The Seaquist House Board of Directors is proud to announce the gift of a rare turn-of-the-century Chickering Parlor Grand Piano that has been donated by long-time Mason resident, George Eastes. Now residing in McAllen, George purchased the piano back in 1985 for his wife, Mary. Encased in carved Brazilian rosewood and manufactured in 1897 at the Chickering & Sons plant located in Boston, Massachusetts, this pristine instrument was preserved in storage for so long that we have scheduled a professional tuner who will ensure the piano is restored to its original tune.
One of the first American piano manufacturers in the United States, the Chickering company was founded in 1823 by Jonas Chickering and James Stewart—a partnership that dissolved four years later, leading to the company’s reorganization as Chickering & Sons in 1853. Producing some of the finest pianos during the nineteenth century, Chickering was responsible for many developments, paving the way to the modern piano technology of today. Said to be the inspiration for Henry E. Steinway, founder of Steinway & Sons, Chickering pianos continued to be made until 1983.
Unlike baby grands, which are intended for home intimacy, a parlor grand piano offers a richer, more balanced sound for larger rooms— which means a heftier weight as well. So getting this six hundred- plus-pound piano to the third floor of the Seaquist was no easy task! It took a party of ten to twelve risking life and limb just to get it out of the enclosed trailer and up the first six steps to the front porch. And that was the easy part!
