251 West 100th Street at West End Avenue
Congregation Ansche Chesed (People of Mercy) was founded in 1876 as a German-speaking synagogue in Yorkville. From about 1877 to 1909 the congregation worshiped at 160 East 112th Street, in a building now used by Christ Apostolic Church of U.S.A.
Seventh Avenue & 114th Street
In 1909, Ansche-Chesed moved to a much grander building costing about $200,00 and located at 1883 Seventh Avenue at West 114th Street in Harlem. The new twin-towered synagogue was designed in the neo-Classical style by architect Edward I. Shire, and was faced with limestone trimmed with Harvard brick. Six tall columns framed the large porch, above which was the pediment with a decalogue representing the two tablets of the Ten Commandments. The large interior could accomodate about 1,200 worshipers, with additional seating for 400 in the school facilities. A special feature of the building was a glass-enclosed roof garden that provided a recreation place for children who attended the school.By the 1920s, Congregation Ansche Chesed had grown in numbers and needed larger facilities. Concurrently, the demographics of Harlem were changing as the formerly all-white neighborhoods became home to many black and Hispanic residents. Many sacred institutions relocated with their members to other areas of Manhattan or the Bronx.
Interior of present Sanctuary
Ansche Chesed purchased property on West End Avenue at 100th Street on the Upper West Side and, after three years of planning, laid the cornerstone on September 18, 1927, for a new synagogue and adjoining five-story community centre. The old synagogue on Seventh Avenue was sold to the Spanish Vincentians who converted the building into the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Milagrosa) to serve the Hispanic population of Harlem. This building was sold in 1980 to Mount Neboh Baptist Church.The present Ansche Chesed synagogue, like its predecessor on Seventh Avenue, was designed by Edward I. Shire. For this synagogue and community centre complex, built at a cost of $1,300,000, Shires combined Romanesque and Byzantine styles and faced the exterior with deep buff-colored brick and stone. The large barrel-vaulted sanctuary could originally seat about 1,600 persons on the main floor and in three galleries. In the Community House are classrooms, a gymnasium, a social hall seating 500, a small chapel, and a roof garden. The completed synagogue was opened on May 4, 1928.
Aeolian CompanyAeolian's Opus 1144 was original built in 1910 (with several additions in 1914) for the F. W. Woolworth Residence at 990 Fifth Avenue. About 1955, the organ was purchased from the Woolworth Estate for $100,000 and moved to Ansche Chesed Synagogue. By the late 1970s, the organ had become unplayable and it was purchased by Sebastian Glück of New York City who was able to salvage parts for use by owners of other Aeolian organs. Following is the specification of the organ when it was at the Woolworth Residence.
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed (4" wind pressure)8
Diapason F61
8
String PP61
8
Diapason MF61
4
Flute (high)61
8
Flute F61
2
Piccolo61
8
String F61
8
Trumpet61
8
String MF61
8
Clarinet [free reed]61
8
Flute P61
Tremolo8
String P61
Choir Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed8
Diapason FGT
8
String PGT
8
Diapason MFGT
8
String PPGT
8
Flute FGT
4
Flute (high)GT
8
String FGT
2
PiccoloGT
8
String MFGT
8
TrumpetGT
8
Flute PGT
8
ClarinetGT
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" wind pressure)16
Flute (deep)61
4
Flute (high)61
8
Horn Diapason61
4
String (high)61
8
Flute61
2
Piccolo61
8
Quintadena61
String P Mixture (5 ranks)305
8
Doppel Flute61
16
Bassoon (deep)61
8
String F61
8
Trumpet61
8
String F Vibrato (TC)49
8
Oboe61
8
String P61
8
Orchestral Oboe61
8
String P Vibrato (TC)49
8
Vox Humana61
8
String PP61
Tremolo Solo Organ (playable from Manual I or II) – 61 notes, enclosed (6" wind pressure)8
English Horn [free reed]61
8
Tuba61
8
Orchestral Clarinet [free reed]61
Tremolo Antiphonal Organ (playable from Choir) – 61 notes, enclosed8
Diapason61
8
Vox Humana61
8
Flute61
Tremolo String Mixture (5 ranks)305
Chimes Echo Organ (playable from Manual II or III) – 61 notes, enclosed (3½" wind pressure)8
Flute61
8
Vox Humana61
8
Flute (Quintadena)61
Tremolo Pedal Organ – 30 notes (4" wind pressure)16
Flute F (deep)30
8
Flute30
16
String (deep)30
16
Bassoon (deep)SW
16
Flute P (deep)SW
Percussions Harp (augmented) – 61 notes, playable from Swell or Choir Chimes – 20 tubes, old, playable from Swell or Great Triangle Couplers Great to Pedal 8', 4' Echo to Swell Swell to Pedal 8', 4' Swell to Choir Choir to Pedal 8' Solo to Choir Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' Echo to Choir Choir to Great 8' Great 16', 4', Release Solo to Great Swell 16', 4', Release Solo to Swell Choir 16', 4', Release Antiphonal to Swell Combination Pistons Great, Swell, Choir: I, II, III, IV, Release General Release Combination Pedals Tutti I, II, III, IV, Tutti Release Accessories Expression: Swell, Great-Choir, Solo, Echo, Antiphonal Tonal Pedal Great to Pedal Reversible Sforzando Pedal Organ in synagogue at 1883 Seventh Avenue at West 114th Street: J.H. & C.S. OdellIn 1908, the Odell Company built a three-manual organ with tubular-pneumatic action for Congregation Ansche-Chesed, then located on Seventh Avenue at 114th Street. The organ was installed behind a pipe façade in the choir gallery above the Bima.
In 1927, the building was converted to become the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, and in 1980 was acquired by Mount Neboh Baptist Church.
The fate of this organ is unknown.
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes8
Open Diapason61
4
Flute Harmonique61
8
Gamba61
4
Octave61
8
Dulciana61
2
Super Octave61
8
Doppel Flöte61
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed8
Open Diapason61
4
Rohr Flöte61
8
Salicional61
2
Piccolo61
8
Vox Celestis (TC)49
8
Cornopean61
8
Aeoline61
8
Oboe61
8
Stopped Diapason61
8
Vox Humana61
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed8
Viole d'Orchestre61
2
Flautina61
8
Melodia61
8
Clarinet61
4
Flute d'Amour61
Pedal Organ – 30 notes16
Open Diapason30
8
Violoncello30
16
Bourdon30
Couplers Great to Pedal Choir to Great Swell to Pedal Swell to Choir Choir to Pedal Swell to Swell 4' Swell to Great 16', 8', 4' Pedal to Pedal Octaves Mechanical Accessories Swell Tremulant Wind Indicator Choir Tremulant Crescendo Indicator Piston Combination Movements (Adjustable) Great Organ Forte Swell Organ Mezzo Great Organ Mezzo Swell Organ Piano Great Organ Piano Choir Organ Forte Swell Organ Forte Choir Organ Piano Pedal Movements [Balanced Swell Pedal] * Balanced Crescendo Pedal [Balanced Choir Pedal] ** not indicated
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