2015-08-16 - An original installation. Identified by John Igoe, using information found in Johnson Organs, 1844-1898: Wm. A Johnson, Johnson Organ Co., Johnson & Son: a documentary issued in honor the two hundredth anniversary of his birth, 1816-2016 / by Scot L. Huntington, Len Levasseur, Barbara Owen, Stephen L. Pinel, and Martin R. Walsh. Cranbury, New Jersey: The Princeton Academy of the Arts, Culture, and Society, 2015.. -- -Database Manager
2021-05-02 - This was a new organ, placed inside the Hook case. I have yet to determine if Johnson recycled any of the older Hook pipework or facade pipes. The organ was later electrified and modified, perhaps by the Hall Organ Co. who did an extensive amount of work in Norwich. That organ was replaced by a new three-manual organ by the Berkshire Organ Co. late 1960s, retaining the historic Hook case and the old facade pipes. -Scot Huntington
2021-05-04 - Subsequent research has revealed the following: The original 1857 Hook was installed in the rear gallery. It is not known what became of it when Johnson & Son replaced it in 1891. The Hook case was widened by Johnson and moved to a specially constructed apse chamber at the front fo the church. The organ was powered by a water motor. The Hall Organ Co. electrified the organ without changes in 1927-28 and installed a new Spencer blower. The Johnson was removed in 1968 when it was replaced by a new 3-manual Berkshire Organ. Co. instrument inside the historic Hook case. The Johnson-Hall was moved to St. John's Episcopal Church in Niantic, Conn. but Alan McNeely and installed there without change, renovation, or a case. Already in declining condition when it was installed, the organ continued to deteriorate until it was only marginally functional by the early 1980s. The church contracted for a new C.B. Fisk in 1983 and by 1984 the remains of the Johnson organ had been parted out and replaced by the Fisk loaner organ, a two-manual Hinners , in turn moed to another location when the Fisk was installed in 1988. -Scot Huntington
American Organ Archives. Source: Viner ledger notebook. 1891
Wm. Johnson & Son (Opus 765, 1891) Broadway Congregational Church Norwich, Connecticut Compasses: 58/30 GREAT 16'Bourdon Scale #1 8' Open Diapason sc. 44 8' Gamba sc. 45 8' Rohr Flote 4' Octave 4' Flute Traverso 2 2/3' Twelfth sc. 65 2' Fifteenth sc. 70 III Mixture sc. 70 8' Trumpet SWELL [enclosed] 16' Lieblich Gedackt Bass 1-12 16' Lieblich Gedackt sc. #2, t.c. 8' Open Diapason sc. 45, 1-7 stopped wood 8' Salicional sc. 56 1-9 capped 8' Stopped Diapason 8' Dolcissimo sc. 56 1-9 capped 4' Violin sc. 69 4' Flute Harmonique 2' Flautino sc. 68 III Dolce Cornet sc. 70 8' Cornopean 8' Oboe 8' Vox Humana SOLO 8' Geigen Principal sc. 50 8' Melodia 8' Dulciana sc. 56 4' Fugara sc. 65 4' Flute d'Amour 8' Clarinet t.c. PEDAL 16' Do. Open Diapason 16' Bourdon 8' Violoncello No couplers or accessories listed, but Johnson provided the following during this era: Swell to Great Solo to Great Swell to Solo Great to Pedale Swell to Pedale Solo to Pedale Tremolo [Sw.] Bellows Signal Pedale Check Combination Pedals to at least the Great, possibly Swell, and a Great to Pedale reversible.
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