St. Leo Catholic Church - Corona (Queens), NY (photo: Joe Shlabotnik)
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Church of St. Leo
(Roman Catholic)

104-05 49th Avenue
Corona (Queens), N.Y. 11368

Organ Specifications:
II/11 Wicks Organ Company, Op. 3938 (1959); inst. 1991
II/10 Reuben Midmer & Sons (c,1904)


The Roman Catholic parish of St. Leo was established in October 1903 as a mission to Italian-American residents of Corona, an area of Queens that was formerly part of the Township of Flushing. The first pastor was the Rev. John L. O'Toole, who established a flourishing Sunday-school for area children. Over the years, the Corona community has become home for many nationalities, including Italians, Irish, Poles, African-American, Hispanics and Asians. Today, St. Leo's Church offers masses in Spanish and Italian.
           

Wicks Organ Company
Highland, Ill. – Opus 3938 (1959)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 19 stops, 11 ranks


The Wicks organ in St. Leo's Church was originally built in 1959 for St. Joseph of Arimethea Episcopal Church, Elmsford, N.Y. Not long after the organ was installed, the Great Unda Maris stop was ordered, replacing the stop tab for the duplexed Swell Viole Celeste. The Wicks organ was replaced in 1991 when St. Joseph's purchased a new Petty-Madden organ (Op. 30); the Wicks organ was subsequently acquired by and moved to St. Leo's Church.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, originally enclosed
8
  Principal
61
2 2/3
  Twelfth
61
8
  Hohlflöte
61
2
  Fifteenth [ext. Spitz Prin.]
12
8
  Gemshorn
61
  Tremolo
8
  Unda Maris [TC] *
49
 
Chimes
4
  Spitz Principal
61
    * added late 1959; orig. SW Viole Celeste
 
   
 
   
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed

8
  Stopped Diapason [unit]
80
2 2/3
  Nazard [fr. St. Diap.]
8
  Viole de Gambe
68
2
  Flautino [ext. Fl. Harm.]
12
8
  Viole Celeste [TC]
56
8
  Trompette
68
4
  Flute Harmonique
68
  Tremolo
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes

16
  Bourdon [ext. GT Hohlflöte]
12
8
  Bass Flute [GT Hohlflöte]
16
  Lieblich Bass [ext. SW]
12
8
  Flauto Dolce
SW
8
  Principal
GT
4
  Choral Bass [GT Principal]
               
Couplers

    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Great to Great 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations

    6 General pistons + Cancel
    Great to Pedal Reversible (toe)      
    Swell to Pedal Reversible (toe)      
    Sforzando (toe)      
               
Pedal Movements

    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal      

 

Reuben Midmer & Sons
Brooklyn, N.Y. (c.1904)
Slider chests, electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 10 stops, 10 ranks


The first known organ in St. Leo's Church was built by Reuben Midmer & Sons of Brooklyn. It seems likely that this organ dates from the opening of the church building. The following specifications were recorded by John Tully in April 1991. Mr. Tully did not indicate manual compasses but did note the Pedal Bourdon had 30 pipes. The instrument was installed in one central case that measured about 7 feet 2 inches deep by 17 feet high by 12.5 feet wide. Mr. Tully indicated that the console contained components manufactured by Klann Organ Supply Co. The organ was removed by Alan Laufman of the Organ Clearing House in May 1991.
               
Great Organ (Manual I)
8
  Open Diapason
4
  Principal
8
  Melodia
 
Chimes
20 tubes
8
  Gamba
   
 
   
 
   
Swell Organ (Manual II) – enclosed

8
  Violin Diapason [1-8 fr. St. Diap.]
4
  Flute d'Amour
8
  Stopped Diapason
8
  Oboe
8
  Salicional
  Tremolo
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes

16
  Bourdon
30
   
               
Couplers ("all usual couplers")

    Great to Pedal    
    Swell to Pedal    
    Swell to Great    
               
Pedal Movements (not given, but presumed)

    Balanced Swell Pedal      
    Crescendo Pedal      

 
Sources:
     The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X, Vol. III. New York: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914.
     Kloda, Barry. Specifications for Wicks Organ, Op. 3938 (1959).
     Lawn, Sand. Details about the organs in St. Joseph of Arimethea Episcopal Church, Elmsford, N.Y.
     Trupiano, Larry. Stoplist of Wicks Organ, Op. 3938 (1959).

     Tully, John. Specifications (April 1991) of Reuben Midmer & Sons Organ (c.1904). Courtesy Barry Kloda.

Photos:
     Shlabotnik, Joe: exterior.
 
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