Mr. Stuart Kolbinson,
KINDERSLEY, SASK.

Dear Mr. Kolbinson:-

Glad to hear from you and to learn that your organ turned out to be such a success. From the various parts of its make-up which you enumerated it must be somewhat of a hybrid, but the results are what really count. We must remember too that some of the finest things in botany (and in agriculture) are hybrids, so take comfort in that thought.

Yes! The C.F.L. Company started a branch business in St. Hyacinthe. They rented the upper floor of a flimsy building which was constructed a few years ago for chicken raising. The upper floor was only about five feet high at the sides and a little higher in the centre conforming to the shape of the roof. It was so flimsily built in wood that no insurance company would insure it against fire.

During the year that has passed since I last heard from you I have been through some troublous times. On returning from a vacation in Bermuda in April last I was stricken with a heart attack whilst high over Boston in a BOAC plane. I was confined to the Montreal General Hospital for five weeks and was unable to do much more of active work for the balance of the Summer and early Fall. Finally, on November 1st, I retired from active duty, but I still go to the office occasionally in case there may be a letter of interest for me. I am now alright as far as the "ticker" is concerned but have to take things very quietly from now onward.

I am interested in the account you gave of your organ work and am glad to learn that you got the small chest electrified and working well with Reisner magnets. These magnets are very well made and are absolutely reliable.

Dear Mr. Kolbinson:-

First of all, please excuse the pencil. I am sitting under a willow tree in my garden at the back of my home - scribbling in a pad on my knee, so in that position, I find a pencil handier than a pen for my particular brand of calligraphy. Secondly, I must ask you to pardon me for not replying sooner to your nice newsy letter of March 14th, but time seems to run as fast with me (even though I am retired from active work) that I find each day all too short for me to do all I should do, or wish to do.

Dear Mr. Kolbinson:-

Your letter of February 26th addressed to Mr. Servais has been passed on to me for a reply.

I retired from active duty in the Firm in November 1956 after having suffered a heart attack on a flight back from Bermuda, but I still come here to the office occasionally for a couple of hours to attend to such special things as your own letter.

The old organ of Grace Church, Winnipeg, was originally built by our Firm in 1907 and carried the serial number 301. In the year 1917 it was re-constructed into a 4 manual of 46 registers with new chests in the Pedal etc. etc.

Under separate cover I am sending you the original shop drawing of 1907, attached to which is the pencilled drawing of the additions and changes of 1917, and I hope this old plan will be of some help to you and your architect. Please take good care of it and return it when you are through with it because we are very careful to preserve our old files intact.

I am still in fairly good health but have to take things easy from now on. Answering your other queries, Mr. Walcker has also retired and is in fairly good health but Mr. Bedard and Mr. Fontaine passed away some years ago.

With kindest regards, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Stephen Stoot

Admin Note: Stephen Stoot passed away on October 8, 1959.