Village Organ and Clock Museum

Village Organ and Clock Museum The Rappahannock Organ Company in conjunction with the Burnt Chimneys historic estate proudly presents the Village Organ and Clock Museum.

Weaver Chapel Organ Restoration WeekendThe Weaver Chapel Organ Restoration ProjectBackgroundThis past weekend, we undert...
04/16/2026

Weaver Chapel Organ Restoration Weekend

The Weaver Chapel Organ Restoration Project

Background
This past weekend, we undertook the restoration of a Weaver Chapel organ that had been displayed in our hall. Built around 1905 by the Weaver Organ & Piano Company of York, Pennsylvania, this instrument is pitched at A-454, lending it a distinctively bright Baroque tone.

Purpose of Restoration
The restoration work is being carried out in anticipation of our grand opening scheduled for July 1st.

Restoration Efforts
We were grateful to receive help from John and Kelly Provencher, who traveled from Northwestern Pennsylvania to assist us. Over four demanding days, we focused on disassembling the organ and carefully cleaning the action, keys, reeds, and tuning each reed. We extend our sincere thanks to John and Kelly for their dedication and hard work!

Work Remaining
Our next steps involve restoring the organ case, the stop action, and the bellows, followed by the reassembly of the instrument. These tasks must be completed before the organ is fully restored.

Looking Ahead
Stay tuned for further progress updates as we continue this restoration journey!

Christmas Seasonal Display AnnouncementHappy Holidays to One and All!We are excited to share some wonderful news for the...
12/26/2025

Christmas Seasonal Display Announcement

Happy Holidays to One and All!

We are excited to share some wonderful news for the holiday season. Following numerous requests from our visitors and supporters, we are delighted to announce the introduction of a special Christmas seasonal display. This exhibit will showcase a unique collection of antique and vintage Christmas decorations, including ornaments, lights and lighting, advertising materials, and ephemera.

Looking ahead to next year, we plan to expand our seasonal offerings with a display featuring Nativities and Creches from around the world. In addition, we are working on plans for a captivating O gauge model railroad display to enhance the holiday experience.

This Year’s Trial Display
Below are pictures of this year’s inaugural display. We hope these images evoke cherished memories of Christmases past and inspire a sense of nostalgia and joy for all who visit.

OverviewMarr & Colton project wrap up for 2025Restoration ProgressTime seemed to pass quickly during our restoration eff...
12/26/2025

Overview
Marr & Colton project wrap up for 2025

Restoration Progress
Time seemed to pass quickly during our restoration efforts on the 4 manual Marr & Colton console. With the excitement and dedication brought to the shop, the fall months slipped by, and before we realized it, Halloween and Thanksgiving had come and gone. As the year drew to a close, our team paused work in the shop to make room for holiday preparations and displays.

Year-End Accomplishments
We are pleased to report that we closed out the year having met our restoration goals for the console. The entire shell was successfully stripped and sanded, marking a significant milestone in the project. Following this, we assembled our completed work to obtain precise measurements for the replacement of missing parts. This step was essential to ensure that all components would fit together properly during reassembly.

Visual Progress
To provide a clearer picture of our achievements, several photos are included below to highlight the progress made so far.

Looking Ahead
We appreciate your continued interest and support. Please stay tuned, as the project will resume in full force by mid-January 2026!

Our Halloween mascot, Betty Bones has requested that we photograph her enjoying several of the organs that we have on di...
10/27/2025

Our Halloween mascot, Betty Bones has requested that we photograph her enjoying several of the organs that we have on display in the museum.
Betty's pictures are posted below, (numbers 1 thru 7). Please feel to choose a favorite pic of Betty and make her day!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

The Organ Clock: A Unique Addition to Our CollectionIntroductionWhoever said that organs and clocks do not mix? We are e...
10/22/2025

The Organ Clock: A Unique Addition to Our Collection

Introduction
Whoever said that organs and clocks do not mix? We are excited to announce a remarkable new addition to our clock display: an organ clock. This extraordinary piece was crafted around Boston, MA, circa 1850, by a local clockmaker. Currently, we are continuing to research its complete provenance.

Case Construction and Dimensions
The organ clock’s case is made from pine and elegantly covered with flame mahogany veneer. It features a separate base section, which appears to have been constructed later. The clock stands 84 inches tall without the added base, and approximately 96 inches tall when placed on the additional base.

Clock Movement
The clock is powered by a brass 30-hour continuous chain movement, which is driven by a weight weighing about 9 pounds.

Strike and Organ Mechanism
The strike and organ section of the clock is constructed from cherry wood and includes 37 stoppered pine wood pipes. These pipes are activated to play a tune using a cog-covered cylinder situated just beneath the pipe chest. This musical mechanism is driven by a substantial weight of 63 pounds.

