ca. 1890 - Church exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Chautauqua County Historical Society, submitted by Scot Huntington/Scot Huntington)
2022-03-19 - The contract for a new organ was signed on Dec. 11, 1903, for an instrument to be installed by May 1, 1904. An organ of this size was a bargain at $2,100.00. The instrument had tubular-pneumatic action with a traditional terraced-jamb keydesk. The organ was provided with a Ross water motor, (contract addendum) and a Bellows Signal, suggesting either that the organ could be powered by water or by human power, or because it was a hand-written addition in the contract, superceded the original intention for hand pumping- the signal for which could have now been superfluous. The contract stated Hillgreen had use of the building for 10 days after completion of the installation, for the purposes of regulating and tuning. The organ was rebuilt and electrified by Tellers-Kent as their opus 301 in 1924, and rebuilt and enlarged again by the Tellers Organ Co. as opus 614 in 1937. The 1937 instrument was replaced by a new Schlicker 3-man. tracker in 1971. -Scot Huntington
2022-03-19 - This instrument was installed in the congregation's third building, a large two-towered brick ediface (1868) facing the town square and next door to the Baptist church which was itself the founding entity of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). This building was damaged heavily enough by fire ca. 1923 (the roof, attic, and towers were gutted) it was demolished and replaced with the present, smaller structure on the same lot. This coincides with the installation of the Tellers-Kent in 1924, reusing what was salvageable from the Hillgreen, Lane. The Tellers also used ventil chests. -Scot Huntington
2022-03-19 - The favorable outcome of this organ was instrumental in the choice of Hillgreen, Lane to build the new 1909 organ in the chapel/assembly hall of the nearby State Normal School, a sprawling structure with classrooms, gymnasium, lecture rooms, dining hall, and residential rooms in one building. -Scot Huntington
American Organ Archives Source: From contract Dec. 11, 1903
Hillgreen, Lane & Co. (No. 89, 1903-04) First Methodist Episcopal Church Fredonia, New York Compasses: 61/30 Tubular-pneumatic action, ventil chests Drawknob console Ross water motor All registers independent, 61 pipes except as noted GREAT ORGAN 8 ft. Open Diapason 8 ft. Melodia 8 ft. Dulciana 4 ft. Octave 4 ft. Flute d'Amour SWELL ORGAN [enclosed] 16 ft. Bourdon Bass [15 pipes] 16 ft. Bourdon Treble [46 pipes] 8 ft. Violin Diapason 8 ft. Salicional 8 ft. Stopped Diapason 8 ft. Aeoline ["Augmented" unknown meaning] 4 ft. Flute Harmonic [wood & metal] 8 ft. Oboe & Bassoon PEDAL ORGAN 16 ft. Bourdon [30 pipes] 16 ft. Lieblich Gedeckt [30 pipes] MECHANICAL REGISTERS Swell to Great Swell to Great Super-Octave Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal Swell Tremulant Bellows Signal Crescendo Dial Wind Indicator PISTON COMBINATIONS Great Organ Forte, Mezzo, Piano Swell Organ Forte, Mezzom Piano PEDAL MOVEMENTS Reversible Great to Pedal Balanced Swell Pedal Grand Crescendo & Diminuendo Pedal
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