Steve Sorenson mentioned a reed organ museum in Hanover, Michigan.
These organs, now numbering something over 100, were largely collected
by Lee Conklin. Upon his death, the entire collection was given to the
Hanover-Horton Historical Society.
The collection continues to grow, mostly with donations. The building
where the collection is now housed is the former Hanover-Horton High
School, which had its last graduating class in 1958. (My wife was in
that class.)
Adjacent to the Conklin Museum is another building which houses the
restoration facility, where they have restoration/repair workshops,
usually on the 4th Friday and Saturday of each month. This month,
there is an instructional clinic on June 24 and 25. In addition to the
large reed organ collection, they also have a Wurlitzer theater organ,
awaiting restoration sometime in the future.
Further information on the historical society, museum, workshops,
and clinics can be had by contacting Ray Pengra at 517-563-2833
or e-mail at <rpengra@jacksonmi.com>.
Bruce Miller
Issaquah, MI
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