Pipe Organ Database

Hilborne L. Roosevelt (Opus 73, 1880)

Location:

St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church
1941 Christian Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146 US
Organ ID: 7222

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Status and Condition:

This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
The organ has been renovated with changes from its original state.
The organ's condition needs attention, but in usable condition.

We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Paul R. Marchesano on March 02, 2021.

Technical Details:

Chests: Slider
35 ranks. 1,916 pipes. 3 divisions. 3 manuals. 32 stops.

Divisions

All:

Chest Type(s): Slider chests
Position: In a gallery-level case at the rear of the room.
Built by Roosevelt Organ Works [Hilborne Roosevelt Organs]

We received the most recent update for this division from Paul R. Marchesano on March 02, 2021.

Consoles

Main:

Built by Roosevelt Organ Works [Hilborne Roosevelt Organs]
Manuals: 3
Divisions: 3
Stops: 32
Position: Keydesk attached.
Manual Compass: 58
Pedal Compass: 27
Key Action: Mechanical connection from key to chest (tracker, sticker or mix).
Stop Action: Mechanical connection between stop control and chest.
Console Style: Traditional style with a keyboard cover that can be lifted to form a music rack.
Stop Controls: Drawknobs in horizontal rows on terraced/stepped jambs.
Combination Action: Fixed mechanical system.
Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals.
Pedalboard Type: Flat straight pedalboard.
Has Combination Action Thumb Pistons
Has Hitchdown Couplers

We received the most recent update for this console from Paul R. Marchesano on March 02, 2021.

Notes

Paul R. Marchesano on March 02, 2021:

This instrument is a three-manual tracker built by Hilbourne Roosevelt in 1880 in the Philadelphia shop. The acquisition of such a very fine instrument was not typical of Irish parishes in South Philadelhia.  The obvious instigator of so fine a purchace was the composer of Catholic church music Albert Rosewig, a German national who served as Director of Music at St. Charles Borromeo for thirty-five years -- until his death in 1929. 
The organ is in exactly the same form as when it was built with the exception of an electric motor put in in 1904.  It has regrettably suffered some damage in the early 2000s.  A couple of hunderd pipes were stolen mainly from the bass.  For what reason we do not know.  It affects the Great and Choir as well as the Fagotto in the pedals. 
The instrument itself is nonetheless quite playable and is played every sunday.  We need to raise money to restore the pipes.  The bellows system is also in poor shape. All of the wooden ranks are complete.  I have restored the Clarion down to middle C, but the Trumpet is too far gone.
The accoustics of this church are excellent such that this could be a very important instrument.
--Note submitted with stoplist in 2007, James Hale

We received the most recent update for this note from Paul R. Marchesano on March 02, 2021.

Paul R. Marchesano on March 02, 2021:

The organ suffered some damage in the early 2000s.  A couple of hunderd pipes were stolen mainly from the bass pipework easily accessible behind the C side case panel, likely vandals who thought they could sell the pipes for scrap.  It affects the Great and Choir as well as the Fagotto in the Pedal.

We received the most recent update for this note from Paul R. Marchesano on March 02, 2021.

Database Manager on May 07, 2018:

The citation was sent to the church for display, but not presented in a public ceremony.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.

Database Manager on March 06, 2016:

According to information received via e-mail from Paul Marchesano, the citation was not awarded in a public ceremony. Presentation was made de facto via mailing the certificate to James Hale, the organist, who arranged its display.