2023-09-21 - Strathmore Hall has been incorporated into a large complex including a large concert Hall. The original mansion was built in 1899 as a summer residence for a wealthy Washington, D.C. resident. In 1908, another wealthy Washington Resident (Charles Corby) for their summer get away. Their in-town home, a Tudor mansion still stands on Chev Chase Circle. It contained a large Aeolian organ. In 1912, Corby had the house enlarged and a new Georgian facade built, after which the organ was installed. Corby died in 1926, his wife kept the house, till her death in 1941, when it was purchased as a governmental headquarters for the Phillipine government in exile. It may have been during this time that the organ was removed. Possibly in 1941. As there is some thought that the organ went to St. James Episcopal Church Monkton, Maryland. (see OHS ID 69335) If the Aeolian did go to Monkton, it did not last long, as a small 2 manual Aeolian-Skinner was installed in 1949. In 1978 the mansion transfers to Montgomery County Maryland Government, and is still owned by the county. See https://www.strathmore.org/about-us/mansion-history/ . In the early 1980s, a relative of this writer was managing the renovation of the mansion, and the first construction of the Arts Center, on the same property. At that time only the original organ facade was extant in the mansion's ballroom. I was asked if the original organ, could be located would it be worth securing and installing in the new concert Hall. I explained that the original organ though of great interest, would not be suited for a large space nor sufficient in size, but if it could be secured and funds raised, would be great to do so in its original ballroom location. Sadly this has not happened. The Ballroom is still used for chamber concerts and as a venue for private wedding receptions. -Steven Bartley
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.