Scoots, Shoots & Leaves

By TerriG

The old organ in the Old Church

We attended an exquisite concert by a college vocal ensemble in The Old Church Tuesday evening. The Old Church hasn't been a church for many years, but hosts musical events, weddings and other gatherings.

I wasn't that impressed with the acoustics, but was quite taken with this old pipe organ. It was the first pipe organ in Portland. The organ was purchased out of Boston, from the Hook and Hastings Company, and brought around the horn to San Francisco. Next the organ was loaded onto an ox cart, which was necessary since Portland’s railway system was not completed until the late 1880s, and this musical masterpiece slowly wound its way home. Today, The Old Church is the only local host to an original Hook and Hastings pipe organ. (From The Old Church website.)

Here's a photo with some of the detail on the pipes.

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