1969 - Church exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Photo originated with T.V. Dean Realtors. Print found in an antique store by Rob Ketcherside. Shared to flickr., submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
2004-10-30 - Console replaced by 4m. Casavant console (from c. 1928) in 1972. Restored c. 1990 by Huestis. Building and organ sold 1998. -Database Manager
2005-01-08 - Information identifying this instrument from the Austin Organs, Inc. web site, accessed December 31, 2004: http://www.austinorgans.com/organ-research.htm. -Database Manager
2005-07-03 - Online update from Tom Ventur -- Now called "Town Hall - Seattle," the owners have removed the console and have not been successful in selling the pipes. The organ has a set of beautifully sounding Deagan chimes. -Database Manager
2006-10-19 - Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- At some point in its past - around 1972 - the organ lost its original console, and a second-hand, pneumatically-operated, Casavant drawknob console of unknown provenance was installed. While beautiful, it was too large for the specification, and most of the drawknob nomenclature didn't match the ranks in the Austin. In the early 1990s, Herb & Marianne Heustis of Point Roberts, Washington located a used, three-manual Austin console from a church in Iowa. The console was shipped to Seattle. But the manual key contacts turned-out to be in poor shape, and the dwindling congregation either didn't have the extra funds or didn't want to spend the extra funds to refurbish the console. By 1998, as already indicated by Tom Ventur, the congregation ceased operations and the building became Town Hall - both a community lecture and recital venue. The original pipework and chests are all extant, but with no console available to play them. The Town Hall administration doesn't seem interested in retaining the organ and making it playable, and has expressed an interest in having it removed - but seem willing to wait for a viable home to be found for the organ. -Database Manager
2023-02-04 - The building has been renovated, now Town Hall; the organ is no longer extant. -Joseph Adam
2023-02-04 - Updated through onlin information from James R. Stettner. I had been working with the company (Point 32) that was planning the renovation and earthquake retro-fit of the building, in order to find a home for the unused Austin. The gentleman with whom I was working (Joe David) left the company, and the person who took his place (Mike Weller) I suspect had no interest the organ. I was sent little further communication regarding scheduling, and by the time I found out about the deadline. . .it was too late to find a home or remove the entire instrument. Carl Dodril / The Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island savaged some pipework as did Martin Pasi of Roy, Washington. The rest of the organ was destroyed. -Jim Stettner
Source: Stoplist copied from church files and exant chests/pipes Date not recorded
Seattle, Washington
Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist
AUSTIN ORGAN COMPANY, Opus 1155, 1931 - Original Specifications
GREAT (Expressive w/Choir) SWELL (Expressive)
16' Violone 73 16' Bourdon 73
8' Open Diapason I 73 8' Open Diapason 73
8' Open Diapason II 73 8' Claribel Flute 73
8' Gross Flute 73 8' Rohr Flute 73
8' Viol d'Amour 73 8' Viole d'Orchestre 73
4' Octave 73 8' Viole Celeste (tc) 61
4' Harmonic Flute 73 8' Echo Salicional 73
8' Harmonic Tuba 73 4' Flauto Traverso 73
8' Cornopean 73
Great 16' 8' Oboe 73
↓ Great On 8' 8' Cor Anglais 73
Great 4' 8' Vox Humana 61
Tremolo
CHOIR (Expressive w/Great) Swell 16'
16' Contra Viole 73 ↓ Swell On 8'
8' Geigen Principal 73 Swell 4'
8' Concert Flute 73
8' Dulciana 73
4' Flute d'Amour 73 PEDAL (Expressive w/Sw)
2' Harmonic Piccolo 61 16' Open Diapason [wood] 32
8' Clarinet 73 16' Violone (Gt) --
Tremolo 16' Bourdon 32
16' Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw) --
Choir 16' 8' Octave [wood] 12
↓ Choir On 8' 8' Violoncello (Gt) --
Choir 4' 8' Flauto Dolce 12
COUPLERS FINGER PISTONS
Swell 8' [to Pedal] General 1 – 6
Swell 4' [to Pedal] Swell 1 – 6
Great 8' [to Pedal] Great 1 – 6
Great 4' [to Pedal] Choir 1 – 6
Choir 8' [to Pedal]
Choir 4' [to Pedal]
TOE STUDS
Swell 16' [to Great] General 9 - ??
Swell 8' [to Pedal] Ped-Rev [Gr. to Ped.] (rev)
Swell 4' [to Pedal] Sforz (rev)
Choir 16' [to Great]
Choir 8' [to Great]
Choir 4' [to Great] PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Swell Expression (bal.)
Swell 16' [to Choir] Gr/Ch Expression (bal.)
Swell 8' [to Choir] Crescendo (bal.)
Swell 4' [to Choir]
ACTION: E-P Universal™ VOICES: 29 STOPS: 35 RANKS: 29 PIPES: 2,023
NOTES
The preceding stoplist was provided by former organist, Ivy Reed from church files.
The exact nomenclature of stops and controls is not verifiable since the original
console was replaced by a second-hand, IV-manual Casavant-Frères, Ltée. drawknob
console. Stop names have been compared with markings on the pipework, writing inside
the chest, and other documented examples of Austin organs from this period.
During the tenure of Bob Reichert as organist, the original console was discarded
and replaced with the used IV-manual console mentioned above. Used chests and pipe-
work for a Pedal 16' Bombarde unit were also added in the unexpressive space between
the chambers and the grille.
In 1990-91, Herb Heustis of Point Roberts, WA. was hired to clean the organ and pipe-
work, execute repairs to the Casavant console, releather stop and note pneumatics,
re-cover swell engines, etc. This also included the removal of the previously added
pipework. A used, similar vintage III-manual Austin console was located in Iowa with
the hopes of connecting it to the organ to replace the Casavant console, but the
contacts were found to be bad, so nothing more was done. The Casavant console was
reportedly taken outside and destroyed with sledge hammers so that it would fit in
the dumpster. The disposition of the Iowa Austin console is not known. All of the
pipework is original, and all the chests are original.
The congregation later sold the building which became a lecture and concert venue
known as Town Hall. In 2015, plans were made to do an earthquake retro-fit on the
building in 2016 – which will necessitate removal of the organ. A home is being
sought for the instrument.
Sources: Church files; JRS; extant organ w/o console
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