Covenant Lutheran Church - Ridgewood (Queens), NY
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Covenant Lutheran Church

68-59 60th Lane at Catalpa Avenue
Ridgewood (Queens), N.Y. 11385


Organ Specifications:
► II/13 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 6685 (1938)
► II/11 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 2488 (1918)
• Unknown Builder (c.1914)




Covenant Lutheran Church was organized in 1909. The congregation acquired property at Elm and Buchmann Streets (now called 60th Lane and Catalpa Avenue) in Ridgewood, then a neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn. In 1914 the cornerstone was laid for the present church building, a neo-Gothic structure with a tower at the corner.

Following the 1977 Blackout and ensuing riots in Bushwick, the residents of Ridgewood and Glendale wished to disassociate their areas from Bushwick, located at the western boundary of Brooklyn, and in 1979 successfully petitioned the U.S. Post Office to change their zip code to one associated with the borough of Queens, located immediately to the east.
         
  M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6685 (1938) in Covenant Lutheran Church (Ridgewood, Queens, New York City)
   
  M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6685 (1938) in Covenant Lutheran Church (Ridgewood, Queens, New York City)
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 6685 (1938)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 21 stops, 13 ranks


Extant interoffice correspondence of the M.P. Möller firm refers to the signed contract (June 23, 1938) between Möller and Covenant Lutheran Church of Ridgewood, Brooklyn. Albert E. Whitham, the area Möller representative, wrote that the church had "a fellow named Arthur Hayn acting as their advisor to a certain degree," and "the chest for the Octave was put in instead of paying a small commission to Mr. Hayn." (The Great 4' Octave was typically borrowed from the Swell 8' Diapason on many Möller organs of this size.) Möller retained the existing pipes, said to be in perfect condition, except for two or three extra stops, and the existing case, grille and display pipes. A new detached two-manual console of quartered oak was provided. A Möller record shows that the organ cost $3,470 and was to be completed by September 25, 1938; it was shipped on September 14, 1938.

The following specification is taken from the Möller stop engraving order form and the console photo. Pipecounts are suggested, based on similar Möller organs of the era.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
73
8
   Gamba
73
4
   Flute [from Concert Flute]
—
8
   Concert Flute
73
  Chimes
8
   Dulciana
73
    
 
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon [unit] *
97
4
   Flute d'Amour [from 16']
—
8
   Open Diapason
73
2 2/3
   Nazard [from 16']
—
8
   Gedeckt [from 16']
—
2
   Flautino [from 16']
—
8
   Salicional
73
8
  Oboe
73
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
61
  Tremolo
8
   Aeoline
73
   
           
* changed to 16' Lieblich Gedeckt
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Violone **
32
8
   Flute [from Bourdon]
—
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Gedeckt
SW
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt
SW
     
           
** changed to 32' Resultant
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
         
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Great & Pedal Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4
         
Mechanicals
    Crescendo Indicator (4 lights)   Voltmeter
    Sforzando Indicator   Sforzando (thumb & toe)
         
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal   "To Set Combinations" pedal
         
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 2488 (1918) – Möller Opus 1963 (1914) moved
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 12 stops, 11 ranks


The second organ in Covenant Lutheran Church was a second-hand instrument installed in 1918. This organ was originally built in 1914 by M.P. Möller for the Charles Wheeler Residence, Peoria, Illinois. In 1917 Mr. Wheeler purchased a new (and supposedly larger) Möller organ (Op. 2447), and his 1914 organ was sold to Covenant Lutheran for $2,500. A letter and Contract (signed Dec. 18, 1917) between Möller and Covenant Lutheran stated that the organ was "reconditioned" and had tubular-pneumatic action throughout. Möller retained the casing and front pipes, also the motor and blower from the existing organ (by an unknown builder).
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
8
   Open Diapason
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Gemshorn
73
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
   
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Gedeckt
73
4
   Flute Traverso
73
8
   Aeoline
73
8
  Oboe
73
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
61
   
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Bourdon
30
   
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt [ext. SW]
12
     
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8, 4   Great 16, 4, Unison Separation
    Swell to Pedal 8   Swell 16, 4, Unison Separation
    Swell to Great 16, 8, 4    
         
Adjustable Combinations
   
Great and Pedal Stops and Couplers Pistons 1-2-3
Swell and Pedal Stops and Couplers Pistons 1-2-3
         
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Grand Crescendo Pedal    
         
Mechanical Accessories
    Tremulant   Electric Motor & Blower
    Wind Indicator   Organ Bench with Music Shelf
    Crescendo Indicator   Concave and Radiating Pedals
         
Unknown Builder
(c.1914)


Specifications of the original organ in Covenant Lutheran have not yet been located. We know from correspondence regarding the installation of M.P. Möller's Op. 2488 in 1918 (see above) that the previous organ had front pipes and the console was attached to the case. It seems likely that this organ was acquired second-hand.
           
Sources:
     Haberstroh, Richard. The German Churches of Metropolitan New York: A Research Guide. New York: The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, 2000.
     M.P. Möller correspondence (June 29, 1938) regarding M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6685. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Trupiano, Larry. Correspondence and Stop Engraving Order Form for M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6685 (1938).
     Trupiano, Larry. Specification of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1963, built in 1914 for Charles Wheeler Residence, Peoria, Illinois. Möller moved this organ (as Op. 2488) in 1918 to Covenant Lutheran Church.

Illustrations:
     Wittal, Ralph.  Exterior; Console and chamber of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 6685.