Second Church in Dorchester
44 Moultrie Street
Boston (Dorchester),
MA
02124 US
Organ ID: 14679
Visited 8/8/21: The organ does turn on releasing a barage of ciphers. The pipework is in generally good condition. The great and choir have plaster dirt and some pipe damage. The swell and pedal pipework is unharmed but there is water damage throughout the instrument. I was unable to see the echo pipework. The facade is missing the center pipe, but it is extant in the chamber. Chimes got a new electirc action in 1967.
Updated through online information from Jeff Scofield. -- According to Diane Meredith Belcher and documents in the OHS Archives, the organ was installed in 1907 as Op. 2148 and apparently damaged by fire and rebuilt in 1908 by Hook & Hastings as Op. 2184.
Updated through online information from Diane Meredith Belcher. -- It seems that the organ was installed as op. 2148, and dedicated in November 1907. In January of 1908, a fire broke out in the church. The organ was rechristened op. 2184, and though some of the draw knobs and indicator plaques bear different engraving fonts, it is not clear to what extent the organ was repaired or rebuilt in 1908. The organ is unplayable for all intents and purposes at this time [September 2012]; upon switching on the blower, the organist is greeted with a symphony of cacophony resulting from the countless air leaks and ciphers.
Updated through on-line information from Harry Martenas. -- According to the church website (dated 2008) the organ "can still be used today". It also states the sanctuary is undergoing extensive renovation at this time. The echo organ is at the opposite end of the church, in a swell box. It is played from the swell manual (there is a tablet to select swell or echo). Its key action is electric, while the main instrument is tubular pneumatic. Echo organ was barely functional while I was there.
Identified from company publications as edited and expanded in The Hook Opus List 1829-1935, ed. William T. Van Pelt (Organ Historical Society, 1991).