Pipe Organ Database

Johnson & Son, Opus 843 (18 96) , was originally built for the Proctor Family Chapel in Proctor, Vermont. In 1926 (in typical Protestant fashion) : "C.W Sykes heading a committee of four, traveled to Proctor and disassembled the instrument, carefully n1arking each piece, loaded it into a freight car and brought to Manchester, where they laboriously reassembled it on evenings and weekends. The whole process took about one month to complete." Church records of June 20, 1926 relate: " 'special services were held this date at the morning service and the pipe organ dedicated. The Equinox Orchestra assisted by Miss Smith gave a recital from 7 to 8 p.m., and following this, Rev. D. Cunningham Graham of the Congregational Church gave a short address.' Recorded by A.J. Hicks, Clerk.''

The instrument was restored in 1974 by the Andover Organ Co. of Lawrence, Massachusetts as their Opus R- 163. Robert C. Newton, Andover's Director of Old Organs, oversaw the work. The Historic Organ Citation Committee of the Organ Historical Society awarded this instrument Citation #194 in 1996. The organ is recessed into an alcove at the interior back of the room, and sits on a raised platform. The five-sectional front, arranged 5 I 5 I 5 I 5 I 5 displays basses of the Great Open Diapason stenciled in rich yellows, browns, and gold. The projecting keydesk is centrally located at the front of the case. Keyboards overhang, and round-shanked stop pulls are located in terraced jambs at the sides of the keyboards with oblique knobs. The organ is unaltered. -- 2006 OHS Organ Atlas

Updated through on-line information from James R. Stettner. -- The organ was removed from Proctor, transported, and reassembled/installed by a committee of four parishioners headed by C.W. Sykes. It took about a month to reinstall. It was rededicated in morning services on June 20, 1926. A recital including the Equinox Orchestra was given from 7:00-to-8:00 that same evening. The organ was restored along historic guidelines by the Andover Organ Co. in 1974 as their R-163. The facade is 3-sectional with 25 handsomely stencilled pipes arranged: 5-(5-5-5)-5, and 21 stencilled "tomato can" dummies above/behind the main facade. The organ is recessed into a front chamber. It is still able to be hand-pumped. Documented October 21, 1988.

The original builder was Johnson & Son (1896, Opus843).

Status Note: There 1990

From Union Church (originally Proctor Family Chapel), Proctor, VT in 1926. Restored Andover.