Church of St. Monica
(Roman Catholic)

94-20 160th Street
Jamaica (Queens), N.Y. 11433


Organ Specifications:
94-20 160th Street at Beaver Road (1857-1973)
► II/8 Midmer-Losh Organ Company (1931) – moved to St. Pius V Church (1973)
• II/12 Reuben Midmer & Sons (<1917)
• Henry Erben (1857)
160th Street and Liberty Avenue (1840-1857)
• unknown



         
Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, N.Y. (1931)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 13 stops, 8 ranks


The last organ in St. Monica's Church was built in 1931 by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company. It is possible this organ was an electrification of the earlier organ by Reuben Midmer & Sons. Following is the specification recorded by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service concern in the area. The organ was divided on either side of the central gallery window: the Swell was on the right, and the Great and notes 1-12 of the Pedal Bourdon were on the left.

When the church was closed, the organ was moved to St. Pius V Catholic Church, also in Jamaica, by Mann & Trupiano of Brooklyn. The organ was stored in the rectory garage until funds became available for its installation. Unfortunately, the organ was destroyed (except for the Swell Gedeckt and Pedal Bourdon extension) when unskilled workers relocated the parts and pipes into the church. The 8' Gedeckt was ultimately installed in the Skinner organ (Op. 739) at St. Rosario-Regina Pacis Church in Brooklyn.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute
SW
8
   Gedeckt
SW
  Tremulant  
8
   Dulciana
61
 
Chimes [Mayland]
20 tubes
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
4
   Flute [ext]
—
8
   Gedeckt [unit]
97
2
   Piccolo [ext]
—
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Vox Celeste
73
  Tremulant
 
      
 
      
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Bourdon [ext. SW]
12
   
8
   Gedeckt
SW
   
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal   Great to Great 4
    Swell to Pedal   Swell to Swell 16, 4
    Swell to Great 16, 8, 4    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Entire Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
               
Accessories
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Sforzando Pedal
    Crescendo Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
         
Reuben Midmer & Sons
Brooklyn, N.Y. (<1917)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 10 stops


Sometime before 1917, a new organ was built by Reuben Midmer & Sons of Brooklyn. Although the specification has not been located, we know from a blower survey by Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service concern in the area, that this organ had ten stops: Great 5, Swell 4, Pedal 1.
         
Henry Erben
New York City (1857)
Mechanical action


The original organ in the second St. Monica's Church was built in 1857 by Henry Erben of New York City. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Blower survey (1916) for St. Monica's Church. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specification of Midmer-Losh organ (1931). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.