2006-01-09 - Identified through on-line information from James R. Stettner. -- This was an electrification of the church's existing 1923 Bennett, Op. 912. The original chests were retained, but the pouch rails were removed and Reisner 601s were installed. One new rank of pipes by Laukhuff was added on a new E-M chest built by Fritts: a 49-pipe 1-1/3' Larigot, which also played as a tc 2-2/3'. The original keydesk was also retained, and all the T-P keying and switch stacks were removed and replaced by Reisner gang switch relays. The church later began another project of enlargement begun by John Wodruff of Portland, Oregon, but he was unable to complete the work. The project was altered and completed by Stettner Pipe Organs of Seattle utilizing the used Möller already acquired by the church - opus 6133, 1933 (from an abandoned church in the St. Louis area). -Database Manager
2007-05-10 - Updated through on-line information from James R. Stettner. -Database Manager
Stoplist copied from the console November 26, 1990. Verified & updated: August 5, 1996 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Chehalis, Washington
Chehalis United Methodist Church
The BENNETT ORGAN CO., Opus 912, 1923
R. Byard Fritts, 1984 - Electrification, Tonal Changes & Additions
GREAT (Expressive) COUPLERS
8 Open Diapason 61 None
8 Melodia 49
8 Dolcan (Sw) --
4 Principal 12
4 Flute -- FINGER PISTONS
2 Flute -- None
1⅓ Larigot 49
Chimes (Maas; tg - g2) (25)
TOE STUDS
None
SWELL (Expressive)
8 Stopped Diapason 61
8 Dolcan 61
8 Celeste (tc) 49 FOOT LEVERS
4 Flute d'Amour 61 None
2⅔ Nasard (Gt) --
2 Principal 49
Tremulant
PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Expression (bal.)
Crescendo (bal.)
PEDAL (Expressive)
16 Bourdon (Sw) 12
8 Open Diapason (Gt) --
8 Flute (Sw) --
8 Dolcan (Sw) --
4 Octave (Gt) --
4 Flute (Sw) --
2 Flute (Sw) --
II Rausch Quinte [der.] (Gt) --
ACTION: E-M; E-P VOICES: 8 STOPS: 22 RANKS: 8 PIPES: 464
(inc. chimes)
NOTES
The church's first organ was a I-manual Estey reed organ with 12 stops
including mechanicals.
The Bennett, as originally installed, had ten visible, gold façade pipes
divided into two towers of five pipes each. These were for display only.
They were removed prior to 1949. The original playing action was tubular-
pneumatic. The keydesk was attached to the front of the case. The organ
had two manuals and 7 ranks.
The original playing action was converted to direct-electric in 1984 by
Dr. R. Byard Fritts of Tacoma as a part of the church's centennial
celebration. According to an article in the local newspaper, two ranks
were added. In 1990, John Woodruff of Portland, OR made some tonal
changes to increase the instrument's musical flexibility.
The Great 8' Open Diapason is original, and its first four pipes are open
wood. The 8' Melodia is also original. The 4' Flute is mostly from the
Melodia, but the top octave is borrowed from the Swell 4' Flute d'Amour.
The 2' Flute then borrows its extension notes from the Swell 2'
Principal. The 1-1/3' Larigot has 49 pipes. It is made from new, tapered
pipes, and is not original to the organ. The top octave repeats.
In the Swell, the 8' Stopped Diapason is original. The 8' Dolcan is the
original 8' labial Oboe. The 8' Celeste is the original Great 8'
Dulciana. The 4' Flute d'Amour is original. The 2-2/3' Nasard is taken
from the Great 1-1/3' Larigot, but borrows its bottom octave from the
Flute d'Amour. The 2' Principal is the original Bennett 8' Salicional
cut-down, de-bearded, and revoiced. It also borrows its bottom octave
from the 4' Flute d'Amour.
The Pedal 16' Bourdon extension is original. The II Rausch Quinte is
derived from the Open Diapason and Larigot units. All the remaining stops
are directly borrowed from the two manuals.
The church purchased a used, II-manual, 15-rank M.P. Möller pipe organ
(opus 6133, 1933) from Mount Pleasant M.E. Church in St. Louis, MO. and
has plans to have it combined with their present Bennett to create a \"new\"
instrument from existing parts. Work on this project was begun by John
Woodruff of Portland, OR in 1992.
Sources: Bennett opus list; extant, altered instrument; church records.
[Received from James R. Stettner 2011-11-20.]Regrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.