A fundraising effort has begun to restore the 60-year-old Austin pipe organ at the Blue Point Congregational Church in Scarborough.

Even in its relatively frail condition, the notes produced by the 60-year-old Austin pipe organ at the Blue Point Congregational Church in Scarborough can still stir the heart and fill the sanctuary with sound.

But now, church members say, it’s time to restore the organ to its former glory. They are embarking on a campaign to raise the $36,000 needed to get the organ back into its original condition.

“Through the years the organ has been impacted by the humidity and the ocean air,” said Nancy Landsman, who’s been the music director at the Blue Point church for the past 14 years.

In researching the history of the organ, church members discovered that the sanctuary was actually built and designed around the instrument, which features two consoles and 1,800 pipes of all shapes, sizes and material, from brass to wood, Landsman said.

“It was the vision of Harold Snow, an organist himself, that this church would contain a beautiful pipe organ,” Landsman said.

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Snow, of Snow’s Canning Co., which was a key employer in Pine Point at one time, was one of the church’s original benefactors and was active in constructing the new brick edifice, which was built in the late 1950s.

The Austin organ was gifted to the church in 1956 and nothing significant has been done in terms of maintaining the instrument since then, according to Landsman.

She said the work that will be done to restore the organ includes “revoicing the pipes,” which entails removing and individually cleaning each of the 1,800 pipes and rebuilding the great and swell boards, which have become brittle and are leaking air.

Cynthia Wood, a member of the church’s vestry board, as well as a member of the committee dedicated to fundraising for the organ, said the issues with it “have become serious enough now that we know something needs to be done.”

Landsman added, “We really bit the bullet as a congregation and realized it’s now or never.”

A special committee began meeting early in the year to come up with a plan to restore the organ, according to Mike Wood (no relation to Cynthia Wood),  president of the vestry board.

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“Before we could do anything, we first had to convince the congregation that we could do it,” he said.

Church members voted in mid-May to move forward with restoration of the antique organ, he said.

So far, $10,000 has been received from the church’s own building improvement fund and $10,000 has been raised from the congregation, which has about 44 active members, but is growing, according to Wood.

The remaining $16,000 needed for the job will come through a public fundraising campaign, Landsman said. The first event will be a benefit night at Portland Pie in Scarborough on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

The fundraising committee is also planning a bike-a-thon at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Oct. 1. The winner of the event, designed for kids 9 to 15, will be awarded a new bicycle.

There is also a GoFundMe web page, which can be found under the name of “Save Our Austin Organ.” So far, $360 has been raised through the online fundraiser.

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In addition, the church is also holding a special raffle at the annual Christmas Fair. The raffle items will also be on display to the public at the church’s fall bean suppers, one of which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Cynthia Wood said items are still being collected for the raffle and any local businesses, civic organizations or others who would like to contribute should get in touch with her by email at cinny@maine.rr.com.

Also, according to Melodye DeBeradinis, another member of the fundraising committee, the church is still looking for local restaurants and other eateries willing to hold benefit nights for the save the organ campaign. Also planned is a special concert on Nov. 12 by the Downeasters Chorus, a barbershop group. Tickets are on sale now and are $15 per person. Call 883-6540 for more information.

Landsman said the church hopes to have the full $36,000 in hand by June 2017 and said the restoration job would likely take three to four months during the course of next summer. The work will be done by Nick Orzo Organ Service in Portland.

She said the Austin organ at the Blue Point church is the same type as the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, which is owned by the city of Portland and is installed at Merrill Auditorium.

Austin Organs Inc. is one of the oldest, continuously operating organ manufacturers in the United States. The first instruments were built in 1893 and included the patented Austin Airchest, according to the company website.

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The company was founded by John Turnell Austin, who was originally from England. It was first located in Boston, Mass., but soon moved to Hartford, Conn., where the company still operates.

Landsman said what makes an Austin organ special is how well-built they are and how well it produces “high-quality sound.” She also said the organ at the Blue Point church, in particular, has withstood the test of time.

DeBeradinis, who also sings in the church choir, said what she most appreciates about the organ is the beautiful sounds it still produces, even in its frail condition.

She especially liked a piece Landsman played on a recent Sunday that showed off the organ’s ability to produce a magnificent wall of sound. “The organ is such a legacy for this church and it’s such a bright, sweet instrument,” DeBeradinis said.

Cynthia Wood agreed.

“It would be hard to imagine this church without the organ,” she said.

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A lifelong Pine Point resident, Wood was married in the church, as was her daughter.

Mike Wood added, “When the organ is played, you can just fill the strength of it. It’s just a wonderful sound.”

Landsman said once the organ is fully restored, it would significantly broaden her music choices for Sunday morning services. And, it would also allow the church to invite in guest artists to play the organ.

“This church can seat 175 to 200 people,” she said. “There aren’t many churches of this size around and it’s just such a beautiful venue and a wonderful place for concerts.”

DeBeradinis said the efforts to restore the organ would be “getting it back on its true legs and allow us to open up for concerts and recitals and give the public a chance to share in the music of the organ.”

The historic, 60-year-old Austin pipe organ at the Blue Point Congregational Church in Scarborough.

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Nancy Landsman, music director at the Blue Point Congregational Church, plays the historic Austin organ. A fundraising effort is underway to restore the organ.

A few of the 1,800 pipes belonging to the Austin organ at the Blue Point Congregational Church

Members of the Blue Point Congregational Church working to save their historic Austin organ are, from left, Melodye DeBeradinis, Nancy Landsman, Cynthia Wood and Mike Wood.

The Blue Point Congregational Church in Scarborough.

Harold Snow, now deceased,  was instrumental in the donation of the Austin organ to the Blue Point Congregational Church by his family’s company, Snow’s Canning Inc.


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