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Casavant Frères Ltée. Opus 2761 (1963)

Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church: Sanctuary
455 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA

Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)


Consoles

Main


Notes

2009-10-12 - Identified by Rae Bolton from information furnished by Casavant Frères, courtesy of Simon Couture. -Database Manager

2010-12-16 - Updated through on-line information from Jeff Scofield. -- Destroyed by fire in October 2006. -Database Manager

2012-01-04 - Updated through online information from Bill Czelusniak. -- Date of loss was Sunday, October 22, 2006. Description of fire is this: Casavant Opus 2761, 1963, 2m, 21r, E-P totally destroyed by fire, heat, smoke, and water in a fire that gutted the chancel of the church and was started by unattended candles left by a youth group (we are told). The Great division was divided and exposed on the sides of the big window; one photo attached shows that nothing is left. We presume that the Swell division was soaked with water, and probably melted, too. The console is surprisingly recognizable, but I wouldn't expect much of it. The details of this report, and the certainty of the unsalvageable condition of the organ, come from one of the Co-Pastors at this yoked Parish, and by reports from Peter Beardsley, the Organist-Director at Springfield's Episcopal Cathedral, and a man with some organbuilding experience, too. I thought I had heard fire sirens, and it turns out I was right. <br><br>They may be able to rehab the building, but I can't imagine that any vestige of the organ could be saved. The fire was plenty hot enough to melt the leading in the east end window, and, of course, ALL the exposed pipework. A few blackened zinc basses are lying in the ashes of the altar, but no sign of any spotted metal pipes anywhere. Windchests thoroughly charred, though I couldn't see the tops of them to know if they are burned open. The floor of the church is covered in charred wood, broken glass, and, of course, water. The ceiling was still dripping on me as I took pictures - I'm surprised the fire guys let me in. "The pastor said you had a tuning date there, which, clearly, you now do not." Yes, we were, ironically, scheduled to tune this organ this coming Thursday, 10/26. -Database Manager


Stoplist

Stoplist copied from the factory specifications Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

    Springfield, Massachusetts
    Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church

    Casavant   Op. 2761   1963   2/21

    Courtesy of the Casavant Frères Archives
    St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
    _____________________________________________

    GREAT                     SWELL
 8' Principal      61      8' Erzähler         61
 8' Rohrflöte      61      8' Erzähler Celeste 54 GG
   (small scale)           8' Gedackt          61
 4' Octave         61      4' Nachthorn        61
 4' Spitzflöte     61      2' Gemshorn         61
 2' Blockflöte     61    III  Zimbel          183
IV  Mixture       244      8' Oboe             61
    Chimes                    Tremulant
                              Super
    PEDAL
16' Subbass        32
16' Gedackt        12 SW
 8' Spitzprincipal 32
 4' Choralbass     32
16' Oboe     L/2   12 SW

[Received online from Jeff Scofield Dcember 17, 2010]

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