St. George's Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church: Sanctuary; front
Carleton Street
Methuen, MA
Images
Early 20th century - Church exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Digital Commonwealth, submitted by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Church interior looking into nave (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Plaque mounted on nave wall memorializing the church's benefactor, Edward F. Searles, 1905 (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Case woodwork detail, center, directly behind console (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Side of console, showing similarity with Methuen Music Hall console woodwork (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Combination action "setter box" (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Combination action "setter board" drawer (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Console showing concealable drawer with setter mechanism (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Builder's nameplate and blower switch (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Church exterior (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
May 2021 - Church exterior and main entrance doors (Photograph by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)
2008-04-27 - Organ (Photograph by Len Levasseur/Database Manager)
1989-01-02 - Organ (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)
Consoles
Main
- 2 manuals
- 25 stops
- Key action Type: Mechanical (Details Unknown)
Notes
2004-10-30 - Status Note: There 1995 -Database Manager
2004-10-30 - Electrified by E. M. Skinner 1948; retrackerized by Andover 1962, #46, 2-27. -Database Manager
2017-11-28 - "Organ built by James E. Treat & Co., in 1889, financed by E. F. Searles, and from 1890 until 1904, the exhibition organ of James E. Treat & Co. and the Methuen Organ Co., in their building next to the present Music Hall. In 1904, Mr. Searles gave the organ and edifice to the congregation. Electrified by E. M. Skinner in 1948 (utilizing an ugly Aeolian console), the organ lost several fine stops and the action became so unreliable that it was "retrackerized" by the Andover Organ Company in 1962. The original console was rebuilt, the Pedal and stop action is electric, and tonal changes were accomplished with the funds available.<br>
<br>
"A recital booklet for December and January 1890 indicates that the case was designed in pure Corinthian by Henry Vaughan, the console was six feet detached, and that the "pneumatic motor" was applied to the lowest octave of the Swell. The pedals were flat, the couplers were over the Swell manual with the combination pedal labels, and the swell pedal and Tremolo pedal were at the far right." (Boston Organ Club Newsletter, May 1966) -Database Manager
2021-05-10 - Saw and played this instrument May 9, 2021. The organ is in good working condition. The church itself has changed hands several times. It is currently the "Bethesda Missionary Church." They use the organ occasionally though it appears most of their music is led by piano, vocal, keyboard, drums, etc.
Though from the outside one might think the church is closed (partially because the entire complex is enclosed in a large fence with gates and there is no signage), the congregation was warm and friendly and appreciative of hearing the organ. My thanks to Craig Seaman of Andover Organ Company for the arrangements. -Andrew Scanlon
Stoplist
Typed specification Source: from Boston Organ Club Newsletter (May 1966) Date not recorded
Methuen, Massachusetts
St. George's Ebenezer Primitve Methodist Church
James E. Treat & Co. Opus 3 1889 2 manuals, 23 stops, 25 ranks
_________________________________________________________________________
GREAT ORGAN SWELL ORGAN
8' Open Diapason 61* 16' Bourdon Treble (TC) } 49
8' Viola di Gamba 61* 16' Bourdon Bass } 12
8' Dulciana 61 8' Open Diapason 61
8' Melodia (TC) } 49 8' Salicional 61*
8' Stop'd Bass } 12 8' Dolcissimo 61
8' Quintadena 61* 8' Stop'd Diapason 61
4' Octave 61* 4' Octave 61
4' Flute d'Amour 61 4' Violin 61*
2 2/3' Twelfth 61 4' Flute Harmonique 61
2' Fifteenth 61* 2' Flautino 61*
(one blank slider) Mixture III 183*
8' Cornopean 61*
PEDAL ORGAN 8' Oboe 61*
16' Open Diapason 30
16' Bourdon 30 * pipework of pure tin
PEDAL MOVEMENTS COUPLERS (over Swell manual)
Great Piano Swell to Great
Great Forte Great to Pedal
Swell Piano Swell to Pedal
Swell Forte
Swell FF
Great to Pedal Reversible
Swell Tremolo (at far right)
Swell Pedal (at far right)
[Received from Steven E. Lawson 2017-11-28]
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