Organ transplant, history on the move in Egmont Bay

EGMONT BAY - History is on the move in Egmont Bay.
The 10-stop, tracker action pipe organ that has provided music for weddings, funerals and regular masses at St-Philippe et St-Jacques Roman Catholic Church for more than a century was taken down from the choir loft of the old church building during the coldest days of the winter.
Like a huge, three-dimensional puzzle, the Casavant Freres pipe organ is being reassembled this week in the replacement church building, the former parish hall.
For four years it had remained silent in the unheated building, but it could be making music again as early as this weekend's masses.
"I feel very grateful, as pastor, that people from this parish decided to keep this organ," commented Father Eloi Arsenault as he watched Casavant representative Robert Hiller, with help from parish volunteers, piece the huge instrument back together.
"It is a treasure, part of our heritage," said the parish priest. "It's the instrument that's brought joy and unity in our community for so many years."
It had been offered for sale on EBay, but did not garner any serious interest.
An organ that size is worth around $300,000, but one buyer suggested it might fetch $25,000.
With so many churches closing in Canada and the United States, Father Arsenault said the Egmont Bay organ retained no commercial value.
Moving the organ, including making renovations in the replacement church building to accommodate it, will cost the parish about $12,000, Father Arsenault estimated.
Hiller checked out the organ last fall and was pleased with the sound.
"I pumped it and he played it," Father Arsenault said.
This organ has special historical significance. It is believed to be the earliest Casavant installed in P.E.I. It was built in 1895, boxed up and shipped to Summerside from where it was hauled by horses and sleighs and installed in 1896.
It was moved into the new church building in 1923 and is now taking up residence in the replacement church.
This one is organ No. 56 by the Casavant brothers.
"I was really interested in saving this instrument," said Hiller.
"It is our history."
Casavants are still in production. No. 3874 will soon be installed in a Toronto church. The oldest one still operating is number 50
"There's not that many from before 1900," Hiller said.
With the possible exception of one stop that might prove problematic, Hiller expects to have No. 56 ready to play by Tuesday.
It should be reassembled - all 554 pipes and all the other components -prior to this weekend's masses.
Fr. Arsenault hopes to arrange a concert featuring a professional organist once work is completed.

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