Our Historic Pipe Organ

Cambridge is not far behind her sister cities in the art of church organ building. Pipe organs have been built here since 1809. William M Goodrich of Templeton Mass began building church organs in Boston in 1799. Ten years later he moved his factory to the Third Ward Cambridge at the corner of Fifth and Otis streets.

He continued the art till the time of his death which occurred in 1833. He was succeeded by Stevens & Gaieti at the same stand and subsequently by George Stevens once mayor of Cambridge. Mr Stevens pursued the same business till 1891.

Mr SS Hamill established himself in the art of church organ building in 1859 on Gore Street near Fifth where he remained till 1889. Finding his old factory too small for the increasing demand he put up a new one on Bent Street near Sixth opposite the Boston Bridge Works where he now is.

During his thirty-six years business, he has built and put up over eight hundred church organs by contract which have been put in churches in nearly every State in the Union from Maine to California besides quite a number for Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Also for the West Indies among which may be mentioned the celebrated organ in the Cathedral of San Felipe at Havana Cuba. Also those in the churches of El Monseratte and Chapel of the Convent of La Merced of the same city and some of the noted organs in the principal cities of the United States.

Mr Hamill acquired the art in New York city in 1845 and is thoroughly experienced and skillful in the manufacture of these noble instruments.

The Grafton Brick Church Pipe Organ History courtesy of the Grafton Historical Society