Pipe Organ Database

This organ is in pristinely original condition, even down to its wiring and combination action, although it has been barely functional for a decade or more following cellar flooding. It may be one of the most intact organs of its size and age in the country-- essentially a time capsule trip back in time-- as there are virtually no survivors of this lost period in American organ history. This is one of the last organs of its size built by the Hutchings company in its final incarnation in the town of Waltham. With the congregation dwindling in recent years, the congregation merged with another and the building was turned over to the denomination. The building is to be turned into condominiums, and the organ needs to find a home. This instrument is worthy of an OHS Historic Citation of the highest ranking. As an intact example of early 20th-century organbuilding and technology, it is irreplaceable.

The instrument is placed in a chamber in the divided chancel. The console is all electric, and there are two combination actions. The main combination action was set via a remote setterboard, still intact, and was a blind system-- i.e. it does not move the stop knobs, indicator lights show the selected combination, and the stopknobs are disengaged allowing them to be set for another registration. The second is a traditional console capture system allowing instantaneous changes by the organist . With the organ barely operational at the time of inspection, it is unclear if the capture system replaced the original setterboard system, of if they could function interchangeably. There is no obviously-labeled device that alternates between the two. The drawknob console uses oblique knobs in straight rows both vertical and horizontal.

The chests employ Hutchings sidebar pitman chests. A 5 h.p. Westinghouse motor powers a Spencer blower with a 7" static. The Echo is located in a chamber at the back of the nave. The Swell is on one very large chest with a walkboard down the center, the treble extensions stand on a separate chestlet, and there is a double set of shades facing the nave, operated by a pneumatic machine. The spotted metal pipework retains it cone tuning. The stone church built in the 1890s was designed by Ralph Adams Cram.

Status Note: There 1989