Cy Hershey residence, Great Falls, VA
1882 Geo. Ryder


I played this organ (George Ryder) at the 1965 (??) convention in Mass.
when Cyrus was 13 years old, and the organ was set up in the attic of
the house in Woods Hole, playable, minus the case, and pedal pipes. It
then went to Maryland (Mantua, I think), and then to Great Falls. I saw
it at Great Falls, about 2-3 years ago, not set up, stacked up in the
garage, prior to their last move. Cy was living in Boston at this time,
in some sorta commune. I talked to him on the phone then. The organ was
then moved to another house when his parents sold the Great Falls house.
I never got their new address, but I believe that one (or both) have
since died. The Ryder is in very poor shape, looks like a lot of parts
missing (or mangled), but I do see 3 sets of pipes. The wood (Stpd Diap)
pipes are all missing the caps, some feet, and some stoppers, and it
looks like many are missing. The Open Diap (from TC) looks complete, and
there is another set of 4' unmarked something, either principal or
flute. I believe that I have the original Dulc. that Cy gave me several
years ago from this organ. Will have to check up in the rafters of the
shop. I would like to "restore" (more or less) the organ, however, it
could not be a true restoration, but rather, I should call it a rebuild,
using as much of what's there. Of course, it would remain tracker. There
was a 13 note pedal at one time, but that is gone. There are no pedal
pipes with it, and the pedal could have been a pull down only. The
leathers are still attached to the under side of the 13 keys. I will let
you know the outcome....

Jimmy Baird