Better Pipe Organ Database

Geo. Kilgen & Son, Inc. / Chas. C. Kilgen (1915)

Elstad Lutheran Church: Sanctuary; front
37784 Dogwood Road
Lanesboro, MN

Images

2021-03-13 - Pedal 16' Bourdon behind the case (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Casework detail (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Stenciling detail (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Builder's nameplate (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Jule Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Piano & Forte composition trundles and expression shoe (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Pedalboard (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Keydesk: right stopjamb (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Keydesk: left stopjamb (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Keydesk with manual, stops, and pedalboard (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Organ case; keydesk open (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

2021-03-13 - Organ case; keydesk covered (Photograph by Julie Dragvold/Julie Dragvold)

Consoles

Main

Organ type: Traditional With a Keyboard Cover That Can Be Lifted To Form a Music Rack
Console position: Keydesk Attached
1 manuals
7 stops
9 registers
2 divisions
Key action Type: Mechanical (Details Unknown)
Stop action Type: Mechanical
Stop layout Type: Drawknobs in Horizontal Rows on Terraced/Stepped Jambs
Manual compass: 61 notes
Pedal compass: 27 notes
Pedal Type: Flat Straight
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Details Unknown)
Combination action: Fixed Mechanical
Has combination trundles

Notes

2004-10-30 - In the country near highway 21. -Database Manager

2021-03-11 - Updated through online information from Thurlow Weed, -- Perusing the church's website (https://www.elstadlutheranchurch.org/) reveals - via their joint newsletter - that it is a parish comprising two separate churches: Elstad Lutheran, and Highland Prairie Lutheran (http://www.highlandprairielutheranchurch.org/). -Jim Stettner

2021-03-11 - According to the 'History' page of the parish website, *"The pipe organ was also installed in the 1900's and is one of few remaining pipe organs of its kind or age. It was first installed in the balcony but later moved to its present location at the front of the church, opposite the pulpit. Many of the women in the congregation worked very hard to raise the money needed to purchase the organ. One woman even drove a pony cart loaded with jars of honey for sale to the various homes in the community to raise money. The organ bellows were hand pumped until electricity became available."* -Jim Stettner

2021-03-11 - Updated via email from organist Julie Dragvold. -- I'm the organist for Elstad Lutheran Church and I also looked into the history of our beautiful organ when we had our 150th anniversary in 2004. The organ was made by George Kilgen and Son (Charles) of St. Louis Missouri. It was installed in the church in 1915. The Anniversary Book states, "On April 19, 1915 men from the congregation went to town and hauled the organ to the church. It took five loads to get all the parts there, but by April 29th it was assembled and ready to use. On Sunday May 9, 1915 there was a dedication of the costly new pipe organ." It was refurbished in the 1980's and all the lead pipes were replaced with plastic tubing. The company that repairs our organ (Obermeyer Organ Company) suggested once that we should put the organ on the National Register of Historic Things? -Jim Stettner

Stoplist

Source: Taken from OHS Database photos of the keydesk March 13, 2021

Lanesboro, Minnesota
Elstad Lutheran Church

GEO. KILGEN & SON, Chas. C. Kilgen, Opus ___, 1915 - Original Specifications


MANUAL (Expressive)                          COUPLERS
16' Bourdon                                  Pedal Coupler     (Manual to Pedal)
8'  Open Diapason
8'  Melodia
8'  Dulciana                                 FOOT TRUNDLES (Labeled)
8'  Unison Bass                              Piano - 
4'  Octave
4'  Octave Bass                              Forte -
4'  Flute d'Amour

                                             PEDAL MOVEMENTS
PEDAL                                        Expression                   (bal.)
16' Sub Bass

Bellows Signal


ACTION: Mech. Key & Stop     VOICES: 7     STOPS: 9     RANKS: 7     PIPES: ____


NOTES
The organ is free-standing and encased with an attached, projecting keydesk
whose cover lifts to form a music rack. The casework of of quarter-sawn oak.
The 3-sectional façade contains 19 green stenciled pipes arranged: 5-9-5.


Sources: OHS Database photos taken March 13, 2021


Elstad Lutheran Church
37784 Dogwood Road
Lanesboro, MN. 55949                         Documented: March 13, 2021