Port Townsend, Washington
Fort Worden State Park - Post Chapel
ESTEY ORGAN CO., Opus 1740, 1915 - Original Specifications
Unknown Builder, ca. 1972 - Moving and Re-Installation
GREAT (Expressive) COUPLERS
8 Gr. Open Diapason 61 Swell to Pedal [8]
8 Gr. Clarabella 61 Great to Pedal [8]
8 Gr. Dolce 61
4 Gr. Principal 61 Swell to Great 16,[8],4
blank
Great Unison On/Off FINGER PISTONS
Great to Great 4' Swell & Pedal 1 – 3
Great & Pedal 1 & 2
SWELL (Expressive)
8 Sw. Gedackt 61 FOOT LEVERS
8 Sw. Salicional 61 REV [Gr. to Ped.] (rev)
4 Sw. Flute d'Amour 61
8 Sw. Oboe [labial] (tc) 49
blank PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Tremolo Swell Expression (bal.)
Great Expression (bal.)
Swell to Swell 16' Crescendo (bal.)
Swell Unison On/Off
Swell to Swell 4'
ACTION: T-P Key & Stop; Ventil chests
PEDAL VOICES: 9 STOPS: 9
16 Ped. Bourdon 30
blank RANKS: 9 PIPES: 506
NOTES
The organ is housed in a free-standing, quarter-sawn oak case. The façade is divided into
three sections arranged: 4-15-4. Of these 23 gold pipes with red trim, 17 are from the Great
8' Open Diapason. The original cost of the organ was $2,350.00. In addition to the regularly
engraved stoptablets, each tablet has raised brass braille markings.
The organ was originally built for the Washington State School for the Blind, and it was
installed in an auditorium in a building called "Old Main". An agreement preceding the contract
was signed between Sadie E. Hall (Superintendent for the school) and Mr. H.C. Ferris (Estey
representative and organ erector) on May 13, 1919. In the agreement, provision is made for the
Great organ to also be under expression like the Swell, and the console was to be detached from
the case and located on the auditorium floor immediately in front of the stage apron. For the
satisfactory completion of this work Mr. Ferris was to receive $150.00 in cash.
Two original contracts seem to have been provided. One has typed-in blanks, and is signed by
J.E. Estey. The other has blanks filled-in by hand, and is signed by Mrs. Sadie E. Hall.
Over the years, the organ fell into disuse, and by the early 1960's, the organ was largely
unusable. It was declared surplus by the State of Washington in 1972, and was then moved to
an auditorium/theatre at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, WA. by the State Parks and
Recreation Commission. The organ was later moved to the Fort Chapel where it was not reconnected
and remained an attractive but silent backdrop to weddings.
In the early 1990's, the School negotiated to re-acquire and bring the Estey back home. It was
removed from Fort Worden with volunteer labor headed by Mr. Richard Woodridge of Battleground,
WA. on December 16 & 17, 1994. Alumni funds are being sought to restore and upgrade the organ
for re-installation in its original home - Old Main Hall - which is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Over the years, much of the lead tubing was damaged beyond repair, and several small pipes had
been surreptitiously removed. Plans are to electrify the action and to connect the organ to a
computer system which will allow the stoplist to be altered at will.
Sources: Estey opus list; extant agreement and two contracts; extant organ as
examined at Fort Worden two weeks prior to removal; telephone conversation
with Dean O. Stenehjhem, Superintendent of the Washington State School for
the Blind.
[Received from James R. Stettner 2012-12-18.]