The organ at Second Congregational Church, 25 Gregg St. in Wilton was installed in 1870, and little has been done to it since.
It was electrified in 1936, and chimes were added a few years later, but the original pipes are still in place. Each year, it is serviced by Andover Organ company of Methuen, Mass., but now it needs some additional repair.
This summer, Andover Organ will remove the manual keyboard and the actions and take them to Methuen for repair. They will also remove the coupler mechanisms from the foot pedals and rebuild them, as well as other adjustments, lubrications, replacement of leather and felt parts and repair of some keys. When it is done, it will be returned to Wilton, reinstalled, tuned and adjusted.
The cost of the repairs is $11,000, and a committee has been named to organize fundraising. The church has received a grant of $5,000 from the Ella Anderson Trust and will use funds from the Hutchinson Music Fund, leaving $5,157 to be raised.
Donations may be sent to Second Congregational Church, P.O. Box 246, Wilton, N.H. 03086. A friend has offered to match any donations.
It is hoped the organ will be back in place before the church’s 200th anniversary celebrations next year.