Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-05-09
HISTORIC OLD ORGAN.
Used Continuously for More Than
Two Centuries.

While much is being said about
the wonderful pipe organ built
for the st. Louis exposition, it is
probably not generally known
that the first pipe organ that
reached America is to be found in
st. Thomas Protestant Episcopal
church, situated on the colonial
town of Hancock, Md. This neat
little brick church, around which
for over a century members OF
leading families have been laid to
rest, commands the Potomac val
ley east and west and Pennsyl-
vania. Looking west from the
steeple the famed national pike
can be seen winding down the
crowns of several mountains. In
this historic pile, one at which
Stonewall jackson aimed shells
from the West Virginia hills In
the Civil war, has stood for over
forty years a musical instrument
which was dedicated to the wor-
ship of God on American soil near
ly one hundred years before indie
pendence was established. After
204 years of use, during which
it's strains have given spirit to
worship in number of churches,
this historic organ has lost none
of it's sweetness of tone. 1t seems
to say: "Village choirs may come
and village choirs may go, but 1
60 on forever.
The organ was brought to this
country in 100, a fact which has
been ascertained by Rev. j. E.
Ewell, pastor of st. Thomas
church. 1t was first used in an
Episcopal church at Port Royal
it is said. Early in the sixties
the organ was transported to
Hancock on boat over the Ches-
apeake & Ohio canal from Shep-
herdstown, Va, now West Vir-
ginia. 1t was purchased from the
Episcopal congregation at Shep-
herdstown, by Rev. Gilbert F.
Williams, then rector of the Han
cock parish. The Shepherdstown
church purchased the organ from
Christ's church, Alexandria, Va,
in which George Washington wor-
shipped. 1t is believed that the
organ was used in the church
when Washington was an attend
ant. Rev. DR.. Suter, late rector
of Christ's church, Alexandria,
says the organ was purchased by
a Mr.. Lee and another gentleman
from the Port Royal church. The
present Episcopal church at Port
Royal was built in 1864. Years
before there stood near Port Roy
al a colonial church built of
bricks imported from England.
In this church the organ was
placed. After the Revolution the
State government acquired much
of the church property in Virgin
ia, including the old colonial
church near Port Royal which was
sold, and it later became a part
Of the Rappahannock academy.
In a letter reproduced in Bishop
Mead's book, entitled cold Fam
lilies and Old Churches in Virgin
la" is reference to this organ.
The old church near Port Royal
before it was converted into a
school, is described. The letter
mentions a fine old organ whose
sweet music filled the church and
which was purchased at a great
price in the old country, being the
first organ that came over into
Virginia. Port Royal and Bowl
ing Green were then the principal
towns in Virginia, and were seats
of wealth and refinement. Such
an organ was an expensive luxury
in those days, but there seems to
have been enough wealth among
the Port Royal parishioners to
warrant it.
There is no manufacturers
mark on the organ, which is an
other evidence of its antiquity.
The organ has rectangular front,
is twelve feet tall and top and
base measure over three feet
by six feet. 1t is mahogany OF
cherry color and the front is rich
ly carved. 1t has twenty-five
bronzed pipes, large and small,
and the first small bow in Hancock