Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co.
Opus 906, 1933

From the NYC AGO NYC Organ Project: On March 28, 1933, a contract was signed with the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company to rebuild and reconstruct the 1898 George S. Hutchings organ. Aeolian-Skinner provided a new standard drawknob console, of oak with a walnut trimmed interior, that also contained the combination action. All pipes were cleaned and reconditioned, and metal slide tuners were installed on all flue pipes previously tuned with rolls. Many stops were revoiced at the church or in the factory, and all reed pipes were fitted with new tongues. In the Swell division, the 4' Violina was replaced with a 4' Octave, and the Cornet (5 ranks) was changed to a Chorus Mixture. Two new stops were added to the Choir division: the Geigen Principal was replaced with an English Horn, and the Quintadena was replaced with a 49-note Unda Maris. A new 16' Lieblich Gedeckt was added to the Pedal, and all of the Pedal stops were extended with the addition of two new pipes. Reservoirs were releathered as necessary, and the coils of the chest primary magnets were replaced with high resistance single coils. Although the contract suggests the rebuilding of the existing swell motors (which were not original), a handwritten note penciled in by Ernest M. Skinner advised that new swell motors be installed. The church followed Skinner's recommendation and Aeolian-Skinner swell engines were installed: 16 stages to the Swell, 8 stages to the Great/Choir. Total cost of the rebuilding was $6,970.

When the church was closed, the organ was sold to the Youngstown (Ohio) Symphony. An Ohio-based firm removed the organ to storage, but it was ultimately discarded. The console survived and was sold to the Second Church of Christ, Scientist in Hartford, Conn., where it was to be rebuilt and connected to that church's III/44 Skinner Organ, Op. 793 (1929). The Hartford church was later sold to the State of Connecticut, and in 2008, the organ (and possibly the Op. 906 console) was put in storage by Foley-Baker prior to restoration and eventual installation in Appleton Chapel, Harvard University.

After a peak of over 2,400, membership dwindled to less than 100; the church was 're-purposed' as a condominium/office complex, with the congregational meeting in the church parlor.

Updated through online information from Connor Annable.

Identified through information adapted from E. M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List, by Sand Lawn and Allen Kinzey (Organ Historical Society, 1997), and included here through the kind permission of Sand Lawn:
Rebuild of 1898 Geo, S. Hutchings, #446 with new console; sold to Youngstown Symphony; discarded before installation.