The Oldest Piano in America?

Could it really be the oldest piano in America? It could very well be! This square piano was built by James Henry Huston in 1763. According to a letter dated 1940 from its then owner to the Board of Directors of George Washington's Home in Mount Vernon, the piano had been passed down through many generations and many different families through the years. The story is that the original owner was an agent of George Washington himself!

The piano is imprinted with the name and company of the maker and the date the piano was made (Mr. J.H. Huston, 1763, 95 Wardour Street, Soho, London). The longest string inside the piano is more than four feet long and the shortest only fifteen inches! The piano has a total of five octaves.

Unfortunately, this piano is not in playing condition. However, PCHS does have a piano (The VanAusdal Piano, circa 1825-1835) in its collection that has been restored! Come see for yourself!

Would you like to visit another feature of the Sayler-Swartsel House? If so, click on a link below.

Sayler-Swartsel House	Sara's History	Architecture	The Elephant Table
	This publication made possible in part by the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.