Woodlawn Cemetery
130 North Pearl Street
Canandaigua,
NY
14424 US
Mortuary Chapel
Organ ID: 15306
History of the Organ: The Hook-Hastings Co. single manual, 8-register organ was built in 1910 for the chapel located at the mortuary of Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua, New York, USA. Local Canandaigua resident, Matilda Burgher, pre-visioned a donation in her will for the construction of the pipe organ. The instrument is one of 30 organs built by Hook & Hastings in 1910. It was also the last in a series of four organs being completed for various churches throughout the Canandiagua area.
Reference: The Daily Messenger and Woodlawn Cemetery
Current state as of January 2021: The entire organ, including single manual built into the case, is currently undergoing complete restoration by Parsons Pipe Organ Builders of Canandaigua, New York, USA.
Restoration was initiated in 2019. The organ continues to be under restoration as of January 2021 as part of an entire restoration of the Chapel itself. The chapel reopened in November 2019. However, the organ continues to be a work in progress. The chapel has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Identified from company publications as edited and expanded in The Hook Opus List 1829-1935, ed. William T. Van Pelt (Organ Historical Society, 1991).
Unrestored organ languishing in the decaying chapel.: Photograph from an archival source: Cemetery Facebook page, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken on 2013-11-07
Organ showing signs of neglect a year before removal for restoration.: Photograph from an archival source: Cemetery Facebook page, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken on 2018-07-19
Keydesk of the unaltered, un-restored organ.: Photograph from an archival source: Cemetery Facebook page, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken on 2018-07-19
Organ set-up in the Parson Organ Co. workshop: Photograph from an archival source: Cemetery Facebook page (from Parsons Organ Builders), submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 2020