St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church - Elmhurst (Queens), NY
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Church of St. Bartholomew
(Roman Catholic)

43-22 Ithaca Street
Elmhurst (Queens), N.Y. 11373


Organ Specifications:
43-22 Ithaca Street at Whitney Avenue (since c.1930):
► III/18 Midmer-Losh, Op. 5514 (1930); reb. (1983)
► III/18 Midmer-Losh Organ Co., Op. 5514 (1930)
Fourth Street, near Whitney Avenue (1911-c.1930):
► II/18 Reuben Midmer & Sons (1911)


St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church - Elmhurst (Queens), N.Y. (1920 Postcard)  
1920 postcard of original church  
St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church was established in 1906. The first services were held in the Union League Clubhouse, and later at the Baptist Church on Whitney Avenue. Through the efforts of the Rev. Jeremiah J. Heafy, rector of the parish since its organization, a church was built in 1911. Located on Fourth Street near Whitney Avenue, the structure had an exterior of light pressed brick with terra cotta and sandstone trimmings. Stained glass windows were imported from Munich, Germany, and the interior was finished in oak with an old English finish. The completed church was dedicated by Bishop McDonnell on April 30, 1911.

The present brick Romanesque church, located on the corner of Ithaca Street and Whitney Avenue, was completed about 1930, and the original building became a chapel.
           
Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, L.I. – Opus 5514 (1930)
As rebuilt by Melvin P. Robinson, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. (1983)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 41 stops, 18 ranks


The organ in St. Bartholomew's was originally built in 1930 by Midmer-Losh of Merrick, L.I., but was rebuilt in 1983 by Melvin P. Robinson of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. Robinson installed three new ranks of pipes: on the Great Organ, a 2' Super Octave replaced the 8' Violin Diapason; and on the Swell Organ, a 2' Fifteenth replaced the 8' Aeoline, and a 1-3/5' Tierce replaced the 8' Vox Humana. The Choir Organ stop that originally played the Great 8' Violin Diapason (which was removed) now plays the Great 8' Open Diapason. These 'new' ranks are reported to be from the J.H. & C.S. Odell organ (1925, Op. 568) in St. Matthias R.C. Church, RIdgewood, that had been replaced by a new Casavant Frères organ. Robinson retained the original 1930 Midmer-Losh console.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir except where noted
16
   Open Diapason * [ext.] [façade]
12
2
   Super Octave [rep. Vln Diap.]
61
8
   Diapason [unit]
73
8
   Tuba [unit]
73
4
   Principal
—
4
   Tuba Clarion
—
8
   Gross Flute [unit]
85
     Great to Great 4'  
4
   Flute
—
     Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Gross Twelfth
—
     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'  
2
   Gross Flute
—
     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'  
8
   Gamba
73
    
* unenclosed
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit]
97
4
   Violina
73
8
   Gedeckt
—
2
   Fifteenth [rep. 8' Aeoline]
61
4
   Stopped Flute
—
1 3/5
   Tierce [rep. 8' Vox Humana]
61
2 2/3
   Nazard
—
8
   Cornopean
73
2
   Flautino
—
8
   Syn. Oboe [Sal. + 2 2/3]
—
8
   Open Diapason
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Salicional
73
     Swell to Swell 16', 4'  
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
61
     Unison Off  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason [Op. Diap]
GT
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Dulciana
73
     Choir to Choir 16', 4'  
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
     Unison Off  
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
     Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Violone [GT Op. Diap.]
GT
4
   Choral Bass
GT
16
   Sub Bass [ext. GT Gross Fl.]
12
16
   Bombarde [ext. GT Tuba]
12
16
   Bourdon
SW
8
   Tuba
GT
10 2/3
   Quinte [GT Gross Fl.]
—
4
   Clarion
GT
8
   Diapason
GT
     Great to Pedal 8', 4'  
8
   Gross Flute
GT
     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'  
8
   Octave Flute
SW
     Choir to Pedal 8', 4'  
           
Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, L.I. – Opus 5514 (1930)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 41 stops, 18 ranks


The original organ in the present church was built in 1930 by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company of Merrick, Long Island. Midmer-Losh provided a three-manual console with tilting tablets in jambs on either side of the keyboards. An entry in the Midmer-Losh ledger book shows this organ cost $12,500.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir except where noted
16
   Open Diapason * [ext.] [façade]
12
8
   Violin Diapason *
73
8
   Diapason [unit]
73
8
   Tuba [unit]
73
4
   Principal
—
4
   Tuba Clarion
—
8
   Gross Flute [unit]
85
     Great to Great 4'  
4
   Flute
—
     Unison Off  
2 2/3
   Gross Twelfth
—
     Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'  
2
   Gross Flute
—
     Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'  
8
   Gamba
73
    
* unenclosed
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit]
97
8
   Aeoline
73
8
   Gedeckt
—
4
   Violina
73
4
   Stopped Flute
—
8
   Vox Humana
73
2 2/3
   Nazard
—
8
   Cornopean
73
2
   Flautino
—
8
   Syn. Oboe [Sal. + 2 2/3]
—
8
   Open Diapason
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Salicional
73
     Swell to Swell 16', 4'  
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
61
     Unison Off  
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
GT
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Dulciana
73
     Choir to Choir 16', 4'  
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
     Unison Off  
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
     Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Violone [GT Op. Diap.]
GT
4
   Choral Bass
GT
16
   Sub Bass [ext. GT Gross Fl.]
12
16
   Bombarde [ext. GT Tuba]
12
16
   Bourdon
SW
8
   Tuba
GT
10 2/3
   Quinte [GT Gross Fl.]
—
4
   Clarion
GT
8
   Diapason
GT
     Great to Pedal 8', 4'  
8
   Gross Flute
GT
     Swell to Pedal 8', 4'  
8
   Octave Flute
SW
     Choir to Pedal 8', 4'  
         
Organ in church located on Fourth Street, near Whitney Avenue:

Reuben Midmer & Sons
Brooklyn, N.Y. (1911)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 18 stops, 18 ranks


In the original church on Fourth Street was an organ built in 1911 by Reuben Midmer & Sons of Brooklyn, at a cost of $3,000. The following specification was written on the back of a piece of correspondence between Midmer-Losh and the architectural firm of Murphy and Lehmann, who had offices at 159 Remsen Street, Brooklyn. Midmer-Losh was inquiring if it was realistic to move the 1910 instrument to the new church that was being designed. Midmer-Losh noted the organ was installed behind a case that was 20' 9½" wide, and the tubular-pneumatic console contained the coupler mechanism. As it turned out, Midmer-Losh managed to sell a new instrument to the church in 1930.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Viol di Gamba
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
61
8
   Dulciana
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Melodia
61
        
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [1-12 from Lieb. Ged.]
49
4
   Violina
61
8
   Violin Diapason
61
4
   Wald Flute
61
8
   Salicional
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
   Vox Celeste
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Stopped Diapason
61
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Sub Bass
30
8
   Cello
30
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
30
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Swell to Great 16, 8, 4
    Swell to Pedal   Swell to Swell 16, 4
               
Combinations
   
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-0
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-0
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Sforzando
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal    
           
Sources:
     Midmer-Losh Ledger Book. Cost of 1930 organ. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     "New Catholic Church. St. Bartholomew's, in Elmhurst, to be Dedicated To-Morrow," The New York Times (Apr. 29, 1911).
     Reuben Midmer & Sons Ledger Book. Cost and specification of 1911 organ. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Trupiano, Larry. Specifications of Midmer-Losh organ, Op. 5514 (1939) and 1983 rebuild by Mel Robinson.

Illustrations:
     eBay.com. Postcard (1920) of original church building.
     St. Barts and Elmhurst web site: http://stbartselmhurst.com