Updated through online information from Eric Read [March 22, 2026]: “The organ, built in 1883, is the magnum opus of W.K. Adams & Son, of Providence, RI. After an overhaul by Roche in 1966, damage caused by painters who set up scaffolding inside the organ during the late 1980s rendered the organ unplayable. Many pipes of the Pedal Violincello and Great Cornopean/Trumpet were crushed. Additionally, the removal of the shade from the windows at the rear of the organ chambers allowed the black-painted swell box to reach high temperatures, causing several ranks of strings to wilt and collapse onto adjacent pipes. In 2005, the organ was exhibited in the Southeastern Massachusetts OHS Convention, before which volunteers made emergency repairs to some of the damaged ranks to allow the organ to sound again. After hearing the organ play again in the 2005 OHS Convention, the temporary digital organ was removed, and the pipe organ was put back into service. Over the next 15 years, the condition of the organ continued to deteriorate. An organ repair fund was finally started in 2020 to begin to address the numerous ongoing problems with the organ. From 2020-2022, Foley-Baker Inc. performed minor maintenance and repairs to the organ. In 2022, Andover Organ Company was contracted to replace the original manual trackers with new linen-end trackers, a replica of the originals. They also refinished the original ivories. After the organ fund reached its goal for the fourth phase of repairs, Andover was again contracted in 2024 to replace the pedal trackers. The pedal trackers had been previously replaced during the 1966 overhaul using aluminum tracker rod. Instead of aluminum or replicating the original wooden trackers, Andover opted to import carbon fiber tracker rod for improved durability, due to the complex multi-level system of tracker runs. Additionally, Andover refinished the original 27-note flat, straight pedalboard and repaired the Swell expression shoe. Originally, the swell expression was operated by a hitch-down pedal on the far right of the console, but it was converted to a balanced pedal sometime in the early 1900s. Most of the pipework, which has been largely untouched since at least 1966, requires cleaning and repairs, as it is still suffering from significant damage caused by the 1980s scaffolding incident that has yet to be adequately rectified. The current electric motor, made by Century, was installed around 1950, and is hooked up to the blower, made by Kinetic Engineering c. 1910 or thereabouts. Prior to that, there was a water engine, and in the beginning, the organ was probably hand-pumped. The blower and motor require some maintenance but are in otherwise good condition. Once funds become available, we hope to have these and other minor repairs completed. At this current time, though more work is still required, the organ is receiving regular maintenance and is in playing condition. It is used regularly for Masses and any other services. Once the pipework is repaired and the other minor repairs are completed, the restoration which has been ongoing since 2020 will be complete. I will update the progress officially as things happen.

Updated through online information from Matthew Dion.

Updated through online information from Matthew Dion. -- The Organ, Built in 1883 was once run by water and then by bellows. It was electrified in the 1950's and retains the original blower. The organ was in dispair for many years due to painters when renovating of St. Josephs Church but emergency repairs were done to prepair for the 2005 AGO convention held in Massachusetts.

Updated through online information from 13Organist.

Status Note: There 1996.

Altered by Roche 1966, 2-28.