Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

William W. Laws (1920's)

Originally Hook & Hastings (Opus 2326, 1913)

Location:

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
118 S. Broadway
Lawrence, MA 01843 US
Upper Church
Organ ID: 65114

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
  • The organ has been altered from its original state.
  • The organ's condition needs attention, but in usable condition.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Andrew Scanlon on August 06, 2022.

Technical Details:

  • 51 ranks. 5 divisions. 3 manuals.
Main console, rear gallery:
  • Built by Hook & Hastings Co.
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 5
  • 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: Drawknobs in horizontal rows on terraced/stepped jambs.
  • Combination Action: Freie Kombinationen, i.e., German style switches above stop controls.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, not in standard AGO position.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard not meeting AGO standards.
  • Has Crescendo Pedal
  • Has Combination Action Thumb Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from Andrew Scanlon on April 20, 2020.
Andrew Scanlon on April 20, 2020:

From Andrew Scanlon: I played this organ many times during my high school and college years as a substitue organist. Many funerals and summer sub work. The organ was in almost original condition as installed by Laws in 1920s but when the church was renovated in late 1990's, Thad Outerbridge installed new blower and did a lot of mechanical work, re-leathering, etc.
Console was in poor shape but playable.

There is an echo division behind the high altar. At that time it was also fully playable.

We received the most recent update for this note from Andrew Scanlon on April 20, 2020.
A on April 20, 2020:

From Rober J. Reich "Organs of the Merrimack Valley"

Hook & Hastings #1710, 1896, built 1896 for St. Ignatius Loyola, NYC, listed as 3m, 51 registers;

rebuilt, enlarged, and electrified as #2326 in 1913 by H&H, listed as reconstructed, 80 registers;

installed at St Patrick's Lawrence by Laws c1920, 3m, electropneumatic action with slider chests, original chests and console still in use;

renovated 1998 by Thad H. H. Outerbridge.

We received the most recent update for this note from A on April 20, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Organ Facade : Photograph by Peter Krasinski, submitted by A. Taken approx. Jan 2020

Close up of Organ facade and rose window: Photograph by Peter Krasinski, submitted by Andrew Scanlon. Taken approx. Jan 2020

Interior : Photograph by Parish Facebook page, submitted by A. Taken approx. Unknown but post 2010

Exterior 2020: Photograph by Peter Krasinski, submitted by Andrew Scanlon. Taken approx. Jan 2020

Side view of exterior : Photograph by Church facebook page, submitted by Andrew Scanlon. Taken approx. Unknown but post 2010

Console: Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

Console showing combination action above manuals: Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

Combination action knobs: Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

Builder's nameplate and coupler rail : Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

Left stop jamb: Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

Organ in rear gallery: Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

Church interior: Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

Church exterior : Photograph by Andrew Scanlon. Taken on 2022-04-03

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