St. Mark Roman Catholic Church - Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY
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St. Mark Roman Catholic Church

Ocean Avenue and Avenue Z
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11235    
http://www.stmarkparish.org
Organ Specifications:
Ocean Avenue and Avenue Z (since 1929):
• III/ Peragallo Pipe Organ Company (c.2001)
► II/21 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 581-A (1964)
• II/21 J.H. & C.S. Odell, Op. 581 (1927)
Sheepshead Bay Rd. and E. 14th St. (1893-burned 1929):
• unknown


Original St. Mark Roman Catholic Church - Brooklyn, N.Y.  
Original Church (1893-1929)  
The parish of St. Mark was established in 1861 to serve Roman Catholics in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn. A wooden church with steeple was built on Sheepshead Bay Road and East 14th Street, was dedicated by Bishop McDonnell on August 20, 1893. In the early 1900s, the nearby Sheepshead Bay and Gravesend racing tracks attracted prominent and wealthy people to take area bungalows during the racing season; many of these racing enthusiasts attended St. Mark's and contributed generously to the church collections.

In the late 1920s, plans were made for a larger church. A plot was purchased on Ocean Avenue, with Avenue Z and Jerome Avenue on either side, and construction began. Before the new church was finished, the organ wooden church was destroyed by fire on February 24, 1929. Masses were held temporarily in a nearby theatre until the present church was completed in March 1929. The new church is noted for its tall campanile and beautiful interior.
             
Peragallo Pipe Organ Company
Paterson, N.J. (c.2001)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals


About 2001, the Peragallo Pipe Organ Company installed a three-manual drawknob console in the chancel that controls the Odell organ in the rear gallery and what has been reported to be a 1909 Estey organ in the front of the church. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
             
J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 581-A (1964)
 Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 27 stops, 21 ranks


In 1964, J.H. & C.S. Odell rebuilt their Op. 581 of 1927, adding a floating Positiv division.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
  Diapason
61
4
  Flute Harmonic
61
8
  Melodia
61
2 2/3
  Octave Quint
61
8
  Dulciana
61
8
  Capped Horn
61
4
  Octave
61
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon
73
2 2/3
   Nazard
61
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Vox Celestis
73
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Gedeckt
73
     Tremulant  
4
   Principal
73
    
Cathedral Chimes
20 bells
4
   Rohr Flute
73
        
               
Positiv Organ (Floating) – 61 notes, enclosed
playable on Swell, Great and Pedal by means of a selector device
2
   Blockflute
61
1 1/3
  Larigot
61
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
1
   Flageolet
61
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Sub Bass
32
8
   Still Gedeckt
SW
16
  Bourdon
SW
4
   Super Octave
GT
8
   Diapason
GT
        
             
J.H. & C.S. Odell
New York City – Opus 581 (1927)
 Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals


In 1927, a two-manual and pedal organ was built by the J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City. Specifications of this organ have not yet been located.
             
Sources:
     The Diapason (Sept. 1964). Specifications of J.H. & C.S. Odell organ, Op. 581-A (1964). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     "Fire Destroys Church at Sheepshead Bay," The New York Times, February 25, 1929.
     Forgotten New York web site: http://www.forgotten-ny.com
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     "St. Mark's Dedicated," Brooklyn Eagle (Aug. 21, 1893).
     St. Mark's Parish web site: http://www.stmarkparish.org/

Photos:
     Forgotten New York web site: exterior.