Dick Noah sits at the console of his home-built hybrid theatre organ with his wife, Frances, at his side. The console is a reproduction based on a 1970s Wurlitzer model; the pipe work came out of the 1920s. The key board is a Wurlitzer original, the wood frame was purchased on the Internet and the pedal board was obtained in the 1970s from the Old Strand Theatre in Brockport. Dick says that the organ was basically finished this past July but he still is adding bits and pieces to it. Someday, he says, he may construct an electronic organ. Dick estimates his hobby has cost between $15-$20,000, but it's obviously a work of love, since he really enjoys making music on it.

Dick points out the wooden pipes which are Wurlitzer tibia. These produce a romantic flute sound with a high tremolo. Directly in front of these are trumpet sound pipes. The whole organ setup easily occupies half of the basement of his Spencerport home. Photographs by Walter Horylev.

Spencerport man builds sweet music

Richard Noah is a retired plumber with one big pipe dream. The 80-year-old Spencerport resident has vivid memories of his Buffalo childhood going to as many shows at the Shea's Performing Art Center as possible.

It was there that Noah fell in love with the melodic sounds that poured out of the pipe organ.

"You can't find anything else that can make those sounds," said Noah.

As a father of four, he hoped to share his love of organ music with his children. While purchasing a pipe organ wasn't financially realistic, Noah was able to rent an electric organ. It came with six free lessons.

"They didn't want anything to do with it," said Noah. "I ended up taking the lessons myself." Noah was hooked immediately, but his electric organ wouldn't do. The sound he wanted to hear came from pipes.

Decades went by as Noah used precious free time to track down parts and build his own pipe organ.

"I didn't have too much knowledge of how to do it. I just had the will," said Noah.

As he built, he studied the industry with a careful eye. He can talk for hours about the evolution of the organ. His favorite designer was Robert Hope Jones. One of his prized possessions is a signed invitation from the owner of the Wurlitzer Organ Company in North Tonawanda.

Noah's grasp of history is amazing to hear, but it is one's sight that is sent into sensory overload when visiting with Noah. His basement, which he had specially designed, resembles a laboratory.

Noah has worked diligently to build a pipe organ complete with 1,100 pipes that with the push of a key can trigger a piano, a clarinet, a triangle, cymbals, a sleigh bell, a snare drum, a '49 Chrysler horn; and all together 25 different sounds. To assemble his masterpiece, a hybrid Wurlitzer, Noah has collected parts from around the country. Wall panels have been customized to serve as shutters to regulate airflow.

The organ rests on one side of the basement, a bright white with blue and gold trim. It looks as if it was scooped up from a show room. Noah plays it now and then, but really focuses his energy on continuing to build it. Next he plans to get the bass drum working.

While Noah shrugs off his playing ability, he loves to listen to others play. He and his wife, Frances, open up their home to the public for concerts, allowing talented musicians to showcase their gifts. The next performance will be November 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Noah residence at 19 Sias Lane. Spencerport's Bernie Morgan will be the event's featured musician. There is no cost.

Note: The Noahs can be reached at 352-1148.