Hewitt & Wessell
1963 ca.

The history of this instrument continues to coalesce as source information comes to light. Organbuilder Richard Hamar has shared with me his shop notes dating from the period of his experience with this organ. He was first called to tune the instrument in 1971 and prepared a report detailing numerous challenges facing the instrument at that time. His notes confirm the instrument was moved and slightly altered by John Wessel for this location in 1963, and it was a low-budget job. The most serious problems were with the cracked and leaking windchests, and deteriorated leather in the wood pipe stoppers, bung and trunk gaskets, and bellows. Beginning in 1975 the church signed numerous contracts for repairs, some being completed with others experiencing delays both on the part of the builder and church holds due to shortfalls in fund raising. In the spring of 1978 a contract was signed for windchest retabling followed in March 1979 with a contract to replace the Great Dulciana with a new Super Octave 2'. A dispute arose between the church and builder over continuing delays in August, whereby Mr. Hamar agreed to cancel the contract in September 1979, reinstalled the unrepaired windchests, and refunded the church's money.

Cutting a pedal Cello in half to create a cantus firmus 4' stop was a typical treatment of Mr. Wessel during the 1960s and 70s, and Mr. Hamar's shop notes indicate the Keraulophon was still in place through the end of 1979. It is likely the Nasard was made from the former Violin 4' rescaled or shortened and revoiced. At this time there is no evidence of any reworking of Welcome K. Adams pipework incorporated into the Ryder, so this appears to be an unsubstantiated myth.

In 1983, the organ was refurbished by the Andover Organ Company. This work included rebuilding of the windchests, refurbishment of the Oboe, and replacement of the Swell string with a 2' Principal-- a standard Andover treatment at the time. The replacement stoplabels appear to be done by the same hand and are excellent replicas of the originals. The typed labels provided by Wessel were replaced at this time.

Notice was sent today (6/10/21) to local friends of the organ stating the instrument is available for the taking, for immediate removal, otherwise it will be removed by the end of the month by church volunteers and discarded. The Ryder organ was originally built for "Ashmere", the 1840s Italiante mansion estate of the Dexter/Coffin family. Seth Dexter was the chief engineer of the Windsor Locks canal. Later members of the family (later married into the Coffin family) owned the Dexter Paper Mill into the 1960s. This was the most elegant estate ever built in Windsor Locks. The house was sold in 1960 to developers who demolished it, and the organ was given to the local Episcopal church. The history from there is reproduced in previous entries for this instrument.

Updated through on-line information from Lisa Lucius. -- This organ was previously located in Broad Brook, CT Grace Episcopal.

OCH. Tonally altered by J. Wessel 1963. Uses pipes of former 2 manual W. K. Adams. Rebuilt Andover 1983, 2-11.