Historic Organ Restoration Committee Inc

Historic Organ Restoration Committee is a 501c3 chartered by the state of New Jersey for the restoration and preservation of the two pipe organs of Historic Boardwalk Hall. In addition to the actual physical restoration of the instruments, HORC seeks to educate and increase awareness of the unique importance of these instruments as irreplaceable national treasures through programming and tours throughout the year. The large organ (main auditorium) is the world's largest musical instrument, the smaller instrument (Adrian Phillips Theater) is one uniquely suited to the interpretation of silent film.
HORC was formed by the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority on February 13, 2004 for the solicitation of funds for the restoration of the pipe organ(s) of Atlantic City Convention Hall (now Boardwalk Hall).
HORC seeks to demonstrate the singular capabilities of the unique musical treasures of Boardwalk Hall and raise awareness for the need for additional funds to complete the project of the restoration of both organs to their original musical capabilities. 16 million dollars is needed over the next 10 years to return both organs to fully functional.
Currently, the past several years of work have allowed the first 75% of the Ballroom organ and approximately 50% of the Main Auditorium organ to return to functionality. The use of these instruments for programming such as outlined above, allows us to make people aware of the presence of the instruments within the building. The instruments otherwise are not necessarily visually obvious to guests of Boardwalk Hall as they are enclosed within the walls and ceilings of the building.
The long-range plan of HORC is to complete the restoration of these two instruments and return them to full functionality. At our current rate of funding, we anticipate this to be 2023, but this may change. These instruments are slowly, but surely returning to the daily operations of the building and can be heard in numerous concerts and shows at Boardwalk Hall. HORC will continue to promote an increase of tourist interest and awareness of what has recently best been described as “The Sonic Mt. Rushmore".

In 1997, a major study of the instrument was undertaken as part of the efforts to restore the great building. Previous attempts at restoration had failed, yet HORC's efforts have been successful:

• Of the eight pipe chambers, one has been kept operational. It houses a massive 132 ranks, and has filled Boardwalk Hall with thrilling music since 2013 when the organ returned to public use in the building thanks to HORC's work
• This chamber is audience right of the stage, its counterpart audience left with 117 ranks is fully restored as of mid- 2018
• HORC's plans call for a systematic, chamber-by-chamber restoration
• HORC employs a restoration staff headed by Nathan Bryson, with three fulltime experts and a staff of volunteers, employing the highest standards of organ restoration to guarantee the Midmer-Losh is restored to the highest level of restoration possible

The building has been restored; roofing repaired and water tight; asbestos removed; and thus the organ is protected while the restoration work continues. More importantly, HORC's excellent restoration work allows the 250-plus ranks currently playing to be heard in its inimitable glory, en route to complete restoration.
The target year for the 449 ranks being operational: 2023.

HORC employs and has on its board industry leaders in the field of pipe organ restoration including:
• Curt Mangel, President of the HORC Board of Directors, has been associated with the greatest pipe organs in the world, including the Macy's/Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia; the Sanfillipo Wurlitzer in Barrington, IL; and the restoration of Shea's Buffalo Theatre, and its Wurlitzer pipe organ
• Nathan Bryson, a project manager with Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders, brings his skills to assist HORC as Curator of Organs at Boardwalk Hall in the daily onsite rebuilding activities of the organs. Mr. Bryson has previously been involved with multiple Wanamaker Organ Symposium's focusing on the restoration and relocation of the Orchestral division and also has been involved with the Wurlitzer installation in the Greek Hall. Other notable projects worked on by Mr. Bryson include the 4/83 Aeolian-­‐Skinner at Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC, 5/85 Austin/Cornel Zimmer at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Atlanta, GA and 3/38 Aeolian-­‐Skinner at Neely's Creek A.R.P., Rock Hill, NC.
• Charles Gibson began listening to the 106 rank E.M. Skinner organ while enrolled at Girard College. Upon graduating from Girard in 1973, Chuck was hired as an apprentice pipe organ technician. One year later, M.P. Moller hired Chuck into the factory team where he learned many areas of the trade. In 1976 Chuck moved back to New Jersey, working with a Philadelphia organ builder. In 1978, Chuck was recommended for the position of Assistant Curator of the Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia where he remained for 11 years.
Chuck began his own service company while still at Wanamaker's; the company grew quickly and was incorporated in 1987. Today the company known as C.W. Gibson, Inc., Pipe Organ Specialties, is responsible for the care and tuning of 125 church pipe organs.

In addition HORC has received financial support from the State of New Jersey, and funding from the Wyncote Foundation, in addition to support from individual members and supportive organizations such as the American Theatre Organ Society, Organ Historical Society, American Institute of Organbuilders and American Guild of Organists

Since working earnestly on the restoration the following accomplishments have been made:
• The W.W. Kimball in Boardwalk Hall's Adrian Phillips Theater was brought back to life in 2012 after a silence of nearly 14 years.
• The main organ was returned to playable life in the hall in September 2013 with 10% functioning for the 2014 Miss America Pageant.
• By 2015 25% of the organ was made functional with ongoing work in the right stage chamber.
• The left stage chamber was brought back to operable life on July 1st 2016 bringing the organ to 33% functionality.
• As of mid 2018 50% of the organ has been brought back online.

We will continue bringing on components of the organ until both instruments are at 100% functionality and a fund is developed for ongoing maintenance and programing. Upcoming goals include:
• Bringing the Choir Division (3,038 pipes) online in 2022.
• Work on the Kimball Pipe Organ is almost complete now. We have recovered the original 9' Kimball Grand Piano and are working to restore it to full functionality.
• Restoration of the "portable" 5 manual console to allow for greater ease of playing in the building with different staged events and the ability to have two organists at once on the main instrument.