Harry Hall Organ Co.

[Finistere]

One Harry Hall Organ Co. opus

The organ is St. Michael's Church in Litchfield, Conn. was a Hall installed in 1921 when the edifice was built. The instrument was replaced by a Moller in 1960, which was rebuilt by Quimby about four years ago.
The case still in use stems from the original organ. It is my understanding that a few voices from the Hall instrument were incorporated into the Moller, as some from the Moller were reused by Quimby. In the photo of the organ as it appears today, if you take away the Moller/Quimby hanging wind chests, you can see the original Hall.

[Could someone walk me thru how one posts photos on this site?]

There was a magnificent three-manual Hall in the First Congregational Church in Naugatuck, Conn. This building is one of McKim Meade and White's most beautiful and impressive works. In December 1963 I remember hearing the first three cantatas of Bach's Christmas Oratorio accompanied by that organ. Probably it was replaced sometime in the 1970's.

 

[gsjohnson68]

I have a Hall Organ Company organ (Opus 605 - 1931) installed in my home. I relocated it to my home in 1982 from the First United Methodist Church in West Haven, CT. It has two manuals and 17 ranks. It still plays well and has its ORIGINAL leather. I agree with others on this thread that Hall organs were built to last. I believe the Hall Organ factory was located in the vicinity of 680 Campbell Avenue in West Haven CT, now a mostly vacant lot.

In response to an article printed in the New Haven Journal Courier newspaper in 1982 about my organ installation, I received a telephone call from a Mrs. Harriett North who told me her late husband had been the president of Hall Organ Company. She told me she had documents and other memorabilia related to the company in her attic and offered me the opportunity to come look at and take whatever I wanted. Unfortunately, I never took up Mrs. North on her offer.

 

[John Watt]

yeah, married men get the best offers.
You're never going to be a picker, if you're not looking.

 

[dorena726]

Hi, I am not an organist, but rather I am researching St. Stanislaus Church in Waterbury, CT. In doing my research, I came upon the fact that in 1935 year end it appears they owed the Harry Hall co $1000. I assume they bought an organ that year. The church is now closed and I am not sure if they organ is still there or if it was replaced at some other time. I was hoping that someone could tell me what a Harry Hall organ would have cost in 1935? I am not sure if I can gain access to the church to take a picture of the organ there.

 

[John Watt]

How about taking over the debt and trying to get the organ for yourself?
Not Antiques Roadshow, but some Storage Locker attitude.

 

[s4man]

My church has a Hall organ that was completed and dedicated in 1914. I looked in the Pipe Organ Database but I don’t see any extant Hall organs that are as old or older. Could we have the oldest extant Hall organ? Since our organ is not in the database, clearly all pipe organs are not in the database. Does anyone know of any that date back to 1914 or before? All original and used every Sunday…

 

[TJQOrganbuilder]

More on Hall Organ Company

I'm the granddaughter of George North, who was, I believe, the co-owner of Hall Organ, West Haven, CT, with Harry Hall. The company ceased making pipe organs at the start of World War II, and, with my father Edward as president of the company, produced various items for the war effort. I do have some of the papers/photos, etc. relating to the company. I'd be happy to share what I have with anyone interested.

I am the great granddaughter of Thomas J. Quinlan 1856-1928 who installed church organs from 1892-1928. I am looking for any info I can find on his working career. I really would like to find a photo of him. In your papers/photos relating to Hall Organ, do you have any staff photos. Hope to hear from you. Thank you for your help. Janet

 

[TJQOrganbuilder]

I am attaching 3 photos. One I found on the kilgen archives website of a man working on an organ during the time my great grandfather, Thomas J. Quinlan 1856-1928 worked for Kilgen in St. Louis Mo. The other two are photos of his two sons that resemble the man in the photo. Thomas was a partner in A B deCourcy from about 1908-1917. He installed church organs in many states.