2012-11-25 - Sanctuary interior, console, and chambers (Photograph by Carl Dodrill/Database Manager)
2007-05-09 - Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- As of this posting (5/08/07) this is the last, original, unaltered Kimball organ in its original home in Seattle. The only change has been a locational one. In 1941, the church renovated the sanctuary. At this time, Charles W. Allen moved the organ to divided chambers on either side of the chancel. They had originally been side-by-side at the center. Additional banks of shutters were added so that egress was available across and chancel and directly into the sanctuary. On/Off pistons were added atop the Great, right keycheek and labeled "Auditorium Expression." -Database Manager
Source: Stoplist copied from the console July 24, 1993. Verified and updated February 24, 2005
Seattle, Washington
Prospect Congregational Church
W.W. KIMBALL CO., Opus 7077, 1932 - Original Specifications
GREAT (Expressive – Right) COUPLERS
8 Open Diap. 61 Swell Unis. [to Pedal] 8
8 Melodia 61 Great Unis. [to Pedal] 8
8 Dulciana 61
Tremolo Swell Sub [to Great] 16
Chimes (Deagan: A22 – f42) (21) Swell Unis. [to Great] 8
Swell Super [to Great] 4
Great Sub 16'
Great Unison On/Off
Great Super 4' FINGER PISTONS
Swell & Pedal C, 1 - 3
Great & Pedal C, 1 - 3
SWELL (Expressive – Left) Auditorium Expression On/Off
8 Viola Diapason 61
8 Stop. Flute 61
8 Echo Salic. 61 TOE STUDS
4 Wald Flute 61 None
8 Oboe Horn 61
Tremolo
PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Swell Sub 16' Swell Expression (bal.)
Swell Unison On/Off Great Expression (bal.)
Swell Super 4' Crescendo (bal.)
PEDAL (Expressive w/GT)
16 Bourdon (Gt) 12
8 Flute (Gt) –-
ACTION: E-P VOICES: 8 STOPS: 11; inc. chimes RANKS: 8 PIPES: 500
NOTES
This is an original installation. No known Opus List for the Kimball firm has
ever been found, but many organs have their opus numbers stamped or stenciled
on the rackboards, toeboards, or on wooden reed rack supports. Such is the case
with this instrument.
The church was built in 1925-25, and the opus number clearly indicates that
the organ was installed at a later date. The original installation would likely
have been done by Seattle Kimball representative Arthur D. Longmore – who also
installed Kimball organs in numerous other Seattle churches, such as: First
Baptist, First Swedish Baptist, Tabernacle Baptist, Immaculate Conception, Our
Lady of Good Help, University Congregational, Christ Episcopal, The Highlands
Parish (Episcopal) St. Mark's Episcopal, St. Paul's Episcopal, Trinity Episco-
pal, Bethany Lutheran (Fairview), Gethsemane Lutheran, Prince of Peace Lutheran,
First Methodist, Greenlake Methodist, Queen Anne Methodist, University Temple
Methodist (both churches), University Presbyterian, Westminster Presbyterian,
and theatre organ installations too numerous to list. Small Kimball organs were
also installed at the University of Washington as practice organs, and many
other Kimball organs were installed throughout the State of Washington.
According to a former secondary Kimball representative – Charles W. Allen –
this organ was originally installed in two, side-by-side separate chambers
located in the center of the chancel area. Upstairs, at present chamber level,
there is a seemingly unaltered Sunday School room. So this location seems un-
likely. Perhaps the organ was installed in chambers behind the cloth which acts
as a backdrop for the communion table. An extant picture of the sanctuary inter-
ior from a church bulletin dated 1941 does not show the present chamber grilles,
so this seems plausible.
In 1941, the church renovated the sanctuary interior at which time Charles W.
Allen moved the organ to its present, divided location – with the Great cham-
bered on the right side of the chancel, and the Swell chambered on the left
side. At the time of the move, a second set of expression shutters for each
chamber was provided – to be controlled by On/Off pistons located atop the
right, Great keycheek. A plaque on the console reads:
Kimball Pipe Organ
rebuilt by
Charles W. Allen, Seattle
This is a bit misleading since the organ was only 9-or-so years old and
certainly not in need of rebuilding. The console appears to be in its
original location on the left side of the sanctuary with the organist facing
the chancel/altar area. The Swell and Great Unison On/Off functions take the
form of pistons located atop the left, manual keycheeks. The wind pressure
is 6½”.
In 2012, the Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island, WA. undertook the moving
of the console to the font, left corner of the chancel. And in 2014, they
removed and cleaned all of the pipes with parishioner assistance. Stoppers
were also re-leathered, and the chambers cleaned and painted.
Sources: Charles W. Allen; James R. Stettner; extant, original organ
Prospect Congregational Church
1919 E. Prospect
Seattle, WA. 98122 Documented: July 24, 1993
(206) 322-6030 Verified & Updated: February 24, 2005Regrettably, 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.