Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church - Corona (Queens), NY (photo: Forgotten New York)
  Click on image to enlarge
Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
(Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod)

37-57 104th Street and 37th Drive
Corona (Queens), N.Y. 11368


Organ Specifications:
37-57 104th Street and 37th Drive (since 1903)
► II/17 Aeolian Company, Op. 985 (1905)
47th Avenue (1887-1903)
• II/ Unknown Builder; reb. Eifert & Stoehr (1909)




Emanuel German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1887. The society first met on Willow Street (now 46th Avenue) until a church was built that same year on Oak Street (now 47th Avenue). In 1903, the congregation opened their present building on the corner of Sycamore Avenue and High Street (now 104th Street and 37th Drive). Originally a German-speaking church, the congregation now offers services in Spanish and Korean. The congregation is affiliated with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
         
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 985 (1905); moved by builder (1930)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 21 stops, 21 ranks


This organ was built in 1905 for the Balmer & Weber Piano House, St. Louis, Mo., at a cost of $5,500. Additions to the organ were shipped on August 31, 1909, that enlarged the organ from its original 17 to 19 ranks. In 1917, Balmer & Weber sold the organ to E.S. George for his residence at Silver Lake Lodge, Onaway, Mich. Around 1924, Mr. George traded in the old organ for $7,500 toward the purchase of a much larger 3/49 Aeolian organ (Op. 1550) costing $32,500 for his new residence in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. In 1930, the old organ (Op. 985) was sold to Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church at a cost of $8,500. When installed, the organ had a total of 21 ranks. The fate of this organ is unknown.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Diapason
61
4
   Flute (high)
61
8
   String F
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   String P
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   String PP
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Flute F
61
    
Harp
61 notes
8
   Flute P
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Flute (deep)
61
4
   Flute (high)
61
8
   Diapason (Violin)
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   String F
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   String P Vibrato
61
     Tremolo  
8
   String PP
61
     Harp
GT
8
   Flute P
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes, enclosed
16
   Flute F (deep)
30
16
   Bassoon (deep)
30
16
   Flute F (deep) [sic]
30
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Great 16'
    Swell to Pedal   Great Unison Release
    Swell to Great   Swell 4'
    Swell to Great 4'   Swell 16'
    Great 4'   Swell Unison Release
               
Combination Pistons
    Four to Great Organ: P, MF, F, Release
    Four to Swell Organ: P, MF, F, Release
               
Accessories
    Tonal Pedal      
    Great Expression Pedal      
    Swell Expression Pedal      
         

Unknown Builder
Rebuilt and moved by Eifert & Stoehr, Steinway, N.Y. (1909)
Mechanical action?
2 manuals


An article in The Newtown Register (Mar. 18, 1909) noted that

"Next Sunday morning, March 21st, the German Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel's Church, Corona, will dedicate its fine two manual pipe organ, bought of C. Harman of Richmond Hill, and rebuilt and set up by Eifert & Stoehr of Steinway. The dedication services will begin at 10:30 a.m."

Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Haberstroh, Richard. The German Churches of Metropolitan New York: A Research Guide. New York: The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, 2000.
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     "To Dedicate Their Organ," The Newtown Register (Mar. 18, 1909).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of Aeolian Organ, Op. 985 (1905, 1930).

Illustration:
     Forgotten New York web site: http://www. forgotten-ny.com. Exterior.