ROS Gathering October 15 - 18, 2009

From this gathering we can show you a nice illustrated newspaper report from Oct 15th and a picture gallery.

15.00 - 17.00 Registration/Displays (Historical Society)
17.30 - 19.00 Dinner for “early birds” (offsite at local restaurant with reservations)
19.00 - 21.00 Continued Registration/Displays/set up of sale area
                      With items from ROS, and consignments from members (Historical Society and Salem Lutheran Church)

                      Breakfast on your own
  9.00 - 10.00 Registration/Historical Society exhibits/playing time on instruments;
10.00 - 10.30Walk to Salem Lutheran Church (5 minute walk);
10.30 - 12.00 Lecture/demonstration of the Miller Organ Co (Salem Lutheran) Miller Pipe Organ manufacturing division 
12.00 - 14.00 Lunch on your own downtown at the Market, Coffee Shops, Café; other listed restaurants as made available;
                      Time for trip to Loser’s Music, Wertz’s Candy, the Market (Center of Town);
14.00 - 15.00 Presentation on the Miller Company and related area builders of reed organs(Historical Society); hands on workshop time;
15.00 - 16.00 Displays/Sales area/Playing of instruments (Historical Society and Salem Lutheran); explore historical society 
                      Exhibits;
16.00 - 16.45 Concert on Miller Pipe organ (Old Salem)
17.30 - 18.30 Dinner at Salem Lutheran Church
19.00 - 19.45 Concert on 3 manual E.M. Skinner Pipe Organ  (Justin Hartz)
20.00 - 20.45 Concert on Chapel E. M. Skinner P. O.
21.00 - 21.30 Reception for Performers and audience, with continued exploration of instruments on display at Salem Lutheran,
                      Old Sanctuary, first floor;

  8.30 -   9.30 Hospitality area at Historical Society;
  9.30 - 11.30 Workshops at Historical Society (winding a reed organ, etc) and/or Salem Lutheran;
11.30 - 12.00 Break to allow people to play instruments on display;
                      At the Historical Society as well as to view other exhibits
12.00 - 13.00 Lunch
13.00 - 13.45 Travel to Old Zion (Brickerville)
14.00 - 14.45 Mini Concert at Old Zion
15.00 - 15.45 Travel to Albright Chapel
16.00 - 16.45 Mini Concert/Hymn Sing at Albright Chapel
17.00 - 17.45 Travel back to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
18.00 - 19.30 Dinner (St. Mark’s United Church of Christ)
19.30 - 20.00 Travel to Historical Society
20.00 - 21.30 Concert at Historical Society
                      Media/Book Sales Close this evening;

                      Breakfast on your own
9.00               Sunday worship at Bindnagle’s Lutheran Church with the service sung to the accompaniment of a Palmyra, PA built reed
                      organ and a Shoninger upright piano (yes, it has the bells that their organs frequently had available). Vocal solos sung by
                      professional soloist Marc Lubbers (organist of Bindnagle’s);
10.30 - 12.00 Free time
12.00 - 13.00 Lunch/ Outdoor picnic at Canal Boat Park
13.30 - 15.00 Canal Boat Ride
15.30 - 16.30 Final Concert (Michael Hendron) at St. Mark’s UCC 

Note: side trips to the homes of Mark Herr/Hans Herr and others to be scheduled after the weekend has concluded.

What was the background of this gathering? 
Reed the invitation, sent out for this happening

Come…to the Pennsylvania Dutch country…

For the Reed Organ Society Gathering

October 15-18, 2009

According to Gellerman’s Reed Organ Atlas, there were at least 50 reed organ manufacturing businesses in Pennsylvania.  Perhaps the most successful among Pennsylvania’s builders was the Miller Organ Company of Lebanon.  From reports in 1901 that in that year they produced 1600 instruments, and although there are no records that are known, it can be surmised that they produced in the area of 44,000 instruments from their start in  1883 and to end of their building of reed organs around 1911. They reported that their organs were shipped to such far flung areas as Australia, Russia, India, South Africa and Japan. 

