BANGOR – The 1860 E. & G. G. Hook Organ at St. John’s Catholic Church in Bangor has been selected for recognition as an instrument of exceptional historic merit by the Organ Historical Society, a national organization headquartered in Richmond, Va.

The Organ Historical Society, founded in the summer of 1956, promotes widespread musical and historical interest in the organ through preservation, publication of historical information, recordings and public concerts.

One of the finest surviving pre-Civil War organs, the Bangor organ was built in 1860 by the celebrated Hook firm in Boston and is regularly heard during liturgies and at public concerts at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St.

A plaque will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, during a concert given by Dr. George Becker of San Francisco, who will perform with a string trio led by Anatole Wieck of the University of Maine.

George Bozeman, author of the OHS guidelines on historical preservation, and restorer of the organ will make the presentation.