One Magnificent Pipe Organ

On Sunday, October 29, 2000, Dr. Charles Webb played our magnificent pipe organ as the newly renovated instrument was rededicated to the Glory of God and the ministry of His music. 

Dr. Webb played a program especially selected to demonstrate the power and beauty of the instrument in our sanctuary.  He chose pieces by composers from the Baroque and Romantic periods— the golden age of composers for the pipe organ.  We were also given a special treat— an original composition, created in our presence.  Dr. Webb asked Jane Ellsworth to select a hymn from our hymnbook, and then played an improvisation on the theme from that hymn.  Jane chose A Mighty Fortress, and the result was breathtaking.  It was composed on the spot, and since it was neither recorded nor written, it is safe to say that A Mighty Fortress will never be heard the same way again. 

It was a spellbinding afternoon of fine music, as befits such a fine instrument.  Dr. Webb admired our pipe organ, pronouncing it ‘wonderful.’  He also offered praise for our congregation for making the sacrifices necessary to maintain and use it in God’s service.  We were blessed indeed to have Dr. Webb for this occasion. 

Dr. Webb, at the organ console

Greg Burks (with the beard) and Ed McLuckie of Cave Pipe Organ Company--
Renovation in progress.

Our organ has a long and distinguished history. According to the Fountain County Neighbor dated October 11, 1994: 

...The organ was especially built by Hilgreen, Lane and Company of Alliance, Ohio and was described as being one of the finest in the Midwest. T.V. Flagler came from Auburn, New York to play the dedicatory recital, which was held at eight o’clock on May 20, l907. It is reported that Andrew Carnegie contributed in order that the church might have an organ worthy of its fine choir...

Thus did the magnificent pipe organ in our sanctuary begin its service making a joyful noise unto the Lord. The organ was originally operated with pneumatic controls via many miles of lead tubing. Air pressure opened and closed the individual pipe valves— under the control of the valves on the keys and the pedals. As if this weren’t already complex enough, the various stops on the organ console controlled which keys or pedals directed air to which pipes at any given time— and how many different pipes could be activated by a single key.  It was a complicated, high-maintenance system, but it was the standard technology in 1906 (not significantly different from the pipe organs Bach played), and it worked well for many years.

By the mid-1950s however, the organ had begun to show its age, and maintenance really became a problem.  The corroded lead tubing was starting to leak and the valves and pneumatic solenoids were wearing out.  A complete reconditioning of the original control system would have been financially prohibitive.  Under the direction of organist Wally Knight, and with a volunteer crew of engineers from the congregation (Lawson Fisher, Jim Knight, Bob Bauerband), the organ was partially electrified in 1958.

In 1964, a new Klann organ console was given through a bequest from Nellie VanDeVenter’s estate, and the remainder of the old pneumatic control system was completely dismantled.  Its miles of lead tubing were replaced with miles of copper wire when electrical controls in the new console were painstakingly connected to new electrical solenoids on each of the organ’s 1,160 pipes.  Following that major renovation, the organ served us faithfully for nearly forty years.  In that time, it has been played and admired by such great modern organists as Tom Saxon and Dr. Charles Webb. 

With funding provided in part by the Nellie VanDeVenter Permanent Church Fund, the organ has been ably maintained under contract with the Cave Pipe Organ Company, out of Fishers, Indiana.  The control system that was state of the art in 1964 was serviced regularly, and even received a few significant upgrades over the years.  But time tells on all things mechanical— switches wear out, the contacts get weak, and repair parts become scarce and expensive.  On numerous occasions in recent years, various parts of the organ were inoperative for extended periods, waiting for repair parts.  An organ restoration fund was established to collect donations toward another major renovation. 

In September and October of 2000, the pipe organ in our sanctuary underwent its third major renovation.  The console was rebuilt with a state of the art digital controller, and the 1,160 individual pipes were fitted with new digital decoder/operators.  The new system is more responsive— the designated pipe speaks more quickly when a key is pressed. An additional benefit of the computer controller is the ability to transpose music one to six half-steps up or down, at the touch of a button— allowing adjustments for vocal ranges of soloists, choirs, or the congregation.

If he were here today, the organ builder from Hilgreen and Lane would not recognize the new console, and would be baffled by the digital decoders— but if he heard our organ play, he would know it was still the same magnificent instrument he built in back in 1906.  Our organ has blessed many generations of worshipers.  As we lovingly care for the gift God has provided, it will bless many generations to come.   W