Unknown Builder
1856

Updated through online information from Bill Barber. -- I worked with another lodge brother to restore this organ to playable condition (1990-1991). A third brother carved a new coupler comb, which has since been damaged during an AGO crawl.
There is no tremulant.
The original bellows is intact; however, we removed the lever and mechanical linkage which was used to pump the bellows. The organ is winded from a Spencer blower in the basement. We enclosed the blower housing and created air intakes from the 1st floor of the building to reduce moisture and mold. Also we added a balanced swell shade to facilitate regular use in the Lodge. The original lock down mechanism was still stored for historical reasons (at my last observation about 2001). The reeds had to be disassembled since they were almost all filled with wasp nests, and need to be re-voiced. However all of the original pipework components are still on site. The intermanual coupler is interesting in that it resembles a harpsichord coupler. The couplers are drawn forward onto ends of the great manual keys using a movable coupler comb. Unfortunately, an unknowing organist drew the coupler while several Great keys were depressed, destroying the replaced coupler comb. This is still repairable. The replacement comb was hand carved from mahogany, to match the original which had been damaged at some time in the past, undoubtedly in the same manner. A new comb could be carved (with some effort). Excepting for the reed voicing, the organ was playable and used up to the late 1990s. It has a lovely round principal chorus.
One historical correction: the building was a Baptist church (American Baptist) until the 1950s. The listing states 1850. That is probably a typo since the organ was built in 1856. I have also read the secretary's notes from the 1800s (in the South Jefferson Historical Society, Adams, NY) which do not refer to the fire which destroyed the first Belleville Baptist church, but do refer to the new church. The principal low C does have the date 1856 scratched into it.

Status Note: There 1970

Building was Baptist Church until the 1950's. [Not an Erben per C. Mowers.] [Possibly Andrews or Marklove.] Compass 56/25.