Pipe Organ Database

A group of Scottish citizens travelled to the New World and formed a settlement called New Perth in 1765, formed this congregation in 1767, and the town name was changed to Salem in 1788. The congregation built the present elegant meetinghouse structure in 1796. The present steeple was built in 1888 after the original colonial spire was struck by lightening. While the church interior has been renovated occasionally over the years, it still retains its colonial feeling with its multi-paned windows and interior shutters, box pews, chandelier, and three-sided gallery.

The organ has no case sides and is installed in an alcove behind the pulpit. The front casework is black walnut and the elegant front pipe stencilling is original. The organ was renovated by the Berkshire Organ Co. in 1980. I have not yet confirmed whether the organ was altered or was left in its original configuration at that time.

The pipe fence contains the basses of the Open Diapason 8' and Gemshorn 4', which in spite of its nomenclature is a standard 4' Octave. The Great Flute d'Amour is stopped wood with 22 open metal trebles, the 8' Melodia is stopped wood 1-12 and open wood from tenor-c, and the Swell Flute Harmonique is a 4' Melodia 1-24, and a metal harmonic flute from middle-c to the top. The organ is well voiced, and typical for a Felgemaker product, is well and solidly built. The organ has a horizontal layout with the Swell behind the Great, and the Pedal chest is on the right side.

The organ was visited during the 1967 OHS Capital District Convention and was demonstrated by Stewart Shuster.

Status Note: There 1967.

Compass 61/30. Altered by Berkshire 1977 as their Op. 110. [Which congregation?]