A Most Successful preservation

[KB7DQH]

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/sep/25/a-most-successful-preservation/?newswatch

A most successful preservation


Published: Sun, September 25, 2011 @ 12:00 a.m.

A most successful preservation

The parallel that The Vin- dicator drew in last Sunday's editorial between the disappearance of the former Idora Park carousel from Youngstown and the restoration of the Stambaugh Auditorium E. M. Skinner Opus 582 pipe organ could not have been more powerfully stated. The good news is that both of these historic assets have been preserved and continue to function as their original creators intended. The sad truth, unfortunately, is that only one of them remains in its original setting, and continues, with its successful restoration, to document a most significant part of this city's cultural heritage.

Tragically, Youngstown, like many similar communities in this country, has lost so much of its history. A sizeable number of the current Youngstown population, particularly its younger members, has little sense of this struggling community's heritage. Far too often, we are reminded of Youngstown having lost another of its former glories: Idora Park's carousel, for instance, or its downtown theaters, public buildings, some of the grandest mansions owned by the city's former industrial giants. Fortunately, many local organizations and individuals have of late devoted extraordinary efforts to change attitudes and conditions.

Last Sunday marked a very significant historic event in Youngstown's cultural history: the rededication of the E. M. Skinner Organ, Opus 582, in Stambaugh Auditorium. It was indeed a thrilling afternoon and evening witnessing this occasion and being part of the large and enthusiastic audience gathered for the concert by the brilliant David Higgs, guest organist, and the Youngstown Symphony, conducted by Randall Craig Fleischer.

This would have been impossible without the vision of the Stambaugh trustees and directors, the generosity of the Joseph G. Bradley Foundation, the State of Ohio, the local Youngstown foundations and many dedicated corporate and individual donors. Two of the presidents of the Stambaugh Auditorium Association, past and present, the late Mrs. Byron E. Armstrong (Barbara), and William Conti, should also be acknowledged. Without their inspired leadership and dogged determination, the E. M. Skinner organ would have remained silent. It has been a privilege for me since 1960 to work hand in hand with both of them, to play this organ, and now as an enthusiastic member of the board of directors, to help to realize the full potential of this remarkable instrument and the vision of Ernest M. Skinner and of Henry H. Stambaugh.

The extraordinary restoration accomplishment by Nicholas Thompson-Allen, Joseph Dzeda and their colleagues at the A. Thompson-Allen Co. of New Haven, Conn., has enabled us to hear, perhaps as never before, "What history does indeed sound like," as your editorial suggests.

Ronald L. Gould, Youngstown

The writer was project manager for restoration of Stambaugh's E. M. Skinner organ and is professor of music (emeritus) of the Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University.

Eric
KB7DQH