The History of St. John's Pipe Organ

In 1824, Elias Hook (1805-1881) and George G. Hook (1807-1880), sons of a Salem, Massachusetts, cabinet maker, apprenticed to the famous Boston organ builder, William N. Goodrich.  They returned to their hometown in 1827 and set up shop there; the young firm of E. & G. G. Hook that was rapidly growing, moved to Boston in 1831.

In the next 40 years, the factory produced more than 600 instruments, large and small, establishing for the firm a reputation as one of the best in the country.  In 1872, Francis Hastings entered into partnership with the Hook brothers and after 1881 the company was known as Hook and Hastings.

The company ceased operations in 1936, having built more than 2,500 instruments. Those that still survive in New England and elsewhere are speaking monuments, attesting to the superb craftsmanship and quality work of their makers.

This great instrument at St. John's, the 288th built by the firm, was planned for by Father John Bapst and installed during the pastorate of Father Henry Gillen, Father Bapst's successor.  The organ's cost was $4,000, and it was delivered from their Boston factory by steam ship, arriving in Winterport on the Penobscot River, just south of Bangor.  Taking nearly two weeks to assemble, it was first heard by the parishioners on Christmas Eve, 1860.

St. John's organ is the largest 19th century "tracker action" organ in the State of Maine. The term "tracker action" describes a direct mechanical connection (rather than electric) between the keys and the valves under the pipes, something today that is both rare and unique.

The organ of 32 stops has 1,806 pipes varying in length from a few inches to 16 feet.

The Hook Opus #288 is a three-manual organ, having three separate keyboards for the hands, plus the pedalboard, played by the feet.

The "Swell" (top) manual controls the pipes that are housed in a box having shutters across the front, which open and close to "swell" the sound.  The "Great" (middle) manual controls the pipes of the largest scale and the loudest tone. The "Choir" (lower) manual plays pipes that have a lighter and softer sound used also to accompany singing voices.   The "Pedal" keyboard controls the deepest toned pipes to provide a bass to the entire organ.

The organ is 1 of only 9 three-manual E. & G. G. Hook organs remaining in existence today. 

For many years the organ's wind power was produced with manually hand pumped bellows which required the pumping of one or two person whenever the organ was played.  Sometime in the early part of the century, the pumping bellows were disconnected and the organ was equipped with a new electric blower located in the basement of the church.

The organ, being immensely intricate and mechanically complex, degraded in condition over its life, and was almost unplayable by the end of the 1970s.  A major restoration was undertaken by the Bozeman-Gibson & Company of Deerfield, New Hampshire, and the Hook Opus #288 came to life again in 1981.

The existence of St. John's Organ Society, through the generous contributions of the public, will ensure the instrument's periodic upkeep and good health for future generations of loyal listeners.