Biographie Lahaise Erasme

Biography written by Mrs. Pamela Ryan, from her Family Tree.

Generations of Pipe Organ experts 

In 1880 a young and single Erasme Lahaise left his native country of Canada( Quebec, Laval) for a new country. He was an experienced Pipe Organ Craftsman, Tuner and Musician even at this young age. A gift and a trade passed down from his father Louis A Lahaise( a concert Pipe organist for 50 years in Laval, Canada). Erasme came to Boston to work for the Premier Pipe Organ designer and Manufactureur of the day- Hook & Hastings Company. This company created some of the most amazing and extraordinarily large Pipe Organs ever. Their Largest Organ was the Opus 801 built in th Cathedral of the Holy Cross - Boston, MA in 1875. Many of these amazing instruments  are still around to this day filling churches, Halls and auditoriums with the most incredible sounds ONLY a Pipe Organ can create.. When Pope John Paul came to Boston My Uncle Bob(Robert) and Dick(Richard ) Lahaise (Lahaise and Sons Pipe Organ business founded a after Hook& Hastings closed its doors in 1932 by Erasme Lahaise, his son Henri, Louis and  Edward Lahaise- Edward moved to Indiana and continued this works out there but here in Boston it was  passed down to Henri's Sons Robert & Richard Lahaise after Henri's death in 1962) . My Uncle Bob sadly passed way too young in 1983. This left only my Uncle Dick to carry on the family business- and he did just that- in ths same shop of my Grandfathers house for years. In our family there are photos  of Uncle Bob and Uncle Dick actually standing in the Opus 801 Organ at the Cathedral looking down watching the Pope John Paul II celebrate Mass on his visit to Boston in 1979.. This Organ is huge!  Years later  the Organ Tuners guild held a special memorial concert at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in memory of my Uncle Richard C. Lahaise who passed away in 2010. this was my first time hearing this incredible Organ Being  played(an Organ that both my Uncles, Grandfather, Great Uncle and Great Grandfather lovingly serviced over decades). This Ogran music was spectacular. A fitting tribute to a line of talented craftsmen and musicians, but bittersweet as it saw the end of the Lahaise Pipe Organ Masters.