Pipe Organ Database

Updated by Mark Hurley, who has heard or played the organ.

I attended then Saint Mary\'s Seminary College (formerly Saint Charles College) from 1969 to 1971 and played the organ many times. The original 1919 Casavant console was sited to the west side of the choir gallery (on the right side, facing the organ). It had drawknobs on flat terraced jambs and the inter-manual couplers were on rocker tablets above the swell manual. The swell and choir expression shades were mechanical, although the console had the signature Casavant chrome expression pedals.

This console was replaced in 1970 with the one that is now there, albeit rebuilt.
It did not have any improvements, e.g., more pistons, etc. (I remember the Casavant representatives, Burness and Associated of Pennsylvania, being in the chapel when the work is being done.) The new console was essentially a modern version of the original. At the same time, the mechanical expression actions were replaced by new Casavant electro-pneumatic swell shade units. No other alterations were done to the instrument at that time.

According to the 1919 specifications, the 8\' Trumpet on the great and the 16\' Trombone on the pedal were \"soft.\" When I played it, they weren\'t.

Updated by René Le Grand

In the mentality of the CASAVANT firm, there is no such thing as «Rebuild and Restored» (in the Notes). It is either «rebuilt» or «restored». If CASAVANT brings back to the factory the entire organ in both instances, in the case of a rebuild, every components of the organ, except the pipes, would be reconstructed and there would likely be a new opus number applied. There is no new opus number! According to a text on the building «a complete overhauld in 1996» (John J. STRUMSKY, Jr., The History of Charlestown: 35/ 363 p.), I am inclined to go with a restoration.
(https://ccicharlestown.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/100639-charlestown-historybook-small.pdf)

Updated by Steve Bartley, who maintains the organ.
During the 1990s renovation, Casavant redesigned the chest action, providing new pouch boards, thus converting the ventil action to pitman action. The original primary was retained, the ventil stop actions removed and schwimmer regulators installed on the bottom of the chests.
All this work has been performing well. Despite the carpeting, the acoustics of the room are still acceptable. A Google image search of "Our Lady of the Angels, Catonsville" provides a good idea of this jewel-like interior. The church (former seminary) is at the center of the Charlestown Retirement Community" and access to the organ, for residents, makes it a great place to live for organists.

Updated through online information from Jeff Scofield. -- 1969 Casavant console renovated and used for 1996 rebuild.

The original builder was Casavant Fr?res (1919, Opus808).

Status Note: There 1997

Rebuild. Restored, with 14 new ranks added. 2nd console added at front of chapel. Pedal resultant 32'. 6 reeds. SS combination.