Casavant Frères Ltée.
Opus 2761, 1963

Updated through online information from Bill Czelusniak. -- Date of loss was Sunday, October 22, 2006. Description of fire is this: Casavant Opus 2761, 1963, 2m, 21r, E-P totally destroyed by fire, heat, smoke, and water in a fire that gutted the chancel of the church and was started by unattended candles left by a youth group (we are told). The Great division was divided and exposed on the sides of the big window; one photo attached shows that nothing is left. We presume that the Swell division was soaked with water, and probably melted, too. The console is surprisingly recognizable, but I wouldn't expect much of it. The details of this report, and the certainty of the unsalvageable condition of the organ, come from one of the Co-Pastors at this yoked Parish, and by reports from Peter Beardsley, the Organist-Director at Springfield's Episcopal Cathedral, and a man with some organbuilding experience, too. I thought I had heard fire sirens, and it turns out I was right.

They may be able to rehab the building, but I can't imagine that any vestige of the organ could be saved. The fire was plenty hot enough to melt the leading in the east end window, and, of course, ALL the exposed pipework. A few blackened zinc basses are lying in the ashes of the altar, but no sign of any spotted metal pipes anywhere. Windchests thoroughly charred, though I couldn't see the tops of them to know if they are burned open. The floor of the church is covered in charred wood, broken glass, and, of course, water. The ceiling was still dripping on me as I took pictures - I'm surprised the fire guys let me in. "The pastor said you had a tuning date there, which, clearly, you now do not." Yes, we were, ironically, scheduled to tune this organ this coming Thursday, 10/26.

Updated through on-line information from Jeff Scofield. -- Destroyed by fire in October 2006.

Identified by Rae Bolton from information furnished by Casavant Frères, courtesy of Simon Couture.