E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings Boston, Massachusetts, Opus 1689, 1896 Renovated and enlarged by Andover Organ Company Methuen, Massachusetts, 1980 Two manuals and pedal Slider chests, Mechanical Key Action Pedal electrified by Lahaise 12 stops, 7 ranks Organ Specifications GREAT 8' Open Diapason 8' Dulciana 4' Octave SWELL 8' Stopped Diapason 4' Open Flute 2' Principal 1 1/3' Quint PEDAL 16' Bourdon COUPLERS Swell to Great Unison Swell to Great Super Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal

The E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings organ stands in the northeast corner of the sanctuary, where it was installed in the spring of 1896 and dedicated on June 20, 1896. Built by Hook & Hastings of Boston, a major producer of pipe organs in the 19th century, it was their Opus 1689, and has served the congregation continuously since its installation.

Small by its standards, this mechanical action tracker instrument has two manuals, or keyboards, each with 61 notes, and a pedal board of 27 notes. Designed as a very basic instrument, it had seven ranks of pipes which produced a mellow sound typical of late Victorian church organs.

In 1980 the Andover Organ Company of Methuen, Massachusetts, undertook a complete renovation of the instrument, revoicing all of the existing pipework, adding one new rank of pipes, bringing the total to eight ranks. The result was dramatic.

The sound which had been mellow was replaced by a group of brighter voices, typical of organs dating from the 1700's.

The centennial organ recital was performed by Michael Kleinschmidt on August 4, 1996.

Source: The Federated Church of Orleans, East Orleans, Massachusetts