Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Frank Roosevelt (1886)

Originally Thomas Appleton (1825)

Location:

St. John's Memorial Episcopal Church
Market Street at 13th
Ashland, PA 17921 US
Nave
Organ ID: 4185

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Episcopal and Anglican Churches
  • The organ has been renovated with changes from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is good, in regular use.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Jim Stettner on September 04, 2023.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Slider
  • 13 ranks. 3 divisions. 2 manuals. 13 stops. 15 registers.
Great:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a case at the front of the room.
  • Built by Thomas Appleton
We received the most recent update for this division from Jim Stettner on September 04, 2023.

Swell (Expressive):
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a case at the front of the room.
  • Built by Thomas Appleton
We received the most recent update for this division from Jim Stettner on September 04, 2023.

Pedal:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a case at the front of the room.
  • Built by Thomas Appleton
We received the most recent update for this division from Jim Stettner on September 04, 2023.
Main:
  • Built by Thomas Appleton
  • Manuals: 2
  • Divisions: 3
  • Stops: 13
  • Registers: 15
  • Position: Keydesk attached, manuals set into case.
  • Manual Compass: 58
  • Pedal Compass: 27
  • Key Action: Mechanical connection from key to chest (tracker, sticker or mix).
  • Stop Action: Mechanical connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style with hinged doors that enclose keyboards.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in vertical rows on flat jambs.
  • Combination Action: No combination action.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals.
  • Pedalboard Type: Flat straight pedalboard.
We received the most recent update for this console from Jack Umholtz on September 03, 2023.
Jack Umholtz on September 03, 2023:

While driving past the church, I saw persons leaving the building and approached them about seeing the instrument. I was warmly received and taken into the church.

I was granted permission to photograph the instrument, and after asking, was allowed to play it for a brief period. The instrument fully fills the room with a beautiful, gentle sound. The room has a 4 second reverberation. The Twelfth is prominent in the room in the ensemble.

My hosts were very gracious, and I am planning on returning to get more information on pipe counts.

We received the most recent update for this note from Jack Umholtz on September 03, 2023.
Robert Vogel on July 06, 2020:

I played this organ in 1972 after restoration. The Church history notes: "The church boasts having an organ that is over 180 years old. It was built in 1824-25 by Thomas Appleton of Boston, a leading 19th century master of that trade. Few others like it exist. It was originally built for Beneficial Congregational Church in Providence, R.I. where it was dedicated in 1825. In 1884, the women of St. John's purchased the organ from the Roosevelt Organ Company of New York. This organ served the parish until 1971 when it underwent restoration work by James R. McFarland of Selinsgrove, financed by a gift from the estate of Elsie Cooch and Mrs. Anna Palmer." http://www.vpnavy01.com/websites/cnp/st-johns-ashland.html

We received the most recent update for this note from Robert Vogel on July 06, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Status Note: There 1983

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

This entry represents the rebuilding and presumably installation of a used organ. Rebuilt by Hilborne Roosevelt in 1886, 2-12. Originally built for Benificent Congregational Church in Providence, Rhode Island. Renovated c. 1976 by McFarland, Visscher & Co.

The original Appleton would almost certainly have been a GGG-compass organ of 58-notes, with a 17-note flat/straight pedalboard. The Swell expression mechanism would have been a ratchet / hitch-down type.

We received the most recent update for this note from Jim Stettner on September 04, 2023.
Taken from console.: Open In New Tab Originally published 09/02/2023
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Jim Stettner on September 04, 2023.
  • St. John's - North Parish, Ashland, PA - North Parish consists of two parishes in Northern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. One originally known as Memorial Church of Saint John contains an 1825 2 manual 12 rank Thomas Appleton pipe organ. "The church boasts having an organ that is over 180 years old. It was built in 1824-25 by Thomas Appleton of Boston, a leading 19th century master of that trade. Few others like it exist. It was originally built for Beneficial Congregational Church in Providence, R.I. where it was dedicated in 1825. In 1884, the women of St. John's purchased the organ from the Roosevelt Organ Company of New York. This organ served the parish until 1971 when it underwent restoration work by James R. McFarland of Selinsgrove, financed by a gift from the estate of Elsie Cooch and Mrs. Anna Palmer."

Instrument Images:

Church exterior: Photograph from an archival source: vintage postcard, submitted by James R. Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 1907

Sanctuary interior with organ at front, right: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Front of church with organ case recessed in a chamber: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Organ case with keydesk and pedalboard: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Keydesk and doors: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Keydesk: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Right stopjamb, top: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Right stopjamb, bottom. Pedal Bourdon Bass drawknob is out of the photo below the Unison Bass drawknob.: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Left stopjamb, top: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Left side drawknobs, top. Missing label is Couple Sw. & Gr.: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Non-original pedalboard and Swell expression shoe: Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Photograph by Person unknown Found in online search, submitted by Robert Vogel. : Photograph by Jack Umholtz. Taken on 2023-09-02

Church interior from the front. : Photograph by Jack Umholtz.. Taken on 2023-09-02

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