2005-03-01 - Identified from company publications as edited and expanded in <i>The Hook Opus List 1829-1935</i>, ed. William T. Van Pelt (Organ Historical Society, 1991). -Database Manager
2012-03-30 - Updated through online information from Alan Swartz. -- The church was built in 1888, the organ installed in 1904. A published church history corroborates the build date of this Hook & Hastings and mentions the name of a pipemaker or voicer, one G. J. Zimmer. I personally recall having seen the name Zimmer engraved on a pipe. The history includes reproductions of a number of period newspaper articles that covered the building process and the initial recitals. The building was electrified from the outset; a power plant existed across the street. This organ was originally blown by two water-powered feeders beneath the reservoir. The feeders were still present ca. 1980 and are probably still there. By my own observation, the organ had fallen into disrepair by the mid-1970s. Wind leaks were considerable, chest woodwork was cracked. Pneumatic operators for the sliders had fallen off the chests, and some tongues, wedges, and shallots had fallen into the boots of the Oboe pipes. An electric console had been installed in 1967, but the lead tubes were still visible from a former tubular-pneumatic action. (Church history states the instrument was originally a tracker with en fenetre keydesk. I have no knowledge of this, but I did see the TP tubing myself.) The organ was recently rebuilt and is now very well maintained. A second replacement console is now in service, having modern tilt-tablet SAMs and electric combination action. I had the privilege of playing it today and found it a delight. It is full, yet gentle, voiced and scaled well for the room. Though memory eludes me, I believe the stoplist is different than it was 30 years ago. The church history mentions that the rebuild rectified some unfavorable alterations introduced in the past. Perhaps this means that the current stoplist reflects the organ's original specification, or perhaps the spec was altered anew in the rebuild. Without further inquiry, I cannot say which. I believe there is more upperwork now than before, and I am certain that a former string or flute celeste no longer exists. The church maintains an endowment to care for the organ and they take pride in it. I would recommend the instrument to any visiting organist in the area. I expect that the church would welcome guests to play it. -Database Manager
2014-02-06 - Updated through online information from Aaron Jackson. -Database Manager
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