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History sounds loud and clear at Thacher Hall in Yarmouth Port

CAI | By John Basile
Published June 1, 2026 at 12:18 PM EDT
Jonathan Ross of the Andover Organ Co. Works on one of the final pieces of the organ restoration at Thacher Hall.
1 of 10  — Organ 1.JPG
Jonathan Ross of the Andover Organ Co. Works on one of the final pieces of the organ restoration at Thacher Hall.
John Basile
The crew works to reassemble the historic tracker organ at the former Swedenborgian Church in Yarmouth Port.
2 of 10  — Organ 2.JPG
The crew works to reassemble the historic tracker organ at the former Swedenborgian Church in Yarmouth Port.
John Basile
Some of the organ parts the restoration team will reassemble.
3 of 10  — Organ 3.JPG
Some of the organ parts the restoration team will reassemble.
John Basile
Restoration involves working inside the organ.
4 of 10  — Organ 4.JPG
Restoration involves working inside the organ.
John Basile
A crewmember climbs inside the organ to work on the restoration.
5 of 10  — Organ 5.JPG
A crewmember climbs inside the organ to work on the restoration.
John Basile
The organ's pipes were set aside as the instrument was disassembled.
6 of 10  — Organ 6.JPG
The organ's pipes were set aside as the instrument was disassembled.
John Basile
The organ, which dates to 1872, in an early stage of being rebuilt.
7 of 10  — Organ 7.JPG
The organ, which dates to 1872, in an early stage of being rebuilt.
John Basile
Restoration crew members work inside the organ.
8 of 10  — Organ 9.JPG
Restoration crew members work inside the organ.
John Basile
The keyboard of the tracker organ at Thacher Hall.
9 of 10  — Organ 10.JPG
The keyboard of the tracker organ at Thacher Hall.
John Basile
Thacher Hall in Yarmouth Port is the former Swedenborgian Church of the New Jerusalem. It is now a performance venue.
10 of 10  — Thacher Hall exterior.JPG
Thacher Hall in Yarmouth Port is the former Swedenborgian Church of the New Jerusalem. It is now a performance venue.
John Basile

The historic tracker pipe organ at Thacher Hall in Yarmouth Port recently underwent a major restoration.

The organ was built by William Horatio Clarke in 1872 for the Swedenborgian Church of the New Jerusalem. It has been undated several times over the generations. This most recent renovation took about two years and one of its goals is to bring the organ closer to the way it sounded originally.

CAI's John Basile reports on the restoration process.
Local News
John Basile
Editor and reporter for CAI and host of Sittin' In CAI's series on musicians and the local music scene.
See stories by John Basile