FARMINGTON – The Farmington Historical Society’s North Church performance space is filled once again with musical sounds of the past. The North Church was built in 1873, which represents an earlier piece of architecture in Historic Downtown Farmington. The sanctuary or “audience room” mostly has been undisturbed since 1898; contains the original pews, cushions filled with fine wood shavings and the Cole Tracker Pipe Organ which was installed in 1904. The Pipe Organ will be heard once again on Dec. 16 at a Christmas Choral performance. More details to follow.
The David E. Wallace and Company of Gorham, Maine were recommended to the Farmington Historical Society by Phillip Fournier, Artist in Residence and Music Director of St. Joseph and St Rose of Lima Catholic Churches of Farmington and Jay. Father Dumas of the Catholic Churches has volunteered to underwrite the repairs in order to facilitate December Christmas Choral performance.
David Wallace and his son Nicholas came to the North Church on Nov. 9 with tools in hand to meet whatever tasks they might find. It was found that the blower motor will need brushes replaced in the near future but will be fine through the holiday concerts. Then the two men started working on the organ by taking the wooden panels off, removing the front pipes to access the back of the organ and climbing into the works. David stood at the key board while Nicholas maneuvered through the multitude of pipes. A pipe organ such as the Cole Tracker simply put is a big box of whistles that sit upon a square leather pillow filled with air. The pipes range in size of a drinking straw, for the high pitch sound, to a 6 by 6 inch wooden box for the deep rich sound.
David would play a key, then he would say “we can fix that.” After the “fix it line” was said many times, the craftsmanship of these gentlemen was put to work. Nicholas presented strips of bass wood that were thinner than a Popsicle stick and a least 36” long. He proceeded to replace the broken trackers: the wooden connection piece that opens the valves in the pipes to control the airflow from the bellows to create the musical note. The bellows are the original 1904 leather “pillow” that is filled with air from the blower motor, also original, which is found in the basement of the North Church.
Farmington Historical Society, St Joseph’s Parish and the Community of Farmington thanks David Wallace and Company for craftsmanship and gentle care of our Cole Tracker Pipe Organ at the North Church.
This is a magnificent facility that is not merely an historic landmark but one that has resumed its place as a center of many worthy events in recent years. It’s of course no longer a church but in effect a both a downtown community center and museum.
An excellent article!… One technical typo: The largest pipes may be up to 8 FEET tall! Thanks for taking the time to understand the workings, and translate your understanding for all to understand.
This may be “a magnificent facility,” but it does not serve the entire community. I applaud the restoration of the organ, but I am dismayed that it took precedent over making the space it is in accessible. If you cannot walk an entire flight of stairs, there is no way to attend an organ concert here or any other of the many concerts held here. They might as well put up a sign outside that says “Disabled people not welcome.” There are so many venues in Farmington that are accessible to everyone.
Notice anything unique about Scott Landry’s photo? A free pair of tickets to the December 16 Christmas Choral Performance to all those that correctly identify.
I made a modest contribution toward the organ repair fund
If Dan Woodward will pledge $50 to be applied toward the correction the glaring oversight he (assumed) complains about I will pledge $100 to see that all ultimately have access to the church
Someone photoshopped out the power lines. Must be on a generator. :-)
The black sign to the right of the door is missing.
Ed W, you are the winner of 2 tickets to the December 16 show! Tickets will be left at SugarWood Gallery at 248 Broadway and if not picked up will be at the ticket sales table at the North Church the evening of the event. Photographer Scott Landry spent untold hours Photoshopping the power and telephone lines out of the image.
Well thank you! Nice job, Scott. I will be out of town that weekend, so please give those tickets to someone that would like to go and, otherwise, wouldn’t be able to.
Dan Maxham, I would be happy to contribute toward a fund to increase the accessibility of the North Church. Does such a fund exist? Are there any plans or ideas to solve this problem?
My Dear Mr Woodward, may I call you Dan?
I have sent the Farmington Historical Society $20 with the suggestion that when they receive $50 from you they can let me know and I’ll get $80 off to them toot sweet to complete my commitment of $100 re enhanced access to the North Church for all citizen and visitors
I think they have a PayPal account that can make any financial help to them in their community efforts quite painless
Farmington Historical Society
118 Academy ST
PO Box 575
Farmington, ME 04938
Dear Mr Maxham,
This is not the venue for this discussion, but I am very willing to donate for such a cause. But there needs to be a plan. I want to know that any amount (an amount I decide, not you) I give will go toward making the upstairs of the North Church accessible. I am going to contact the historical society, thank you for the info.
I apologize for not directing my comment to the right person. I meant to reply to Mr. Davis, not Mr. Maxham.
I would like to think that this story might encourage the community to take a more proactive and positive interest in continuing the Society’s efforts in all its endevors
A well written Bulldog feature of July 3, 2015 re the Farmington Historical Society’s efforts in making the North Church more ADA compliant
https://dailybulldog.com/features/north-church-receives-funds-for-a-new-walkway/