Our gathering, which begins with registration on Thursday evening, in Lebanon this coming fall,  will center around this Lebanon County company.  Our “home” for the weekend will be the Lebanon County Historical Society (which is collaborating with us on this venture) and Salem Lutheran Church (location of the media table and instruments brought for display or sale).    In addition to hearing and seeing a representation of Miller instruments that are housed the historical society, we will experience in concert and program, instruments by Estey, Mason & Hamlin and other builders.  Miller Organ Company made 9 pipe organs, the largest (3M/P) of which is housed at the nearby Salem Lutheran Church.  We will hear it and the congregation’s 3M/P 1928 Skinner organ following our Friday evening banquet.  ROS member, Justin Hartz and Dr. John Weaver will perform on the Skinner, and Salem’s Cantor, Mark Dimick will perform on the Miller pipe organ at 4 p.m.(prior to the evening meal).   We will hear one of our young members, Tommy Quinn prior to the banquet playing a typical Miller reed organ.. Saturday morning, there will be a workshop and presentation time.  In the afternoon, the attendees will travel through northern Lebanon County and into northern Lancaster County for concert/hymn sings at two historic worship sites.  Hymns and music of Pennsylvania born songwriters/leaders who promoted the reed organ, Ira D. Sankey and Robert Lowry, will be heard and sung.  On Saturday evening, there will be a concert on the Miller instruments housed at the Historical Society, featuring at least one instrument with organ accompaniment.  On Sunday, we will gather at Bindangle’s Lutheran Church, Palmyra, where an 1883 Hemperly reed organ(Palmyra builder) and a Shoninger upright piano (with the Shoninger bell attachment) are used in worship on a weekly basis. Following worship, there will be canal boat rides and a picnic at the Canal Park.  This canal ran right by the Miller Company and was most likely used in the beginning of the company to transport organs to the train station.  Our final event on Sunday afternoon will be a concert at St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, which was  the “home’ church of Adam and Abraham Miller, the co-founders of Miller Organ Company.  This concert will be presented by Michael Hendron.  Instruments to be used are a Miller Chapel Organ and a two manual Mason & Hamlin, Liszt model instrument.

Downtown Lebanon, has some lovely features that are part of the city’s revitalization effort.  Two wonderfully preserved (although not open to the public) railroad stations are near center city and are in walking distance.  The restored Farmer’s Market will be open and available for local specialties.  A fabulous small, family owned candy company, Wertz’s is a place you won’t want to miss (if you like chocolate!).  A large,, and well stocked music store, Losers, is a place you will want to browse in during your free time. 

Speaking of free time, we have allowed time on Friday and Saturday mornings for you to explore the Historical Society’s exhibits, browse at the Media Table, play on a variety of instruments, shop a little, and find a lunch spot at the coffee shops, the market, bars, or a health food store. All are within walking distance of the historical society.

For those interested in antique automobiles, the huge Hershey Car Show takes place the week before our gathering.  If you plan to come to this, you will need to get lodging ASAP as thousands come to this event.  For those interested in trains, the Strasburg steam railroad is located in southern Lancaster County.  You will need to check online for their schedule.  On Monday, following our gathering, there is an option of visiting the nearby *(Lancaster County) home of member, Mark Herr, who is coordinating this year’s event.

Besides several Mason & Hamlin Liszt model instruments, Esteys, and Smith American instruments, he owns one of the few Phonoriums that Estey built.  As it was rescued from an inner city Philadelphia row home last year, it will probably not be “up and running” but, certainly available for viewing of its mechanism.  A German “treat” or light lunch will be offered.  In the afternoon, for those interested in traveling south, into Lancaster County, the home of Hans Herr houses a 3-manual/P Mason& Hamlin, a one manual Estey Philharmonic, several Mason & Hamlin Liszt model instruments, a theatre pipe organ, and  a one manual Vocalian.  Monday trips to the homes of father and son (and their “organ widow” wives!) are limited in size to about 30 people.

Get your registrations in early, and plan for an enjoyable weekend with fellow reed organ enthusiasts!