At the First Church Congregational in Boxford, Massachusetts, it took two organ committees five years to decide to give up their 100-year-old Hook and Hastings organ. Such is the longevity of the tracker organ technology! Unfortunately, the 1884 organ had been substantially altered and electrified in 1958, and the cost of restoration made a new organ the more attractive choice. The committee unanimously chose the Andover Organ Company. This would be Andover's Opus 107, a mechanical action organ in a Colonial style, custom designed for placement in the church balcony.

The congregation enthusiastically embraced the choice of the committee. Some funds were already available in an existing organ fund, and the remainder was pledged in only a few short weeks.

Because of the space limitations in the balcony and the need for choir seating, it was decided that the secondary division (Chair) would be located on the balcony railing, making the main organ case quite shallow. In order to have an enclosed division with Swell shades, it was decided to enclose the Great, but to design the shades to open a full 90 degrees so that no sound is blocked when they are fully open. With the exception of the 8' Open Diapason, the entire Great is enclosed. Mechanical design, casework and chests were designed by Jay Zoller.

The organ case, designed by Donald H. Olson, is built of poplar with mahogany trim to reflect and enhance the sound. The facade pipes, consisting of the Great 8' Principal, are of 80% polished tin. The Chair division on the balcony rail has the 8' Dulciana in the facade, again of polished tin. The mahogany pipe shades were hand carved by David Calvo of Gloucester. The console is solid mahogany with rosewood stop knobs and engraved bone inserts.

Tonal designer Robert J. Reich, created an organ that is extremely versatiile despite the small size of the instrument. With the addition of the prepared 8' Stopped Diapason, the organ will fulfill all of the goals set forth by the Organ Committee.