Dodrill Residence - 2/13 Aeolian Duo Art with player
Mercer Island, Washington
Organ installation timeframe: 1991 - present
 
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Aeolian Duo Art console in the Dodrill music room
 
The Dodrill residence organ is a two-manual Aeolian Duo Art (opus #1645) with 176-note player. The instrument was originally sold to John McAlister of Toronto, Canada in December 1927 for $14,250. It was installed in his large stone house over the garage where it remained until approximately 1980 when the house was torn down and the property subdivided. A local organ firm purchased the organ and installed in a commercial department store/restaurant setting where it played for about two years but was considered to be too loud. The organ was removed and stored for seven years before being purchased by Carl & Halie Dodrill in 1991 along with 150 player rolls. The player is the 176 note variety which registers itself, and the Dodrills have acquired about 150 additional rolls.
 
The organ was originally two manuals and nine ranks (GREAT: Diapason 8, Flute 8, Clarinet (free reed) 8; SWELL: String pp 8, String F 8, String vibrato (celeste) 8, Oboe 8, and Vox Humana 8; PEDAL: Flute p 16, Flute F 16 (these are one rank with two volumes of air to each pipe). All 8 ranks on the main duplexed Pitman chest are extended ranks with 73 pipes.
 
The Great and the Swell are in separate chambers, both of which are under expression. The Pedal is not under expression. The organ speaks into a large living room listening area through three grates in the floor. This allows the three divisions to speak up into the music room where the console is.
 

A unique feature of the Dodrill instrument is the 16' Violone installed on the ceiling of the listening area.
 
The Dodrills have added four ranks thus far: 1) Piccolo 2; 2) Flute 8 (Swell); 3) String p 8 (Great); and, 4) Pedal string 16 (Violone). The pedal pipes are mounted on the ceiling, the other added ranks are mounted attractively on the walls of the music room except for the Piccolo which is in the chamber. With the varied pipe locations, an excellent "Surround Sound" effect is created. The player is used heavily and a number of different kinds of music can be illustrated.
 
The organ is used for charitable events in the Dodrill home which include fund raisers and for educational purposes. Cub Scouts and preschool classes have visited, and adults have heard the organ in connection with dinner parties. The organ is also used to stimulate interest in pipe organs generally, and to draw public attention to the fact that many organs are being scrapped when they could be rebuilt and placed where people want them.
 
The Dodrills are also founders of the non-profit Pipe Organ Foundation and visitors to the house are invited to become involved financially or in volunteer work.