Unknown Builder
1903

Jim Stettner on April 29th, 2025:
Updated through online information from Scot L. Huntington (April 12, 2025): Fund raising for the restoration began in 1975. The organ is in pristinely original condition. Following the restoration, the organ was used in an annual concert series until ca. 2014 when the new library administrator abandoned the organ and the small museum room which the organ shares on the museum's second floor. Currently, the second floor is not handicap-accessible so there are no immediate plans to restore the museum and initiate a concert series once again. After a decade of neglect, the organ is unplayable in 2025.

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Jim Stettner on April 29th, 2025:
From the Conant Library website (April 29, 2025): The collection is notable, in part, for its collection of instruments created by early New England makers, including two pipe organs made by Henry Pratt and five brass instruments manufactured by Graves & Co. prior to their relocation to Boston. One of our Pratt organs, Opus No. 1, was the first organ built by Pratt in 1798 and is one of the earliest extant examples of pipe organs built in New England. Opus No. 1 was restored by the Board of Trustees for a Bicentennial project, and was being performed on twice a year as recently as the 1980s, drawing many visitors.

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Database Manager on October 30th, 2004:
This entry represents the installation of a used organ by an unidentified person or firm. Updated through online information from Scot L. Huntington (April 12, 2025): The organ was originally built in 1798 for the Winchester Meeting House. When the Congregational Society built a new building in 1842, the organ was given to the town which in turn sold it to the Universalists. It was repaired ca. 1850 by Henry Pratt's son Julius. The organ is described in church records as unplayable in 1882, and was given to the town of Winchester in 1903. The town had the organ installed in the new Conant Library where it is extant in 2025. The organ was restored in 1976 according to OHS Guidelines by the Stuart Organ Co. (Richard Hedgebeth).

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Database Manager on October 30th, 2004:
Restored by Stuart [T 35:1 says Richard Hedgebeth] in 1976, 1-5.