The organ originated as a 17-rank instrument for the Cathedral of St. John in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1937. It later served in the Diocesan St. John College for a number of years until that building was razed in 1980-81. The organ was then rebuilt and expanded to 36 ranks (using about 12 ranks from the 1937 organ) for Holy Trinity Parish, Bedford Heights, Ohio. The organ became available again in 1999, and was acquired by St. Joseph Parish in Avon Lake, Ohio, and put in storage for eventual installation in their new church. The 2014 contract included pipework from both the 1937 and 1981 instruments, plus additional pipework. The case of red oak with speaking facade pipes of flamed copper and silver/matter-finished zinc were executed by A.R. Schopp's Sons.