Provenance
This clock was acquired from the personal collection and museum of Mr. Nelson Pease of Palmer, MA.
Current Status and Invitation for Information
While the clock is NOT currently in working order, it is on display in the museum. If anyone has encountered a similar clock, we welcome your comments and insights.

The Marr & Colton Theater Organ Console Rebuilding ProjectIntroduction“and the dead shall sing once again!” The Marr & C...
10/11/2025

The Marr & Colton Theater Organ Console Rebuilding Project

Introduction
“and the dead shall sing once again!” The Marr & Colton theater organ console rebuilding project has officially commenced. Before providing detailed information about the restoration, it is important to review the background of this endeavor.

Project Origins
In 2017, as plans for the museum were being developed, the decision was made to include a theater pipe organ in the design. To accommodate this, a dedicated 25-foot by 30-foot space with a 16-foot-high ceiling was designated as the museum’s theater. This marked the beginning of extensive research into art deco theaters, their architecture, interior design, and the organs they housed.

Locating the Console
Finding a suitable theater organ console for the space was a significant challenge. After extensive searching online, a console located in Baltimore, MD, was discovered. What made this console stand out was its distinctive French style. Although the seller was uncertain about the maker or its original installation site, the console was within budget, prompting its purchase.

Identifying Its History
Once the console arrived at the shop, a detailed inspection was performed. With assistance from Dr. Steven Ball, who happened to be visiting, it was confirmed that the console had been manufactured by Marr & Colton and originally installed in the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis, IN.

Condition and Challenges
The “before” photographs reveal that previous attempts to repair the console had left the interior in a state of disarray. Many pneumatic components were either badly damaged or missing entirely. The cabling to the setter boards had been cut, and the console was so filled with dirt that it could be shoveled out. On a positive note, the exterior case had been stripped, exposing a variety of woods and veneers.

Decision to Rebuild
After thoroughly researching and pricing out the necessary work, it became clear that a complete restoration would be both time-consuming and prohibitively expensive. As a result, it was decided to rebuild the console using modern component parts, ensuring its functionality and preserving its historic character.

Project Progress
Below are photographs documenting the initial condition of the console and the early stages of the rebuilding process. Additional updates and images will be shared as the project progresses, so stay tuned for more information.

Vox Humana Voices! Recently we finished the restoration of the 1930's Moller Vox Humana rank for the theater organ inst...
10/08/2025

Vox Humana Voices! Recently we finished the restoration of the 1930's Moller Vox Humana rank for the theater organ installation in the museum's theater room. All the pipes were disassembled and cleaned. Following that, they were put on the voicing jack and brought into speech at 5.5" of wind. They have a wonderful sound and will be a great addition to the organ's stop list.

Stay tuned for more on the restoration of the Marr & Colton console!

10/07/2025

Excellent talk from Old Dominion Chapter 34 horologist Dennis Stephens and David Brannan.. Their newly opened Village Organ and Clock Museum in Callao, VA is fascinating! Plan to Visit! (Dennis is a North Apollo, PA native son).

This past week we had what we called Diapason Delight week. We had the privilege of restoring 2 Diapason Ranks which wi...
09/05/2025

This past week we had what we called Diapason Delight week. We had the privilege of restoring 2 Diapason Ranks which will go into the museum's theater pipe organ installation.

The first Diapason rank that we restored was the large-scale Moller Phonon Diapason. Its pipes were constructed of linen lead. I must admit the finished product has a BIG bold sound. All the pipes of the rank were cleaned and blown free of debris. The tuning collars were cleaned and painted with metallic silver paint. Finally, the rank was placed on the voicing jack and brought into proper speech.

The second Diapason rank that we restored was the smaller scale more delicate Moller Violin Diapason. The pipes of this rank were constructed of linen lead as well. Again, all pipes of the rank were cleaned and blown free of debris. The tuning collars were cleaned with SOS pads and were brought back to their original shine. The rank was then placed on the voicing jack and brought into proper speech.

Below are some pictures of our progress. Now on to the Vox Humana!!

Today we celebrated the addition of 2 new reed organs to our museum display. Thanks to generosity of Mr. Hans Herr of L...
09/02/2025

Today we celebrated the addition of 2 new reed organs to our museum display. Thanks to generosity of Mr. Hans Herr of Lancaster, Pennsylvania we are grateful to have 2 outstanding examples of reed organs which were manufactured in the Boston area during the 19th century.
Organ #1 is a grand parlor style George Woods organ in a stunning flame mahogany veneered case with all of the builder's decorative frills, and an impressive stop list.
Organ #2 is a Smith American Connoisseur (low style) organ, in a handsome walnut case with an equally thrilling stop list.
Below are several pics of the new additions.
Thank you once again Hans for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Also, thanks to KC Pratt for all of his moral support during this endeavor.

08/27/2025

An excellent example of a reed organ as used in the theater!

Address

68 Gibeon Road
Callao, VA

Telephone

+18045299999

Website

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