414 (1905).