Organ

Manning Organ

In 1873, William Manning rented the upper stories of a factory building that stood in today’s Millbrook meadow and began to manufacture his newly patented style of parlor organ. Constructed from black walnut, the moderately priced reed-organs were so popular that demand outstripped supply, but by 1875, after selling only fifty organs, Manning decided to close his business and sold his patent to a Manchester firm. Two of Manning’s organs reside at the museum.