- Details
- Category: Past Issues
caption:
Sue Markham at the Thompson Congregational Church's Johnson Tracker organ. Courtesy photo.
Concert
will help
restore
rare organ
THOMPSON --- One-hundred-ten years ago, a native son of Thompson, one of the country’s most successful and wealthy men in the 19th century, was buried in the West Thompson Cemetery after a funeral held in the Thompson Congregational Church.
The family of John Wesley Doane subsequently donated a rare Johnson Tracker pipe organ (Opus 409) to the Thompson church in affectionate memory of their patriarch. They purchased the instrument from a church in Springfield, Mass.. The installed instrument was rededicated in the Thompson church in 1901. In 2011 the organ remains an historical asset to the church and the Thompson community.
That organ has not always had it easy. In 1984 when it was 111 years old, the instrument was restored to good condition and celebrated again after a long, successful drive by the church to raise funds for the project. Not three years later in September 1987, a fire that destroyed the Thompson church steeple resulted in severe water damage to the instrument.
With the determination of the congregation and help from a wide community of supporters, the organ was again restored and reinstalled. An overflow audience rejoiced at this accomplishment at a rededication concert held June 2, 1991, with organist Michael Menoche at the console.
On May 1 the church will sponsor a benefit concert performed by singer Ted Reynolds and organist Sue Markham. The proceeds from concert of music from Bach to Broadway will be used to finally finish the organ’s restoration by installing the Cornopeon rank of 58 pipes. The pipes have been stored for 30 years at the Andover Organ Company which will install the pipes. Call 860-923-2431 for ticket information.
The family of J. W. Doane would be well pleased to know that their gift to the Thompson Congregational Church continues to be held in respect and in memory of him.