OHS convention: 1970
2004-10-30 - Status Note: There 1970 -Database Manager
2004-10-30 - Building was Baptist Church until the 1950's. [Not an Erben per C. Mowers.] [Possibly Andrews or Marklove.] Compass 56/25. -Database Manager
2009-06-07 - Updated through online information from Bill Barber. -- I worked with another lodge brother to restore this organ to playable condition (1990-1991). A third brother carved a new coupler comb, which has since been damaged during an AGO crawl. <br>There is no tremulant. <br>The original bellows is intact; however, we removed the lever and mechanical linkage which was used to pump the bellows. The organ is winded from a Spencer blower in the basement. We enclosed the blower housing and created air intakes from the 1st floor of the building to reduce moisture and mold. Also we added a balanced swell shade to facilitate regular use in the Lodge. The original lock down mechanism was still stored for historical reasons (at my last observation about 2001). The reeds had to be disassembled since they were almost all filled with wasp nests, and need to be re-voiced. However all of the original pipework components are still on site. The intermanual coupler is interesting in that it resembles a harpsichord coupler. The couplers are drawn forward onto ends of the great manual keys using a movable coupler comb. Unfortunately, an unknowing organist drew the coupler while several Great keys were depressed, destroying the replaced coupler comb. This is still repairable. The replacement comb was hand carved from mahogany, to match the original which had been damaged at some time in the past, undoubtedly in the same manner. A new comb could be carved (with some effort). Excepting for the reed voicing, the organ was playable and used up to the late 1990s. It has a lovely round principal chorus. <br>One historical correction: the building was a Baptist church (American Baptist) until the 1950s. The listing states 1850. That is probably a typo since the organ was built in 1856. I have also read the secretary's notes from the 1800s (in the South Jefferson Historical Society, Adams, NY) which do not refer to the fire which destroyed the first Belleville Baptist church, but do refer to the new church. The principal low C does have the date 1856 scratched into it. -Database Manager
Source: 1970 OHS Convention Handbook 1970
Belleville, New York
Masonic Temple (former Baptist Church)
Unknown Builder, 1856
GREAT COUPLERS (Drawknob)
[8'] Open Diapason 56 Pedals to Sw.
[8'] Dulciana (tc) 44 Pedals to Gt.
[8'] St. Dia. Treble (tc) 44
[8'] St. Dia. Bass 12 Gt. to Sw.
[4'] Principal 56
[4'] Flute (tc) 44
[2 2/3'] Twelfth 56 PEDAL MOVEMENTS
[2'] Fifteenth 56 Swell Expression (h-d)
[8'] Trumpet (tf) 39
SWELL (Expressive)
[16'] Bourdon (tf) 39
[8'] Open Diapason (tf) 39
[8'] Voil d'Gamba [sic] (") 39 ACTION: Mech. Key & Stop
[8'] St. Dia. Treble (tf) 39
[8'] St. Dia. Bass 17 VOICES: 15
[4'] Principal Treble (tf) 39
[4'] Principal Bass 17 STOPS: 18
[8'] Hautboy (tf) 39
RANKS: 15
PEDAL (25 notes)
[16'] Open Diapason 13 PIPES: 688
NOTES
At the time of the 1970 OHS Convention, the Swell 8' Open Diapason,
4' Principal Treble, and 8' Hautboy had missing stop faces.
The similarity of the case and some othe features to the Andrews in
Canton Universalist Church indicate that it could be an Andrews or
perhaps a Marklove.
The 25-note pedlaboard has brass surfaces on the accidentals. The
rank has only 13 pipes so it repets for the second octave which
then gives a 32' pitch from CC to C.
The loswer 13 pipes of the Great 8' Open Diapason are en facade.
They feature raised mouths. The two small flats of 5 pipes each are
half-round wooden dummies.
Sources: 1970 OHS Convention HandbookRegrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.