The Aeolian Co. Opus 1444 (1919)

2017-10-04 - Pipes in the lower level (Photograph by Meadow Brook Hall/Meadow Brook Hall)

2017-10-04 - One of the two blowers (Photograph by Meadow Brook Hall/Meadow Brook Hall)

1929 - Alfred Wilson, Matilda Dodge Wilson (1883-1967), Francis Dodge (1914-1971), Dan Dodge (1917-1938) (Photograph from an archival source: Meadow Brook Hall Facebook, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)

2020-12-18 - Home exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Meadow Brook Hall Facebook, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)

2017-03-13 - Aerial view of Meadow Brook Hall (Photograph from an archival source: Meadow Brook Hall Facebook, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)

2018-11-18 - Right stopjamb (Photograph by Roman Lizak, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)

2018-11-18 - Left stopjamb (Photograph by Roman Lizak, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)

2018-12-15 - Console (Photograph by Roman Lizak, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)

2013 - Console (Photograph by Meadow Brook Hall/Madelyn Rzadkowolski)

Consoles

Main

Notes

2004-10-30 - Relocated from the John Dodge residence in Grosse Pointe, MI. by Mr. Dodge's widow, who married Alfred G. Wilson. With 2 duo-art players. -Database Manager

2006-01-12 - Updated through on-line information from Arthur J Snook. -- Antiphonal section above 3rd floor; heard on main floor through sound ducts in walls. Slight change of information. AEolian #1444 was ordered for the Grosse Pointe home of John Dodge, but that building was not completed after his death in 1920, and the organ was never installed in that building. Most of the organ is playable, but the original player mechanisms are disconnected. A MIDI connection has been installed. -Database Manager

2021-01-01 - The organ at Meadow Brook Hall was contracted on July 10th, 1919 at a cost of $59,000 for the Dodge Residence in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. After the death of Mr. John Dodge in 1920, his widow Matilda asked for the organ to be delayed until December of 1921. However the organ was shipped on December 9th, 1920 and was placed in storage until a new home could be constructed. In 1925 Matilda Dodge married Mr. Alfred Wilson in 1925 and they had Meadow Brook Hall constructed. Aeolian Opus 1444 was then installed in the residence in 1929 for an additional cost of $7,000. The pipes of the Great, Choir, Swell, Solo, and Pedal are located in three chambers in the basement under the 32 ft by 50 ft Drawing Room of the home, and the sound is heard through draped openings. The console is located in an alcove that connects the Drawing Room and the Library. Wind is supplied to the main chamber by a 7 1/2 horsepower Spencer Orgoblo and the pipes speak on 4 and 6 inches of pressure respectively. The Antiphonal chamber is winded by a 2 horsepower Spencer Orgoblo and the pipes speak on 4 1/2 inches of pressure Both divisions have Chimes and Harp, and can be selected by stop tabs that have F or P on them and they have extra felt to dampen the sound if the P is selected The $59k price tag from 1919 is roughly around $887,486.18 in todays terms. Furthermore the additional $7,000 for installation in the home in 1929 is about $106,526.49. To conclude, the overall cost of this grand instrument is somewhere around $994,012.67. This was Aeolian's largest three-manual installation. -Roman Lizak

2021-01-28 - Spanning 88,000 square feet, 110 rooms and 1400+ acres, Meadow Brook Hall is the fourth largest historic house museum in the nation. It was constructed between 1926 and 1929 in near-secrecy to the tune of $4 million. Meadow Brook Hall is the historic home of Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of automobile pioneer John Dodge, and her second husband, lumber broker Alfred Wilson, along with their children Frances, Dan, Richard and Barbara. Like all families, the Dodge and Wilsons experienced their share of joys, fun and celebrations in their home, along with challenges and tragedies. In 1957, the Wilsons donated the entire estate and $2 million to found what eventually became Oakland University. -Jeff Scofield

Stoplist

Stoplist as outlined by the head organist Pete Townsend Source: Taken from an existing document November 20th, 2010

Documents

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Better Pipe Organ Database

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