By Rejoice E. Scherry, site administrator.
In the 1920s, the Baldwin Piano Company of Cincinnati, Ohio was an internationally recognized piano maker. Baldwin rivaled, if not outperformed, Steinway in every regard. The superior sound of Baldwin pianos was preferred by a majority of American radio stations and recording studios. There was just one problem; piano sales were plummeting.
The way in which Americans consumed music was rapidly changing. Where once every home contained a piano, there now sat phonographs, player pianos, and radios. Music appreciation soared with the advent of new musical styles such as jazz, swing, and blues, but musical skill was declining. Individuals did not have to know how to play instruments to enjoy music at home.
Baldwin needed to garner national attention for their products in order to capture a dwindling market. In December 1923, the company gifted First Lady Grace Coolidge a Model K grand piano and announced their generosity in a series of Christmas ad campaigns. Mrs. Coolidge was a skilled pianist and had a reputation for her passionate appreciation of music. The subtle installation of a Baldwin instrument in the president’s residence at the White House was a resounding endorsement.
Grace Coolidge’s White House piano eventually entered into the care of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and became a starring artifact at the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth, Vermont. For decades, the piano has transported museum-goers on musical journeys. However, in 2023, at 100 years of age, staff noticed the instrument’s diminishing performance. An evaluation by a piano technician noted serious physical deterioration. Immediate intervention was needed.
For over a year, Mrs. Coolidge’s beloved piano rested at the Old Timey Piano Craft studio, operated by Patrick Branstetter, in Brattleboro. Included in the monumental work undertaken was the repair of a cracked structural beam, replacing the soundboard, and rebuilding the key actions and hammers.
The piano returned to the Coolidge State Historic Site in July 2026, and museum staff are now looking forward to unveiling the final results in a concert on Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to this free recital where the piano will be feted with a presentation about its unique history and restoration process, and performances by professional musicians. This former White House piano uniquely blends the best of American industry and art and offers a glimpse into the preeminent sound of the 1920s.
