Pipe Organ Database

Updated by Jim Lewis, naming this as the source of information: San Francisco Chronicle April 21, 1873.

The organ was not shipped around the Horn; it was sent by rail in two box cars.

Updated by Jim Lewis, naming this as the source of information: San Francisco Chronicle April 21, 1873.

The organ was not shipped around the Horn; it was sent by rail in two box cars.

Updated by Jim Lewis, naming this as the source of information: San Francisco Chronicle April 21, 1873.

The organ was not shipped around the Horn; it was sent by rail in two box cars.

Updated through online information from Steve Ketterer.

Updated through online information from Cyril Deaconoff. -- The historic William Johnson organ, opus 394, at St. John's was built in 1872 in Westfield, Mass., where the Johnson company was located, it was put on a ship and taken around the horn to San Francisco, to be installed in 1873, first at the original location for St. John's near Union Square. For many years, this was the largest tracker organ on the West Coast. It was moved to the present location in 1906, about 2 weeks before the great earthquake and Fire.

Lowest octave of Great had Barker lever. Relocated to new building at California and Octavia in 1889. Ogan pumped by 2 bellows connected to a crank shaft. Moved again to new building on Arguello and Lake St. in 1905 by Byron Mauzy, job finished by Felix Schoenstein. Damaged in 1906 earthquake when a chimney fell into the organ. Rebuilt and enlarged in 1957.