Better Pipe Organ Database


S. S. Hamill Opus 131 (1870)

Urbana Swedenborgian Church [& Wedding Chapel]: Sanctuary; front
330 S Main Street
Urbana, OH

Images


ca. 1910 - Postcard image showing church circa 1910, when Hamill organ was in regular use (Photograph by Metropolitan News & Publishing (1904-1916), submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Windchest pallet closeup (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Church exterior main entrance (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - East church exterior (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Southeast church exterior (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Chancel façade pipes close-up, showing organ interior (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Chancel façade pipes (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Windchest pallet behind console façade pipes (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Pipes in storage (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Sanctuary interior, from back (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Organ console alcove in sanctuary, vis-à-vis chancel (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Sanctuary interior (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Chancel-side façade pipes (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Organ console alcove (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Right terraced stopjamb (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Left terraced stopjamb (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Back of detached builder's nameplate, framed (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Front of detached builder's nameplate, framed (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Swell shoe & covered pedalboard (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Manuals, swell shoe, and protective wood covering over pedalboard (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Great and Swell manuals showing former nameplate location (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Closeup of console keyboards (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2023-12-30 - Organ console and facade pipes (Photograph by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

ca. 1907-1920s - Church exterior ca. 1907, when Hamill pipe organ was in regular use (John A. Banta Publishing (Urbana, Ohio)/J. A. Hefner)

prior to Easter 2007 ["3-6-07" article date] - Repaired façade pipes being installed (Church archives courtesy Dr. Janet Ebert/J. A. Hefner)

2024-08-24 - Blower cabinet (J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2024-08-24 - Blower cabinet (J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

2024-08-24 - Blower (J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

Consoles

Main


Notes

2004-10-30 - Status Note: There 1995 -Database Manager

2004-10-30 - From Plymouth Congregational, Indianapolis, IN. Located in front. Church also has John Roberts organ in rear in 1995. -Database Manager

2023-12-30 - This Hamill organ, Opus 131, was used until 1970, when it had deteriorated so much that it couldn't be used anymore. Much of the internal pipes were removed to the basement, where they sit in storage, awaiting some future restoration. The stop-levers are missing their nameplates in several cases, even including a missing pull-knob. At one point, the idea was floated to sell the occasionally-used Roberts organ to finance the Hamill's restoration, as the Hamill was the first organ in this church, installed in 1884. That will probably not occur, as the Roberts organ is still useful. Rather curiously, one of the individuals who assisted with dismantling and storing the pipes was also named Samuel Hamill... -J. A. Hefner


Stoplist

Due to the instrument's situation [described in archival documents as having been installed in an insufficiently-prepared space, sagging floor, internal components held together with clothespins and paperclips, etc.], it is not surprising that stop pull knobs are missing labels, and masking-tape replacements are not named in accordance with split-register conventions. Source: Taken from console and church archival materials; verified against detailed keydesk photo

GREAT Gr. Open Diapason [8'] ("Open / Diapason / Gr." in script font), Gr. Dulciana [8'] ("Melodia / Bass" in Gothic/Blackletter/Fraktur-type font, held on with tape [likely not original to this organ]), Gr. Melodia Treble [8'], Melodia Bass [8'] (Non-original label), Gr. Principal [4'] (Label missing), Gr. Flute [4'] (Label missing), Gr. Fifteenth [2'] (Recorded in 2000s stop list, but label appears to have fallen off)

SWELL Sw. Open Diapason [8'] (label missing), Sw. Viol d'Gamba [8'], Flute [8'] (Masking tape label), Sw. Principal Treble [4'], Sw. Stop'd Dia. Bass [8'], Sw. Principal Bass [4'], Sw. Vox Tremolo, Sw. Hautboy [8']

PEDAL Ped. Bourdon [16'] (Label missing)

ACCESSORIES Bellows Signal, Pedal Check [?] (Missing label beside [16'] Ped. Bourdon stop)

SWELL to PEDAL [8'], GREAT to PEDAL [8'], SWELL to GREAT [8']


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