Bayside United Methodist Church - Bayside (Queens), N.Y.


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Bayside United Methodist Church

38-20 Bell Boulevard at 38th Street
Bayside (Queens), N.Y. 11361
http://baysideumc.org/

Organ Specifications:
Present building (since 1957)
• unknown
Second building (1912-1957)
► II/11 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 6564 (1937)
First building (1893-1912)
► II/9 Estey Organ Company, Op. 318 (1906)

Bayside United Methodist Church can trace its roots to early 1889 when, following a series of evangelistic services, several area residents met to consider forming a union church in Bayside. In the spring of that same year, trustees were elected, and a constitution was written for what was known as the Union Church of Bayside. Various supply pastors were engaged until 1890 when the Rev. William Manchee, a member of the editorial staff of The New York Observer, was secured as pastor. In May 1890, Richard M. Bell of Bayside donated a plot of ground measuring 100 feet square on the south side of Palace Avenue, 100 feet from Bell Avenue. Ground was broken for a new edifice in October of that year, but other than an excavation on the site, no building was erected. Meanwhile, the society united with the Methodist Episcopal denomination on April 19, 1891, with the Rev. F. C. Gillette as pastor. Construction of the edifice resumed and the completed building was opened with services on September 17, 1893. Over the years several additions were made to the building.

On January 14, 1912, the service was slightly interrupted by a boiler explosion in the basement. About an hour after the service ended, Mounted Policeman Edward Phillips saw smoke rising from the church cupola and turned in an alarm to the two volunteer fire companies. By the time the firemen arrived the flames had spread to every part of the building; efforts to save the building were thwarted by poor water pressure and a rotten hose. The frame building was almost completely destroyed, along with the organ, silverware, the communion set, and two pianos. Insurance covered the damage, estimated to be $15,000. Services were temporarily held in the headquarters of the W.C.T.U., and it was reported that the congregation would probably thereafter meet in the parish hall of the Bayside Episcopal Church. The leaders determined that their next building would be of brick and would be extended by an addition of 26x55 feet to accomodate the Sunday school on the first floor instead of in the basement.

The cornerstone for the present Georgian-style building was laid in 1957.

Organ in first church building:

M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 6564 (1937)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 25 stops, 11 ranks

The M. P. Möller Factory Specification (May 17, 1937) shows that this organ had a detached two-manual drawknob console with preparations for additions. Möller provided a case, display pipes and grille. The organ was voiced on 4½" pressure, and was to be completed by August 15, 1937.

Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed

Open Diapason

2 2/3

Dulciana Twelfth

—

Claribel Flute

Dulciana Fifteenth

—

Dulciana

Trumpet

Octave

Tremolo

Dulcet

—

Chimes

21 Bells

Flute

—

3 blank knobs

Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed

Lieblich Gedeckt

—

Flute d'Amour

—

Geigen Diapason

2 2/3

Nazard

—

Gedeckt

Flautina

—

Salicional

Oboe

Vox Celeste [TC]

Tremolo

Salicet

—

3 blank knobs

Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed

Resultant Bass

—

Gedeckt

Bourdon

Cello

Lieblich Gedeckt

2 blank knobs

Flute

—

Couplers

Swell to Pedal 8', 4'

Great 16', 8' (Unison), 4'

Great to Pedal 8', 4'

Swell 16', 8' (Unison), 4'

Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'

Adjustable Combinations

Great & Pedal Stops	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Swell & Pedal Stops	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Stops	Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
Entire Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb & toe)
	General Cancel (thumb)

Accessories

Balanced Great Expression Pedal

Great to Pedal Reversible

Balanced Swell Expression Pedal

Full Organ Pedal and Piston

Balanced Crescendo Pedal

Estey Organ Company Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 318 (1906) Tubular-pneumatic action? 2 manuals, 9 stops, 9 ranks The Contract between "Bay Side M.E. Church, Bay Side L.I." and Estey Organ Co., states that Estey agreed to build an organ that would be ready for use on or before March 4, 1906. This contract was dated Dec. 18, 1906, but the year was actually 1905. The organ cost $1,500, with the church paying $750 (cash) plus $750 (cash) from Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie, a great lover of the pipe organ, partially funded the building of organs in thousands of churches. The Factory Specification did not indicate if the organ had tubular or electric action.

Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8	Open Diapason	61	8	Melodia (wood)	61
8	Dulciana	61	4	Octave	61

Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8	Salicional	61	4	Flute Harmonic	61
8	Stopped Diapason (wood)	61	8	Oboe (wood, reedless) [TC]	49

Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16	Bourdon (wood)	30

Couplers
	Swell to Pedal			Swell to Great
	Great to Pedal			Swell to Great (Octaves)

Mechanical Accessories
	Bellows Signal			Organ Bench w/ Music Compartment
	Tremulant			Haskell's Patent Register Action
	Wind Indicator

Sources:
     "Bayside Church Burns," The New York Times (Jan. 15, 1912).
     "Bayside's New Church," Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Sept. 18, 1893).
     Bayside United Methodist Church web site: http://baysideumc.org/
     "Celebration at Bayside," The New York Observer (Nov. 29, 1906).
     Estey Organ Museum. Contract and Specification of Estey Organ, Op. 318 (1906). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     "Fire Destroyed Church, Services Held in Hall," Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Jan. 15, 1912).
     "Rebuilding Church," Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Feb. 10, 1912).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6564 (1937).

Illustration:
     Forgotten New York web site: http://forgotten-ny.com/2012/03/from-flushing-to-bayside/. Exterior.

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