by David Buchanan, Curator of Decorative Objects and Furniture
People often offer the museum old upright pianos and we just as often reject them. “No one wants one of those big old uprights” is, unfortunately, generally heard by owners trying to find a home for theirs. I find it very ironic there is one old upright we would like very much like to find. Since this piano was mass-produced it is also likely there is someone out there who would love for theirs to be in the museum’s collection. The frustrating question is: how do we find each other?
The piano we need is an Emerson Upright Grand Piano. But not just any Emerson upright will do. We actually want to match all of the details of one currently in our collection. The piano, made in the late 1880s or early 1890s, is displayed at Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site on Sylvan Lake near Rome City. Gene had this piano at her home in Geneva and then took it with her when she moved to Sylvan Lake. It remains there today and we need a match for the music room at Limberlost State Historic Site in Geneva. Seek and ye shall find … I certainly hope so!
The front of the Emerson Upright Grand Piano.
Side detail of the Emerson Upright piano at the Gene Stratton-Porter Cabin.
Filed under: culture, Gene Stratton-Porter, history, Limberlost, museums, State Historic Sites | Tagged: Emerson Upright Grand Piano, Gene Stratton-Porter, Geneva, Limberlost, piano, Rome City, upright piano |
Exploring Science & Culture 
I believe we have a piano that matches your description. It is an Emerson Cabinet Grand, in walnut, I believe, from that era. Since it is at my mother’s home in California I don’t have the serial number at the moment. It’s in very good condition, but needs new strings. It’s been in the living room for the last 50 years.