Austin Organ Co. (Opus 591, 1915)

Location:

Calvinistic Congregational Church / Faith United Parish
820 Main St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420 US
Organ ID: 12617

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Congregational Church
  • The organ has been renovated with changes from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is unknown.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Austin Universal Air
  • 38 ranks. 5 divisions. 3 manuals. 32 stops. 38 registers.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): Austin Universal Air chests
  • Position: In center chambers at the front of the room. Facade pipes or case front visible.
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Main:
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 5
  • Stops: 32
  • Registers: 38
  • Position: Console in fixed position, center.
  • Manual Compass: 61
  • Pedal Compass: 32
  • Key Action: Electrical connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Electric connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style with roll top.
  • Stop Controls: Stop keys above top manual.
  • Combination Action: Adjustable combination pistons.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, AGO standard placement.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard meeting AGO Standards.
We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Jeff Scofield on August 14, 2023:

In 2013 a dwindling and aging membership of Faith United was experiencing difficulty in maintaining the property. The building was sold to Casa De Gracia y Restauración, or the House of Grace and Restoration. The three congregations continued to meet in the building until the Faith United members decided to disband in 2017. Faith United held its final worship service on June 24, 2018.[5] As of August 2020 the building continues to be used by Casa De Gracia y Restauración. The latter church's Facebook photos still show the organ and console in place.

We received the most recent update for this note from Jeff Scofield on August 14, 2023.

Database Manager on May 15, 2008:

Updated through information from a church brochure, 1990s, courtesy of Pastor Justin Hildebrandt:
The pipe organ at Faith United Parish was built by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The contract for the instrument was signed on June 21, 1915. It was a gift to what was then the Calvinistic Congregational Church from Mrs. Daniel Simonds who paid $11,000 for the organ installed, finished, tuned and ready to play. The organ is a three-manual instrument of thirty-eight stops arranged in four divisions: great, swell, choir, and antiphonal. The first three divisions are located in the main chamber at the front of the sanctuary. The display pipes showing the location of the antiphonal organ can be seen at the rear right side of the balcony.
Our organ is Austin Organ Opus 591. The stained glass windows above the decorative pipes were also given by the Simonds family (of Simonds saw fame). Those pipes by the way are completely decorative. In the rear of the church is the antiphonal organ. Its pipes are housed in a specially designed "paper room" above the sanctuary. Unfortunately, some animals got in and knocked over many of the pipes causing it to be inoperable.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Database Manager on August 22, 2005:

From Judith A. Ollikkala: Extant, Echo not playable. Rebuilt with new console by Austin in 2002.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Database Manager on January 07, 2005:

Information identifying this instrument from the Austin Organs, Inc. web site, accessed December 29, 2004: http://www.austinorgans.com/organ-research.htm.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Source not recorded: Open In New Tab Stoplist copied from <i>The Diapason</i> February 1916
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Chancel and organ: Photograph by Justin Hildebrandt. Taken on 2008-05-14

Church interior and façade pipes: Photograph by Church Facebook, submitted by Jeff Scofield. Taken on 2023-01-21

Façade pipes: Photograph by Church Facebook, submitted by Jeff Scofield. Taken on 2023-04-30

Church exterior: Photograph by Church Facebook, submitted by Jeff Scofield. Taken on 2019-10-15

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