William Allen Johnson
Encyclopedia
William Allen Johnson of Westfield
, Massachusetts
, USA, was a builder of pipe organs during the later half of the nineteenth century. (See Johnson Organs
). Previously, Johnson had operated a successful construction company in Westfield, where some of his buildings may still be seen.
on October 27, 1816, to William R. and Eliza Allen Johnson, the first of eight children. In 1819, the Johnson family moved to Hawley, Franklin County, Massachusetts, then shortly afterward to Westfield, Massachusetts, following William's father's trade as a millwright
Young Johnson first attended a private school, then the public school. His formal education ended at the age of thirteen when he began to earn his own living. After working on a farm for two years, he worked in a glue factory, then at a whip factory in Westfield which is still known as "Whip City". In September 1834 Johnson apprenticed himself to a mason for a term of three years and three months. During this period, he worked in a cotton mill in Chicopee, Massachusetts during wintertimes. At the end of his apprenticeship, Johnson formed his own construction business, doing considerable work in the Westfield area.
In November 1839, William A Johnson married Mary Ann Douglas. Mary Johnson went on to become well known as a talented artist. Some of her paintings of the Westfield River Valley and the surrounding hills can be seen at the Westfield Athenaeum.
During a slack period of construction work in the winter of 1843 - 1844, Mr. Johnson decided to build a small parlor organ. It was of just one rank or set of pipes
, had one keyboard
, and no pedalboard. By successfully completing this project, he proved to himself that he had the skills necessary for the building of pipe organs. Continuing this practice, Johnson built six parlor organs of increased size during the next three winters. In 1847, he decided to accept only construction contracts that could be finished by the fall so that he could close his construction business and devote all of his time to the building of pipe organs.
Johnson soon assembled a team of skilled craftsmen to augment his own considerable skills. The Johnson Organ Company became one of the most respected organ firms of the country. In 1871, following a disastrous fire and the inclusion of Johnson's son William H. Johnson into the firm, the company became known as "Johnson and Son". The firm built a total of 860 tracker action
pipe organs throughout the United States and in Canada and Bermuda before it ceased operations in 1898
William A. Johnson died on January 20, 1901, at the age of 84.
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, USA, was a builder of pipe organs during the later half of the nineteenth century. (See Johnson Organs
Johnson Organs
The William A. Johnson Organ Company of Westfield, Massachusetts, which later became Johnson & Son Organ Company, was a highly respected firm which built 860 pipe organs throughout the United States and in Canada and Bermuda. The company operated from 1844 through 1898...
). Previously, Johnson had operated a successful construction company in Westfield, where some of his buildings may still be seen.
Early life
William was born in Nassau, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on October 27, 1816, to William R. and Eliza Allen Johnson, the first of eight children. In 1819, the Johnson family moved to Hawley, Franklin County, Massachusetts, then shortly afterward to Westfield, Massachusetts, following William's father's trade as a millwright
Young Johnson first attended a private school, then the public school. His formal education ended at the age of thirteen when he began to earn his own living. After working on a farm for two years, he worked in a glue factory, then at a whip factory in Westfield which is still known as "Whip City". In September 1834 Johnson apprenticed himself to a mason for a term of three years and three months. During this period, he worked in a cotton mill in Chicopee, Massachusetts during wintertimes. At the end of his apprenticeship, Johnson formed his own construction business, doing considerable work in the Westfield area.
In November 1839, William A Johnson married Mary Ann Douglas. Mary Johnson went on to become well known as a talented artist. Some of her paintings of the Westfield River Valley and the surrounding hills can be seen at the Westfield Athenaeum.
The William A. Johnson / Johnson and Son Organ Co.
In 1843, Johnson's construction firm was chosen to build a new building for his own church, the Westfield Methodist Church. As the building was being completed, an organ builder arrived to install a pipe organ. When asked about the availability of a worker to help set up the organ, Mr. Johnson readily applied for the job. During the installation of this organ, William became interested in the art of organ building.During a slack period of construction work in the winter of 1843 - 1844, Mr. Johnson decided to build a small parlor organ. It was of just one rank or set of pipes
Organ pipe
An organ pipe is a sound-producing element of the pipe organ that resonates at a specific pitch when pressurized air is driven through it. Each pipe is tuned to a specific note of the musical scale...
, had one keyboard
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
, and no pedalboard. By successfully completing this project, he proved to himself that he had the skills necessary for the building of pipe organs. Continuing this practice, Johnson built six parlor organs of increased size during the next three winters. In 1847, he decided to accept only construction contracts that could be finished by the fall so that he could close his construction business and devote all of his time to the building of pipe organs.
Johnson soon assembled a team of skilled craftsmen to augment his own considerable skills. The Johnson Organ Company became one of the most respected organ firms of the country. In 1871, following a disastrous fire and the inclusion of Johnson's son William H. Johnson into the firm, the company became known as "Johnson and Son". The firm built a total of 860 tracker action
Tracker action
Tracker action is a term used in reference to pipe organs and steam calliopes to indicate a mechanical linkage between keys or pedals pressed by the organist and the valve that allows air to flow into pipe of the corresponding note...
pipe organs throughout the United States and in Canada and Bermuda before it ceased operations in 1898
William A. Johnson died on January 20, 1901, at the age of 84.