Saint Mary Star of the Sea Church
Beverly, Massachusetts

Hook-Hastings Organ Co., Op. 2180, 1908
Restored by Spencer Organ Co., 2007
New console by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, 2013

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve been chosen by Saint Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Beverly, Massachusetts, to build a console in appropriate historic style for their Hook-Hastings organ. Constructed in 1908 as Op. 2180, the instrument was mechanically and tonally restored by the Spencer Organ Co. in 2007, but funds did not allow for replacement of the console at that time. The present, non-original console was installed in the 1950s by W.W. Laws, and has been deteriorating — alarmingly so in the past year.

The new console is patterned after existing Hook-Hastings consoles of the period, chiefly that of Op. 2082, originally built for the W. Duncan McKim residence in Washington, D.C. in 1905 and now owned by Baltimore organ builder David Storey.

Dobson designer Donny Hobbs and cabinetmaker Randy Hausman have worked closely on the design and construction of the new console. The console case is made of quartersawn white oak and has a mahogany interior. Manual keyboards have naturals of legal elephant ivory and sharps of ebony. Drawknobs are made of cocobolo, ebony and boxwood. A lattice music rack, like the original, is provided, with the addition of a tempered glass overlay to make it more practical for writing.

Diane Meredith Belcher is Director of Music and Organist. The new console will be installed in February of 2013.