Austin Organ Co.
Opus 858, 1919

Gray Crag was completed in 1919 on the New Jersey Palisades on the east side of the Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge. Mable Ringling died in 1929 just before the stock market crash nearly wiped Ringling out; after a disastrous second marriage that ended in a ruinous divorce, as well as misguided business decisions that resulting in his losing Gray Crag, the man once among the wealthiest in the world died in 1936 with $311 in the bank. Gray Crag was torn down in the 1950's to make way for the Palisades Parkway, with the remaining property serving as a park.

Updated through online information from Edward P. Dagnes. -- Organ built and installed in John Ringling's "Gray Crag" summer mansion in Alpine, NJ, 1919. Reputed cost $50.000. After death of Mr. Ringling, sold and reinstalled in new brick and stucco Catholic Church of St. Joseph the Carpenter, Roselle, NJ, approx. 1938. Believed to be in original condition. Mr. Biza, Austin technician renewed the Harmonic Tuba in 1968. Mitred resonators on 12 note pedal extension.

Information identifying this instrument from the Austin Organs, Inc. web site, accessed December 20, 2004: http://www.austinorgans.com/organ-research.htm.

Information identifying this instrument from the Austin Organs, Inc. web site, accessed December 19, 2004: http://www.austinorgans.com/organ-research.htm.