First Presbyterian Church (Sage Memorial) - Far Rockaway (Queens), NY
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First Presbyterian Church
(formerly known as Sage Memorial Church)

1324 Beach Twelfth Street
Far Rockaway (Queens), N.Y. 11691


Organ Specifications:
1324 Beach Twelfth Street (since 1910)
► II/24 M.P. Möller, Op. 6890 (1940)
► II/24 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 1039 (1909)
1318 Central Avenue (1886-1910)
► II/13 George Jardine & Son, Op. 1123 (1893)

First German Dutch Reformed Church - Far Rockaway (Queens), NY  
Original Church (1886-1910)
 
The Presbyterian Church of Far Rockaway, L.I., was established around 1886. A handsome frame building with steeple was erected on Central Avenue in 1886. After this building was vacated in 1910, it was purchased by the First German Evangelical Church, and is extant today as the Arverne Church of God.

The present church on Beach Twelfth Street was the gift of Olivia Slocum Sage as a memorial to her husband, Russell Sage (1816-1906), the American philanthropist. Mrs. Sage commissioned the New York firm of Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson to design a church, parish house and manse. The Neo-Gothic church is cruciform in shape and has a square tower over the crossing. It was constructed of brick with concrete trim between 1908 and 1910. The interior features include furniture and glass designed by the architects, and a large memorial window executed by the Tiffany Studio. Mrs. Sage also commissioned the Olmsted Brothers to design the landscaping. When completed, the complex was known as the Russell Sage Memorial Church, but is known today as the First Presbyterian Church of Far Rockaway.

In 1986, the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
           
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 6890 (1940)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 27 stops, 24 ranks



In 1940, M.P. Möller installed a new console on the existing 1909 Möller organ (Op. 1039). The Factory Specifications (May 3, 1940) indicate that the detached stop-key console had modern electric action and accessories, and measurements in acordance with A.G.O. standards. Möller also revoiced the reeds at this time.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, mainly enclosed with Swell (3½" pressure)
8
   Diapason *
61
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
49
8
   Doppel Flute (wood)
61
4
   Principal *
61
8
   Melodia (wood)
61
4
   Flute d'Amour (wood & metal)
61
8
   Viola d'Gamba
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Harmonic Tuba (revoiced)
61
8
   Dulciana
61
    
Chimes
preparation
 
     
 
 
* unenclosed
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" pressure)
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt (wood)
73
8
   Aeoline
73
8
  Diapason
73
4
   Flute Harmonique
73
8
   Stopped Diapason (wood)
73
4
   Violina
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe (revoiced)
73
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Vox Humana (revoiced)
73
8
   Quintadena
73
     Tremolo  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes (4½" pressure)
16
   Diapason [unit]
44
8
   Octave [ext.]
—
16
   Bourdon [unit]
44
8
   Flute [ext.]
—
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell Unison Separation
               
Combination Pistons
   
Great & Pedal Stops Pistons 1-2-3-4-5
Swell & Pedal Stops Pistons 1-2-3-4-5
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5
  General Cancel piston
           
  M.P. Moller organ, Op. 1039 (1909) in First Presbyterian Church - Far Rockaway (Queens), N.Y. (New York Architect, March 1910)
  The New York Architect (March 1910)
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1039 (1909)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 27 stops, 24 ranks



From the Agreement (Aug. 23, 1909) between M.P. Möller and M. Olivia Sage we read that Möller agreed to build a two-manual organ with 36 registers for the sum of $6,000. The organ was to be "complete and ready for use on or before the 1st day of December 1909 Positively" (it was shipped on Nov. 27). Möller installed the organ on one side of the chancel and provided a portable console with extra cable. Möller also provided the display pipes but not the case. The organ had electro-pneumatic action and a Kinetic blower.

