By Carol Lombardo
Did you know that at the Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, you can experience a beautifully restored Aeolian Organ, that was custom built here in Garwood, in its factory on North Avenue?
In 1929, the great ballroom in Longwood Gardens was built by Pierre duPont to house a new organ and to protect it from any temperature changes. Organist Firmin Swinnen created the specifications of the organ that was hand-crafted in the Aeolian factory. The organ had 10,010 pipes set up in 146 ranks, making it one of the largest Aeolian organs ever built. At that time, 1929, the organ cost $122,700. Mr. Swinnen was the concert organist in residence at Longwood from 1923 to 1956 where he played regularly on the 1930 Aeolian Organ.
(above) Aeolian Factory.
(above) Construction of pipe organs.
(above) Aeolian Company building.
