The Organ

    The organ here at the Assumption was built by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company of Merrick, Long Island, New York in 1929, its Opus 5519.  The company started production in the 19th century.  Naturally, most of its instruments were purchased in the New York area; however, there also are many scattered throughout America.  The company is noted for having built the world's largest pipe organ at the Atlantic City Convention Hall.  Interestingly, the organ here at the Assumption was built at the same time.  These two organs were about the last the company built, going out of business soon after their installations.

    The original cost of the organ was $17,500.00.  The Rev. William P. Kennedy, pastor of the church at the time, signed the contract, dated September 7, 1929, calling for a down payment of $5,500.00 with four subsequent payments of $3,000.00 over the course of the next year.  It is interesting to note that the Great Depression began less than two months later.  The contract purchased an organ of 30 ranks with 2218 pipes, playable from a three manual console.  The organ was dedicated on April 13, 1930.

The Organ Restoration

    The organ served the Church of the Assumption well over the course of the next seventy years.  However, as with all things, it gradually began to break down with little or no attention being given to its deterioration.  By the time its restoration was decided upon, for one reason or another, only one-third of it actually worked.  Many pipes were missing, the wind pipes leaked, the mechanical actions were breaking down, the wires were fraying, some of the keys were broken, several of the pipes were unable to sound, the chimes had not been heard in years, and the harp was a thing of the past.

      In September, 1998, it was announced that a fund-raising campaign to raise the necessary money to restore the organ was beginning.  Through the generosity of parishioners and friends of the Assumption within a month the money necessary to restore the organ was pledged.  The cost of the restoration was $272,000.00. (Quite a difference from its original cost!)  To purchase the same organ today would cost $1.2 million.

        When it was decided to restore the organ, the Foley-Baker Company of Bolton, Connecticut was chosen to do the work.  The restoration began on January 4, 1999.  All of the organ was physically removed from the church over the course of the next couple of months and shipped to the Foley-Baker shop where every pipe was repaired, washed, and cleaned.  All 2218 pipes were re-voiced.  New valves were installed, and the wind chests were completely re-leathered to prevent any air leakage.  All of the mechanical actions and relays were replaced with a state of the art, computerized switching system.  The console exterior and the facade pipes were refinished.  The keys of the three manuals were replaced with new ivory resin, and the foot pedals were completely renewed with maple and ebony wood.  The original stop tabs were modified to fit all new electric tab-action assemblies.  The restoration was completed and the organ was reinstalled in time for Christmas, 1999.

    The completely restored organ was rededicated at a concert on April 13, 2000, exactly seventy years after its first dedicatory concert.

    Anyone interested in a private tour of the organ may contact Assumption's Organist, Anthony J. Burke, at 203.735.7857 x 29.

    Mr. Burke recently recorded a CD, under the auspices of the Historic Organ Society, featuring the Assumption Church organ.  It may be purchased by contacting the church office.

    You may view or download the specifications of the organ by clicking the following link:

Organ Specifications

You are listening to Assumption's Organist, Anthony J. Burke, playing on the Assumption Church organ:
Carillon de Westminster (from Pieces de fantaisie, Op. 54, 1927) by Louis Vierne (1870-1937).