John E. Bergstrom
1876

As noted by Mechanics' Institute librarian Taryn Edwards, the organization held 31 industrial fairs "that displayed and promoted the products of local entrpreneurs and inventors" between 1857 and 1899. Edwards indicated that these industrial exhibits were important showcases for California's early inventors and commercial enterprises, setting the standards for later fairs held in the northern part of the state: "These Expositions bolstered California's infant economy, encouraged the demand for local goods, and whetted the public's appetite for elaborate, multi-attraction fairs. Because of the Mechanics' Institute's vast experience with putting on such spectacles they were involved as consultants on larger state-wide fairs including the California Midwinter Fair of 1894, the Golden Jubilee Mining Fair of 1898, the Portola Exposition of 1909, and the Panama Pacific Exposition in 1915." (See Taryn Edwards, Mechanics' Institute.org, "San Francisco at the Fair: the Mechanics’ Institute’s Industrial Expositions, 1857-1899," accessed 10/30/2023.)

This organ almost certainly sold to the Placerville Methodist Church (date unknown), later relocated to the El Dorado County fairgrounds, which acquired property and built four buildings from 1939-c. 1950.

The Organ Room and the Bergstrom organ are extant at the fair grounds as of December 2025, although there is a dispute about the organ remaining and concern about the organ's future. A concurrent article appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle about the organ, with a photo. See Websites link below.

According to the Mariposa Gazette of 3/3/77, the organ was sold to the Independent Church (later First Unitarian) Oakland, CA. [Ed.: It is possible the organ referred to in the article is another or later fair organ, not the 1876 organ. See DOCMUENTS tab.]

Built for Mechanics Fair, 1876. Offered for sale for $5,000. Unknown if it was sold or installed anywhere after the fair. The Evening Post article of 5 Aug 1876 describes the organ (see DOCUMENTS tab for complete text): "The organ...is made of the finest black walnut with ornamental Gothic features, the pointed arches being supported by beautifully carved pillars, which divide three sets of pipes. The case is 15 feet wide, 26 feet high and 12 feet deep, being the largest that has been manufactured in this city. There are 24 pipe and combination stops..."