The Hammond Organ Reed Factory at 9 May Street was once the largest producer of organ reeds in the world and played a key role in Worcester’s industrial success. At the dawn of the 20th century, its founder, Andrew Hammond, was considered one of the city’s most prominent manufacturers.  His story illuminates both the creativity and the cutthroat competition of manufacturing. But his story also extends beyond business.

This lecture explores how Hammond’s rise reveals the deep connections between Worcester’s manufacturing growth and its rich musical culture. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, music permeated everyday life across lines of race, class, and gender. Through the instruments, the people who played them, and the spaces—from parlors to public halls—where music was made, Hammond’s story opens a window onto a vibrant cultural world whose echoes remain in Worcester today.