SAVE OUR 1883 PIPE ORGAN OPUS 1144
Donation protected
Holy Communion is a small Episcopal Church in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Our 135 year old Pipe Organ is in need of restoration. To date, we have raised about half what is needed to complete the repairs. Holy Communion’s organ is one of the midwest jewels - a classic that has been used for many organ recitals over its lifetime. Please help us keep this treasure available for the musicians and concert goers of the future!
A Little History & Background:
The organ in the Church of the Holy Communion is a two manual and pedal, mechanical action organ with 11 ranks. It was installed in 1883, as the Opus 1144 of the Boston, Massachusetts firm of Hook & Hastings.
Hook & Hastings (founded in 1829 as E. & G.G. Hook, renamed as E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings in 1872, and known as Hook & Hastings from 1881 until the firm ceased operations in 1936) was the pre-eminent New England organ builder of its day. Their instruments were truly world-class throughout the firm’s existence, and the remaining Hook organs are to be treasured as supreme examples of the organ builder’s art.
The blower in the church undercroft failed in 2015 and was replaced in order to allow for the organ to continue to be played. This older blower was originally installed in the undercroft because this style of blower was too loud to be placed immediately adjacent to the instrument. Modern high-speed silent blowers are much quieter, and installing them in the same location as the organ allows them to draw in cleaner air which is at the same temperature as that surrounding the pipes (this contributes to more reliable operation as well as tuning stability.)
The humidification equipment was also serviced and modified so that its intake was rerouted to also draw air from the nave.
Recommended Restoration - to be completed:
Replacement of the wood wind reservoir which serves as a pressurized chamber storing air to be distributed to the seven windchests that in turn feed the pipes. As it stands currently, the organ is not able to have all the pipes play at the same time.
Removal, restoration and reinstallation of the great manual windchest. This windchest has a crack in it, likely caused by low humidity conditions within the organ. It is directly connected to the pipes themselves.
Cleaning of pipework and fitting of necessary slide tuners and regulating rings. Much of the organ’s moving parts are wood tie-rods resting on leather bushings. The leather has dried out and must be replaced.
Fabrication and installation of internal tuning slides on flue pipes and removable cap rings on Oboe-Bassoon pipes, to allow tuning of the organ to A-440 standards.
Fabrication and installation of access ladders and passage boards to improve future tuning access.
https://www.facebook.com/holycommunionlakegeneva/
A Little History & Background:
The organ in the Church of the Holy Communion is a two manual and pedal, mechanical action organ with 11 ranks. It was installed in 1883, as the Opus 1144 of the Boston, Massachusetts firm of Hook & Hastings.
Hook & Hastings (founded in 1829 as E. & G.G. Hook, renamed as E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings in 1872, and known as Hook & Hastings from 1881 until the firm ceased operations in 1936) was the pre-eminent New England organ builder of its day. Their instruments were truly world-class throughout the firm’s existence, and the remaining Hook organs are to be treasured as supreme examples of the organ builder’s art.
The blower in the church undercroft failed in 2015 and was replaced in order to allow for the organ to continue to be played. This older blower was originally installed in the undercroft because this style of blower was too loud to be placed immediately adjacent to the instrument. Modern high-speed silent blowers are much quieter, and installing them in the same location as the organ allows them to draw in cleaner air which is at the same temperature as that surrounding the pipes (this contributes to more reliable operation as well as tuning stability.)
The humidification equipment was also serviced and modified so that its intake was rerouted to also draw air from the nave.
Recommended Restoration - to be completed:
Replacement of the wood wind reservoir which serves as a pressurized chamber storing air to be distributed to the seven windchests that in turn feed the pipes. As it stands currently, the organ is not able to have all the pipes play at the same time.
Removal, restoration and reinstallation of the great manual windchest. This windchest has a crack in it, likely caused by low humidity conditions within the organ. It is directly connected to the pipes themselves.
Cleaning of pipework and fitting of necessary slide tuners and regulating rings. Much of the organ’s moving parts are wood tie-rods resting on leather bushings. The leather has dried out and must be replaced.
Fabrication and installation of internal tuning slides on flue pipes and removable cap rings on Oboe-Bassoon pipes, to allow tuning of the organ to A-440 standards.
Fabrication and installation of access ladders and passage boards to improve future tuning access.
https://www.facebook.com/holycommunionlakegeneva/
Organizer
Debi McGrath
Organizer
Lake Geneva, WI
