The NEO Press - Methuen Memorial Music Hall

Methuen Memorial Music Hall

About the Methuen Memorial Music Hall Organ

Upon first glance the stately brick building with a bell tower on Broadway in Methuen, Mass., looks like it could be one of the many churches that dot the New England landscape. Viewing the understated decoration of the brick exterior, you’d never know the confection of delights both visual and aural, that await inside the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, built as the permanent home for the first concert organ in the country.
     The organ for which this building was specifically created was originally built for the Boston Music Hall. Now known as the Orpheum Theatre, it is one of the nation’s oldest theaters, opening in 1852.
     In 1857 an arrangement was made with E.F. Walcker and Company of Ludwigsburg, Germany, to construct an “organ of first rate” for the Boston Music Hall. After a series of delays and cost overages, the organ was installed in the Music Hall in 1863, at a final cost of over $60,000.
     For the next 21 years the organ was the centerpiece of the Boston Music Hall — impressive in sound as well as look, with its imposing hand-carved case made of American black walnut and decorative pipes of burnished tin.
     But as they do today, tastes changed with the times, with the organ seeming outmoded. The founding of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1881 reflected these changing musical interests, and for a while both the BSO and the Great Organ jockeyed for precious stage space.
     Despite protest, the organ was eventually sold for $5,000 with the hopes that it was to be donated to the New England Conservatory of Music. Those plans never came to fruition and the organ lay in storage for 13 years, finally being sold at auction for a mere $1,500 to Edward Francis Searles of Methuen.
     With an artistic background and independent wealth in the millions, Edward Francis Searles commissioned architect Henry Vaughan, designer of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., to design a building worthy of housing the Great Organ. From the acoustics to the decor, everything was created with the intention of showcasing the instrument's workmanship and sound.
     Though the hall was never meant to be used as a house of religion, the building follows the Latin Cross floor plan, and is currently a popular venue for weddings and other celebrations. The interior English baroque style design is in sharp contrast to the simple exterior of the Hall, much to the surprise of visitors.
     The floors are laid with large marble tiles, the walls are dark oak panels with opulent brocade above, and Corinthian style pilasters add to the classical feeling of the space. The most striking of all the architectural features is the 65-foot-high Roman barrel vault ceiling, laden with an exuberance of plaster details highlighted by gilded accents.
     Finished in 1909 as the Serlo Organ Hall, it was never open to the public and used only for the private entertainment of Mr. Searles and his guests until his passing in 1920. From that time the hall and organ had a variety of owners until the mid-1940s when eight area residents formed a charitable corporation known as Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Inc. to acquire and establish the organ hall as a cultural center.
Stacks Image 99892
Stacks Image 99902
thex Created with Sketch.
Raúl Prieto
Evening Concert at Methuen in 2009.
Stacks Image 110475
Stacks Image 112444
thex Created with Sketch.
Anne Horsch, organ
Charles Tournemire: Choral-Improvisation sur le "Victimae pascali"
Stacks Image 100343

Select an image to enlarge