The New York Architect (March 1910) described the arrangement for the organ:

First Presbyterian Church - Far Rockaway (Queens), N.Y. (New York Architect, March 1910)  
The New York Architect (March 1910)  
"The chancel arrangement of this church is worthy of attention, for it is an effort in the right direction to solve one of the most perplexing and long-standing problems of Protestant church architecture. Here in America the usual – and traditional – solution of the difficulty is, of course, to give to the organ the place of prominence and honor, and the consequent relegation of the pulpit and the communion table to positions of not only relative but actual insignificance. In the Sage Memorial, however, there are two galleries set on either hand, one which is entirely filled by the organ, the other devoted to the uses of the choir and the organist. This arrangement leaves the end wall free to be occupied by a series of seven elaborately canopied stalls, the middle one being slightly accented. This pseudo reredos (or since the original Latin root eans simply "a backing," the pseudo can be omitted) is effective, and adds distinction to the beatuy and logic of the whole."
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, mainly enclosed with Swell
8
   Open Diapason *
61
8
   Unda Maris
61
8
   Dulciana
61
4
   Flute d'Amour (wood & metal)
61
8
   Gemshorn
61
4
   Principal *
61
8
   Viola di Gamba
61
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Melodia (wood)
61
8
   Harmonic Tuba
61
8
   Doppel Floete (wood)
61
    
* unenclosed
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Lieblich Gedackt (wood)
73
8
   Quintadena
73
8
  Open Diapason
73
4
   Flute Harmonique
73
8
   Stopped Diapason (wood)
73
4
   Violina
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Aeolina
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason [unit]
44
8
   Octave [ext.]
—
16
   Bourdon [unit]
44
8
   Flute [ext.]
—
16
   Lieblich Gedackt
SW
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'   Great 16'
    Swell to Pedal 8'   Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell Unison Cancel
               
Mechanicals
    Swell Tremulant   Wind Indicator
    Great Tremulant   Crescendo Indicator
               
Adjustable Pistons
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Swell & Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Great & Pedal stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Swell Expression Pedal, also operating the Vox Humana separate swell
    Grand Crescendo–Diminuendo Pedal
    Six Adjustable Combination Pedal Pistons
         
Organ in original church on Central Avenue:

George Jardine & Son
New York City – Opus 1123 (1893)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 13 stops, 13 ranks


The organ in the original church was built in 1893 by George Jardine & Son of New York City. The following specifications (dated 1935 and Nov. 13, 1976) are taken from an "Organ Scrapbook" kept by Charles Scharpeger, an organ serviceman in the area; David E. Wallace provided notes about pipe construction. When the Arverne Church of God (the current building owner) needed space for their baptismal pool, the Jardine organ was offered for sale through the Organ Clearing House. In July 1985, the organ was removed by David E. Wallace & Co. of Gorham, Maine, who then rebuilt the organ for reinstallation in the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Yarmouth, Maine.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Melodia
61
8
   Dulciana
61
4
   Harmonic Flute
61
8
   Gamba
61
4
   Gemshorn
61
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason *
61
4
   Violina
61
8
   Salicional *
61
2
   Flautina
61
8
   Stopped Diapason +
61
8
   Oboe & Bassoon
61
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
    
* 1-12 stopped wood
           
+ Chimney Flute from Middle C
             
Accessories
    Great to Pedal   Tremulant
    Swell to Pedal    
    Swell to Great 8'   Swell Pedal
    Swell to Great 4'    
           
Sources:
     "Cornerstone Laid For Sage Church," The New York Times (Dec. 13, 1908).
     David E. Wallace & Co. LLC. Specifications and notes about George Jardine & Son organ, Op. 1123 (1893).
     History of Queens County, New York, with Illustrations, Portraits & Sketches. New York: W.W. Munsell & Co., 1882.
     Scharpeger, Charles. "Organ Scrapbook" (1935 and Nov. 13, 1976) with specifications of George Jardine & Son organ, Op. 1123 (1893). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     "The Sage Memorial," The New York Architect (March 1910).
     Trupiano, Larry. Agreement and Specification (Aug. 23, 1909) for M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1039.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specification (May 3, 1940) for M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6890.

Illustrations:
     Henderson, Jim. Exterior (2009).
     The New York Architect (March 1910). Drawing; Interior.