At its peak, the company was one of the world's largest organ manufacturers, employed about 700 people, and sold its high-quality items as far away as Africa, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Jacob Estey (1814–1890) born in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, ran away from an orphanage to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the plumbing trade.

When the renters ran short of cash, Estey took an interest in the business in lieu of rent, eventually becoming sole proprietor.

Despite having no musical talent or skills as an inventor, Jacob Estey grew the company into a great success, giving up the plumbing business.

The company provided organs for many important locations, including New York City's Capital Theatre, the Sacramento, CA Municipal Auditorium, and Henry Ford's home in Dearborn, Michigan.

Several of the buildings were built with distinctive slate siding, resulting in an architecturally unique collection of such structures in the state.

[20] One of the buildings now houses the Estey Organ Museum; the entire surviving complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, both for its architecture, and as a major economic force in Brattleboro for many years.