2018-09-15 - Identified by David Lennington based on archived newspaper articles. **Database Manager on September 15, 2018:** (Update from David Lenington, listing this newspaper article as a source of information: Steuben Advocate, October 4, 1957). Hillgreen Lane used pipes from the previous Hook & Hastings. **Database Manager on November 24, 2017:** Updated by David Lenington, listing this website as a source of information: https://www.newspapers.com/image/276901654/?terms=bath%2Bpresbyterians%2Borgan%2B%2Blane 1958 newspaper article lists Hillgreen Lane Organ Co. for this organ. -Database Manager
2022-03-15 - This imposing Venetian stone church was built in 1877, and the tower visible from all over town was constructed in 1894. In 1895, Tiffany was hired to redecorate the interior, with mosaics, windows, and stencilling-- it is singularly stunning. The Hook & Hastings was installed in 1897 at the completion of the Tiffany work, replacing an as yet unknown organ, and it would be in the Tiffany playbook to have included a decoration scheme for the facade pipes. The on-line church history mentions the complete series of imitation electronic carillons installed here, but not a word about the organ history. Hillgreen, Lane & Co. built a new instrument in 1958 reusing most of the old pipework, but considerably reducing the number of ranks in the process, and without the original upperwork. The organ may not have been considered a success, as it was rebuilt again only 8 years later, by the Delaware company of Tonawanda, N.Y. The first editions of the O.H.S. Extant Organ Lists of Tracker Organs, list this as an extant tracker, modified by Delaware in 1966, with no mention of Hillgreen. The Hillgreen contract doesn't mention the Hook by name, but states the following: "It is understood some of the Pipes from the present Organ are to be incorporated in the new one, the Pipes to be brought to the factory, throughly overhauled and revoiced to modern standards. A suitable panel will be furnished and installed to fill the space in the Organ Case presently occupied by the Console." The boiler-plate Hillgreen contract contains a clause stating the pitch will be A440, and is here crossed out and A435 is written in-- the standard pitch of Hook pipework from the 1890s. While I have not seen the organ in person, it would appear from the source documentation that the O.H.S. Extant List is in error, and very little of the Hook & Hastings remains. -Scot Huntington
American Organ Archives Source: From contract. April 1, 1958
Hillgreen, Lane & Co. (No. 1216, 1957)
First Presbyterian Church
Bath, New York
Compasses: 61/32
Some pipework from Hook & Hastings No. 1773, 1897 reused.
Pitch: A435
GREAT ORGAN [61-note chest]
8 ft. Open Diapason
8 ft. Concert Flute
8 ft. Dulciana
4 ft. Octave Conique
Chimes [prepared for]
SWELL ORGAN [68-note chest]
8 ft. Viole de Gambe
8 ft. Viole Celeste [t.c., 56 pipes]
8 ft. Rohr Gedeckt [unit, 85 pipes]
4 ft. Prestant
4 ft. Flote [unit]
2 2/3 ft. Nazard [unit]
2 ft. Flautina [unit]
1 3/5 ft. Tierce [unit]
8 ft. Trompette
8 ft. Hautbois
Tremolo
PEDALL ORGAN
16 ft. Sub Bass 32 pipes
16 ft. Bourdon 12 pipes, Sw. extension
8 ft. Octave 12 pipes
8 ft. Gedeckt Swell
5 1/3 ft. Quint Swell
4 ft. Super Octave 12 pipes
4 ft. Flute Swell
COUPLERS
Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
Swell to Swell 16', 8', 4'
Great to Great 16', 8', 4'
Great Unison Off
Swell Unison Off
Great to Pedal 8', 4'
Swell to Pedal 8', 4'
COMBINATIONS
Four affecting Great Organ
Five affecting Swell Organ
Three affecting Pedal Organ
Five General Pistons
General Cancel
ACCESSORIES
Tremolo [crossed out]
Crescendo Indicator
Wind Indicator
Sforzando Indicator
PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Balanced Great Expression pedal [crossed out, dated 8/18/58]
Balanced Swell Expression pedal
Balanced Crescendo pedal
Great to Pedal reversible
Sforzando reversible
"Prepare for Schulmeric Chimes" (installed 1958) Regrettably, 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.