Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2007-06-23 - Identified by James R. Stettner through information from the Estey Opus List, published in The Boston Organ Club newsletter, 1973-1979. -Database Manager
2008-06-01 - Updated through on-line information from Phil Stimmel. -Database Manager
2012-09-27 - Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers. -- The following is from the church's web page: "1904 First pipe organ installed in the meetinghouse. Dec 1925 Fire in meetinghouse destroys organ, piano and northwest corner of sanctuary. 1926 Fire damage repaired and meeting for worship resumes in meetinghouse with new Wick-s organ." Records of the Estey Organ Co., confirm that opus 121 was destroyed in a fire. -Database Manager
2012-10-22 - Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers. -- "Winchester Friends was the first Quaker Church to have a pipe organ and its existence almost split the Church: when it was first installed by those who promoted its existence, the first week following its appearance found it moved away from the front of the church. Those who wanted it, moved it back before the following Sunday, and this moving from one place to another continued for several weeks. The whole matter was resolved once and for all when it was finally secured to the floor in its original location by lug bolts which ended the moving ritual for all time! The church also had an orchestra, directed by Oscar Puckett, a musician of considerable ability. At its peak, there were sixteen or seventeen musicians in the group, with a fine balance of brass, strings and woodwinds." Page 297, Randolph County, Indiana, 1818-1990, Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society. [Note: This reference indicates the console was detached and was being moved each week. The orchestra was also rather unusual for a Friends congregation but shows the progressive nature of many members in regard to musical instruments in the meetinghouse at that time]. -Database Manager
2015-02-03 - Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers. -- The type of stop controls is difficult to determine in archival photos. A small "keyboard" appears above the top manual. This is consistent with some models of Estey consoles which utilized a type of push button "key" that was depressed (similar to preset keys on modern Hammond organs). However, it could also be the framework for tilting/rocking stops. The facade pipes were stenciled with a pattern similar to stenciling found on the walls of the auditorium. Both were highly unusual for a Friends meetinghouse as Quakers emphasized plainness. However, by this date the Winchester Friends Meeting could be considered more progressive with its Romanesque style building, stained glass windows, church bell, pipe organ, orchestra, and hymn singing.<br>There is a difference of opinion as to which organ console was moved each week after its installation; a reed organ or the pipe organ console, since it was detached. Information in Randolph County history books claim it was the pipe organ. Research conducted in the 1980's by co-pastor Pam Ferguson, indicate the first organ was a reed organ. Rev. Ferguson writes, "The first organ, prior to the pipe organ, almost split the meeting. It was first installed in front of the pews northeast of the pulpit. Those opposed to its presence soon moved it across the room to a less conspicuous location. The originators moved it back before the next Sunday, only to find it moved away again, so the supporters then returned the organ to the original location and bolted it to the floor. Not to be outdone, the objectors rose as a group at the first note played on the organ and quietly filed out of the church, only to return when the music terminated. Conflict over the presence of organ music in the meetinghouse gradually subsided. In 1904 there was consensus for the Meeting to install a pipe organ." <br>"On Sunday evening, July 1, 1904, a concert was given [on the new pipe organ] by Charles F. Hansen, a blind organist from Indianapolis, noted throughout the United States for his musical ability...He later said that because of new innovations in organ stops that were entirely different from other instruments, he was unable to fully show either his own ability or the full effect of the organ. In spite of this, the local newspaper reported the evening a success." For the concert, Mr. Hansen was accompanied on the piano by Vava Canada. The program also included the vocal talents of three local musicians. <br>The organ burned in December 1925. A janitor discovered a fire in the meetinghouse early the Sunday before Christmas. It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical short or an overheated furnace pipe. By the time the fire department arrived the organ and a piano on the rostrum were destroyed and considerable damage was done to the building. Efforts by the firemen saved the building even though the fire had worked its way above the ceiling. There was a loss of $8,000 on the building and musical instruments (over $200,000 today) which was covered by insurance. For the next four months, the Meeting met at the courthouse while renovations were made. (Sources: Church archives & archival photo) -Database Manager
2021-12-22 - From the description in the 2015 note from Timothy Conyers, I can confirm that the stop control mechanism was the "keyboard" type, which was patented by William Haskell. He was hired by Estey (c.1900) to establish a pipe organ division and all of the early pipe organs were actually built and designed in the Haskell factory in Philadelphia. -Paul R. Marchesano
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