Westville United Church
34 Harrison Street
New Haven (Westville),
CT
06515 US
Sanctuary; front
Organ ID: 5244
The original pedal compass was 17 notes, which was enlarged to 25 notes in 1872; the 27-note Hutchings pedalboard was added in 1957 by Allen Hastings of Athol, Massachusetts; there are still only 25 pipes. The wind pressure, originally 2⅛," is now 2⅜." The keydesk is recessed behind four folding doors; the swell box has double shutters.
Pipes 1-17 of the Gr. Op. Diapason 8' are in the case; pipes 1-5 of the Melodia Treble 8' are stopped; the Flute 4' is an open wood melodia; the Sesquialtera II is 19-22, breaking to 12-15 at c25. The St. Diapason 8' is a metal chimney flute from c25; the Gr. Trumpet 8' from c13 and the Sw. Trumpet 8' have been interchanged. The Sub Bass 16' is of open wood. -- 1994 OHS Handbook
Updated through information from Scot Huntington: "The organ was severely damaged by water during a roof replacement project by an uninsured contractor during the summer of 2001, following the church's purchase by a Korean congregation. The organ has been unplayable and unused since. The congregation is not financially sound and the organ's future is uncertain."
Updated through on-line information from Joseph Dzeda. -- In 2002, virtually on the eve of the instrument's 150th rededication concert, a serious roof leak damaged the Swell Organ, rendering it unplayable. The Great Organ is playable. The present congregation does not use the organ following the damage.
Status Note: There 1994
Built for Chapel St. Congregational, New Haven. Moved by Hook & Hastings as second-hand #56 to Westville Cong. in 1871. Pedal compass enlarged in 1872 from 17 to 25 notes. 27-note pedalboard (still 25 pipes) added 1957 by Allen Hastings. Merged with Methodists to become Westville United. [Previously used a melodeon c. 1840, still there.]