Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Hook & Hastings (Opus 1168, 1884)

Location:

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
2-4 Allen Street [now 68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way]
Boston, MA 02114 US
Organ ID: 5049

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
  • The organ has been restored to a previous state.
  • The organ's condition is good, in regular use.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Paul R. Marchesano on June 12, 2022.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Slider
  • 32 ranks. 1,732 pipes. 3 divisions. 2 manuals. 28 stops. 45 registers.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a gallery-level case at the rear of the room.
  • Slider Motors: Pneumatic (EP or TP) slider motors.
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Main:
  • Built by Hook & Hastings
  • Manuals: 2
  • Divisions: 3
  • Stops: 28
  • Registers: 45
  • Position: Keydesk attached.
  • Manual Compass: 58
  • Pedal Compass: 27
  • Key Action: Mechanical connection from key to chest (tracker, sticker or mix).
  • Stop Action: Tubular-pneumatic connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style with a keyboard cover that can be lifted to form a music rack.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in horizontal rows on terraced/stepped jambs.
  • Combination Action: Fixed mechanical system.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, not in standard AGO position.
  • Pedalboard Type: Flat straight pedalboard.
  • Has Crescendo Pedal
  • Has Combination Action Toe Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from John Roper on May 13, 2018.
Paul R. Marchesano on June 12, 2022:

1854: The Congregation moved to the first floor of the Organ factory at North Grove and Cambridge Street. 1862: Under Bishop Fitzpatrick, Fr. Williams, the Administrator, purchased this building with organ for $27,000. The Unitarian Congregation contested this sale. The Courts upheld the sale. -- Information from church history web page, accessed 2022-06-12

Unclear what organ factory -- was this the earlier location of Hook & Hastings?

We received the most recent update for this note from Paul R. Marchesano on June 12, 2022.
Database Manager on February 06, 2014:

Updated through online information from Richard Pelland.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on March 12, 2012:

Updated through online information from WIlliam Catanesye.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Retrackerized by Hawkes Organ Co., 1992-93. Originally tracker. Slider chests given tubular action 1899 as Hook & Hastings, Op.1829. Electified 1920.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Source not recorded: Open In New Tab Stoplist taken from the console; March 8, 2012
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Balcony and Organ Case: Photograph by Leonardo Ciampa. Taken on 2013-08-11

Nave, Balcony, and Organ Case: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt. Taken on 1999-05-04

Builder's Nameplate: Photograph by William T. Van Pelt. Taken on 1999-05-04

Console: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-01-03

Left stop jamb: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-01-03

Right stop jamb: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-01-03

Pedalboard, swell/crescendo pedals and combination levers: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-01-03

Console and organ case: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-01-03

Left side of case with facade pipes: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-01-03

Organ case in balcony: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-01-03

Great pipework: Photograph by John Roper. Taken on 2020-12-27

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