“The earliest known existing example of the work of the Simmons & McIntyre firm…” is how a letter written to the Vicar of Christ Episcopal Church Tashua 40 years ago this month, described the organ tucked into the Church’s second floor balcony. The letter was from Alan Laufman, director of the Organ Clearing House of Harrisville, New Hampshire, who described the pipe organ as being one of the oldest in Connecticut and an “interesting instrument from an historical viewpoint.”
True, this pipe organ (the second oldest in Connecticut), is historically significant; however, it also happens to be the centerpiece of a mystery that took 70 years to unravel. For that part of the story, we must begin with the organ’s origin.
The history of this organ begins with its construction in Boston , Massachusetts by a relatively new organ company owned by William Simmons and Thomas McIntyre. Mr. Simmons had worked for the renown organ builder Thomas Appleton until1845, when he entered into a partnership with Mr. McIntyre, an independent builder. In 1849, the Simmons & McIntyre firm sold a new pipe organ to the government of the Netherlands, who in turn presented it to the widow of Gerard Van Polenan-Campbell, their Ambassador to the United States for more than 30 years. It was placed in the chapel of the Campbell Unitarian Mission, founded by Mrs. Van Polenan-Campbell on State Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Even though the Mission’s chapel attracted many prominent families of the day, the property was sold in 1859 and its contents – including the organ – seemed to disappear.
For the next 70 years, the legend of the ‘lost organ’ would be recalled from time to time.
One listener, William Roberts, a reporter for the Bridgeport Post, in 1934, decided to see what he could turn up. His investigation received tips from Boston to North Carolina. And then a reader contacted him and sent him on the trail of ‘ a bald-headed, Main Street.Bridgeport watchmaker.’ The reporter tracked down the bald-headed watchmaker, who sent him to the church in the Tashua section of Trumbull.
Mr. Roberts found an old pipe organ in the church; but he was not sure it was the ‘lost organ.’ He was given permission to inspect the interior case of the organ and discovered the original shipping inscription inside a triangle: C.U.M. - Bridgeportt, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Christ Episcopal Church Tashua actually purchased the organ from the Campbell Unitarian Mission prior to the sale of the Mission’s property. The first 70 years after its arrival, the organ was used as it had been built. In 1938, an electric blower was added to the organ, replacing a ‘bellows boy.’ It had been his job to pump wind into a feeder bellows using a handle on the side of the organ. Unfortunately, the new system broke down and the pipes no longer could get the necessary wind into them to ‘make music.’ An electronic organ was donated and used until 1970, when the Church decided to restore the Simmons & McIntyre.
On February 13, 1970, they signed a contract with noted organ restorer Richard Hamer of New Hartford, Connecticut to restore their pipe organ for $3500. The contract called for the organ to be completed “about Christmas 1970.”
The Episcopal Churchwomen of Christ Church Tashua underwrote the cost of the historic organ’s restoration – with the help of the Vestry, who loaned them $2700. After an initial payment of $800, they repaid the loan by making annual installments of $500.
Completely restored, the pipe organ fills Christ Episcopal Church Tashua with music every Sunday, holidays and on special occasions. “The organ has such a sweet sound, it helps lift our voices in song and praise,” said Reverend Judith Greene, Pastor.
The congregation can also rejoice in knowing that their church has the only known Simmons & McIntyre organ in existence; and because of their efforts, it will continue to ‘lift voices for centuries to come.