The historic Johnson organ at the First United Methodist Church, Williamstown, will be rededicated after a total restoration Sunday, April 16 at 3 p.m. with a concert featuring organists with close ties to the church.
The celebration also coincides with the 125th anniversary of the organ, which was first heard at the church April 10, 1875.
The restoration, in two phases, cost a total of $15,300 and was done by the Andover Organ Co. of Methuen.
The organ has been recognized as an historical instrument by the Organ Historical Society.
The concert will be followed by a gala reception in the Fellowship Hall.
The renovation was accomplished with gifts by the Washburne family in memory of the Rev. Robert Hoosick Washburne, Dr. Robert Niles Washburne, Raymond Bentley Washburne and Dr. Robert Norman Washburne.
The Rev. Robert H. Washburne was pastor from 1920 to 1923; his sons Robert Niles Washburne and Raymond Bentley Washburne pumped the organ as boys.
“The restoration was only possible through generous donations,†said Hanne Booth, chairman of the music committee who has been closely involved with the project.
Organists playing in the concert Sunday are Dwight D. Killam, Edwin I. Lawrence, Ellen Beebe, Robin Kibler, and Alan E. Carrick.
Keith Kibler, bass-baritone, will be assisting artist. The church organist and choir director is Mary Beth Gowing.
The instrument is Opus 447 by William A. Johnson of Westfield. Over the last half of the 19th century the Johnson Company build more than 800 pipe organs for churches. schools and residences, both in the United States and abroad, earning an international reputation for superior quality of tone and workmanship.
William A. Johnson was entirely self-taught. Early in life, working at his trade as a stonemason, he became inspired by the mechanism and sound of an organ he was helping to install in Westfield’s Methodist Church, and so embarked on a lifetime career.
So high were his standards of taste and craftsmanship that even today Johnson organs are renowned for their excellent workmanship, fine materials and superb voicing.
The Johnson organ in First United Methodist Church, Williamstown, was provided largely through the generosity of Sumner Southworth, one of the principal benefactors of the church. Southworth, an active Methodist layman, was a leading businessman in Williamstown and served two terms as a representative to the Massachusetts General Court.
In 1872, he purchased and gave to the Methodist Society the land on which the building stands. He also donated a large part of its cost and most of the cost of the organ, $1,000. The instrument was first heard in celebration of the Southworths’ 50th wedding anniversary on April 10, 1875.
The organ exists today in virtually its original state, although in 1921 the old hand pump was retired in favor of an electric blower. The pump, however, is still attached and remains functional.
During the summer of 1981, the Andover Organ Co. made extensive repairs to the main and pedal chests of the organ and completely rebuilt the pedal action. Additional repairs were done to the keyboard and action of the manual. The first phase cost $4,900.
In the second phase, completed earlier this year, the pipes were removed, cleaned, leaks repaired, and toe boards and pallet leathers replaced. All pipes were regulated for proper speech and volume. The second phase cost $10,400.
In addition, a new mechanical electric blower was installed last year for an additional $2,500.
The Andover Organ Co. is known for its careful and authentic restoration of historic instruments and has served this one regularly for decades.
The tone of the instrument today is now similar to that that worshippers heard in April, 1875.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Greylock School Project Garnering Interest From Bidders
By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A recent walkthrough of the Greylock School site turned out more interest than expected, which school officials and project managers hope will translate into multiple bids.
The project includes the demolition of the 60-year-old elementary school and the construction of a new two-story school directly to its north.
"We don't always expect a lot of them to show when a building is going to be demolished. There's not a lot for them to see," said Tim Alix of Collier's International, the owner's project manager, told the School Building Committee on Tuesday. "But just putting eyes on the site, seeing where the utilities are coming in so they can they've seen them all that information on the documents, but to see it in 3-D and they can start making their plans.
"We're hopeful that that means that we are going to be receiving a number of bids in each category. So that's encouraging."
The subcontracting bids are due Tuesday and the general contractors' on Jan. 14. Alix said there will be plenty of time to review the subcontractor documents before releasing that information so the general contractors can compile their bids. All bidders went through a prequalification process this past fall to be accepted by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which is covering more than two-thirds of the cost of the project.
Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio, the school's designer, said there have also been a lot of questions from potential bidders.
"We have received a number of bidders' questions, which are called bid RFIs, and that's normal," he said. "I think it shows participation, you know, bidders who are working on the job, are looking at the documents, and they're finding things that they want to make sure they understand."
The city has lifted a boil water order — with several exceptions — that was issued late Monday morning following several water line breaks over the weekend. click for more
The bridge had been closed to all vehicle traffic since March 2023 after being deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Transportation. click for more
The Water Department has been responding to multiple water line breaks throughout the city since Friday, causing temporary loss of water in some areas. click for more
Nearly a year of study and community input about the deteriorating Veterans Memorial Bridge has resulted in one recommendation: Take it down. click for more
