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
2025-02-06 - From "The Twenty-fifth Anniversary Services of The Re-building of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Westfield, New York," 1933, April 23-30. "In 1871 the third or present church was begun. It was dedicated November 2, 1872...The cost of this church was between $30,000 and $40,000. The march of time demanded changes appropriate to the needs and though sensing for years that radical alterations should be made plans to go ahead were not decided until 1907...The total expense of the refinished and refurnished church was $35,000. The pulpit furniture was the gift of L.W. Chapman. Dr. C.E. Welch presented the new organ, which cost $5,000. The tablet placed on the organ by the trustees reads: "To the glory of God and the sounding of His praise this organ is dedicated by Charles Edgar Welch, 1908." "Since 1908 the following improvements have been made: The organ was rebuilt in 1927 at an expense of $4,000. Electric action was installed." -Paul R. Marchesano
2025-03-04 - From the Westfield Republican (July 6, 1904): "The organ was built by the Estey Organ company of Brattleboro, VT. It is a two manual and pedal instrument, containing 12 speaking stops and 689 pipes, the key, stop and combination pedal action is tubular pneumatic throughout. The organ contains a new feature in the construction of its stops, in that instead of the customary draw knob the stops resemble a row of keys above the keyboard proper. They can all be put on or off by a glissando movement of the hand. The tone is all that could be desired, the soft stops very delicately voiced, the full organ tone grand and pervading. The organ completely fills the large alcove back of the pulpit. The case is of quartered oak, richly carved, the console being located at the side near the choir. The display pipes are a dull gilt." According to the Westfield Republican, installed and dedicated in July 1904. 12 stops, 689 pipes and tubular pneumatic action throughout. Seemingly inexplicably, the organ was replaced by a new instrument when the church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1908, provided by A. B. Felgemaker. -Andrew Henderson
2025-03-05 - Estey installed an organ [here] in 1904, and when the church was enlarged 4 years later a new organ was purchased from Felgemaker. It's odd that the Estey wasn't just enlarged. However, the Welch family (as in grape juice) were bankrolling it, and their son was evidently a very good organist. I've seen references to him playing services and recitals in Western NY in the 1910s-40s. You can also tell from the Estey opus number that it appears to be solidly among others performed in 1904 [ed.: year confirmed with Estey Opus List]...perhaps the young Mr. Welch had a hand in telling his parents they needed something grander! -- information from an email from Andrew Henderson, 2025-03-04 -Paul R. Marchesano
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