Incorporated in 1753, Winchester drew upon the forests of Mt. Pisgah, iron deposits, and the water power of the Ashuelot River and its tributaries to grow from an agrarian town into an influential and wealthy manufacturing center by the early 1800's. As musical entertainment in America around the turn of the century remained largely local and centered in churches that were beginning to use organs and other instruments for hymns, Winchester was well positioned to meet that demand. In 1799, Winchester native Henry Pratt, a carpenter and self-taught craftsman, built what is regarded as the first pipe organ in New England, likely inspired by an English-imported church organ he had seen in his youth. Before his death in 1841, Pratt built at least 40 church organs along with fifes and violins, mentored several instrument makers, and his original 1799 organ was given to Winchester for use in its meetinghouse and is now fully restored and on permanent display at the Conant Library. Winchester also made a notable contribution to American musical heritage through Graves & Co., the first shop in the United States to manufacture woodwind and brass instruments. Founder Samuel Graves moved the company to Winchester in 1830 to use the Ashuelot River's water power, and as local brass and woodwind bands grew in popularity, the firm's water-powered machinery and technical improvements helped make it one of the most important manufacturers of wind and brass instruments in mid-19th century America. The company remained in Winchester until 1850, then relocated to Boston and ultimately merged with E.G. Wright Company to form the Boston Musical Instrument Company in 1869. Although the resource and economic conditions that made Winchester prominent in the 19th century have changed, the town's spirit of innovation continues in recreation, local food enterprises, and public art celebrating its musical heritage.