Princeton in Bureau County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
In Commemoration of Virgil Fox
1912 - 1980
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2024
1. In Commemoration of Virgil Fox Marker
Son of Miles S. and Birdie Nichols Fox. Native of Princeton, IL. and graduate of Princeton High School. First organ lessons at Hampshire Colony Church. First concert at age of 14 in Cincinnati. Organist for Riverside Church in New York City for 19 years. Celebrated proponent of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in many years of worldwide concerts. Designer of the magnificent organ of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA.
Erected 1982.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 41° 22.501′ N, 89° 27.912′ W. Marker is in Princeton, Illinois, in Bureau County. It is at the intersection of South Main Street (U.S. 34) and West Central Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. Marker is in front of Princeton City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 S Main St, Princeton IL 61356, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois and specifically in the Illinois River Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Flags of Freedom (within shouting distance of this marker); 518 S. Main St. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Owen Lovejoy (approx. 0.4 miles away); Richard L. Dick Nelson
this page online
Also see . . .
1. The Virgil Fox Legacy. Site dedicated to Fox includes a biography, discography, photographs, video clips of concert performances, audio clips of him giving lessons, and more. (Anchor-International Foundation, Virgil Fox Recording Fund) (Submitted on August 3, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Virgil Fox. Wikipedia entry on the renowned organist. (Submitted on August 3, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2024
2. In Commemoration of Virgil Fox Marker
Unknown; via Anchor-International Foundation (Public Domain)
3. Virgil Keel Fox (1912-1980)
He is best known for his tenure as organist at Riverside Church in New York City (1946-65) and for a series of flamboyant "Heavy Organ" concerts in the 1970s featuring the music of Johann Sebastian Bach set to stage lighting.
Radiobread via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0), July 7, 2007
4. The Hazel Wright Memorial Organ (Before 2014-16 Restoration)
Based on specifications and design ideas by Fox and others, it was the combination of two organs: A 1962 Aeolian-Skinner from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, and a 1977 Fratelli Ruffatti built for Garden Grove Community Church's original sanctuary. It was installed in May, 1982 in the congregation's new sanctuary, the Crystal Cathedral, home of the Hour of Power telecast. The third-largest pipe organ in the world at the time of its original installation, it was named for its benefactress, an Hour of Power viewer who donated $2 million. After the Catholic Diocese of Orange County acquired the church campus and building (renamed Christ Cathedral) in 2013, the organ underwent a two-year, $3 million restoration. With 17,106 individual pipes, it currently is the sixth-largest pipe organ in the world.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 438 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 3, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
