Singing Their Praises

By Mary Carter
EAGLE TIMES CORRESPONDENT
WINDSOR, Vt. — The storm may have been raging outside, but beautiful music prevailed inside.

Windsor’s Old South Church holds a rich history dating back 255 years and at its heart is music. A history that Director of Music Laura Compton is eager to share, beginning with Windsor inventor and cabinet maker Lemuel Hedge.

Hedge, the son of a local blacksmith, was born in 1786. Observing the time-consuming effort that went into ruling blank ledgers at Thomas Pomroy’s printing shop, Hedge invented and patented machine in 1815 that would rule a ream of paper on both sides in an astonishing twelve minutes.

He also crafted meeting house organs and cases. In 1838, Old South acquired one of his works. Set in the gallery high above the congregation, one person would play while a second person powered the sound by pumping air through a pair of bellows.

Eighteen years later, Hedge’s organ was replaced by a smaller one, built by William Nutting Jr. of Bellows Falls. His version for Old South included gilded wood dummy pipes on a colonial facade. In 1885, Samuel S. Hamill, of Cambridge, enlarged the organ. Hamill was known for his extensive works installed across the country, with five or six sold as far away as the West Indies.

In 1923, the organ and case were relocated to the pulpit. Now that it was “center stage” to the congregation, Plainfield, N.H. artist Maxfield Parrish suggested adding a tall pediment to disguise the exposed piping.

In the 1950s, the organ was electrified. Thirty years later, it needed replacement and a 1908 Möeller tracker organ was located and transported from Syracuse, N.Y. In the 1920s, Möeller also designed the Dagmar automobile, the emblem of which depicts organ pipes. Miss America 1924 was granted the use of a brand new Dagmar during her victory tour of the U.S.

“So now, we have a 115 year old Möeller tracker organ – one of only three known in Vermont — with 167-year-old Nutting cabinetry and a 100-year-old Maxfield Parrish inspired pediment,” Compton said.

Seating herself before the historic instrument, Compton warned that the sounds could be hampered by temperature and humidity. The music she brought forth was nonetheless magnificent. The organ is fine-tuned twice a year. No easy task, as the tuner must climb between narrow panels to reach the real works.

Moving to Vermont from Missouri, Compton began at Old South in 2009 on a 90-day-contract and “simply stayed.” Her first choir practice was with 4 people, a number which now surpasses 20. Compton’s involvement goes well beyond Sunday services. Music camps and ensemble concerts offer the chance for the community to learn here and perform.

“How wonderful to have all this and be a church, too,” she said. “There are really kind people here.”

Community is key with the staff and members at Old South Church. Because of the ever changing needs of the community, the folks at Old South “think big.” They thrive by looking back and looking forward. Church members Tom McGraw, Joe Palatucci and Judy Hayward shared their hopes and dreams to someday have a much needed elevator lift. A feasibility study is underway.

The Old South Church of Windsor is warm, welcoming, honest, and brave. To learn about their engaging events, such as their very popular Pop-Up Thrift Shop, visit: www.oldsouthchurch.com.