Unknown - Church Exterior (Photograph in Church Archives (before 1901); image courtesy of Timothy E. Conyers/Database Manager)
Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2012-12-30 - This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. Identified by Timothy E. Conyers, based on information from Church historical records, old church photographs, old Union City newspaper articles on microfilm (1901, 1902, 1913, 1914).. -- Upon learning several railroads were to meet at the state line of Indiana and Ohio, Jeremiah Smith purchased land in 1848 on both sides of the line and laid out the town of Union City. In 1853 the Christian Church was organized by Rev. Thomas Wiley with 24 members. It was the second religious society organized in the new town. Jeremiah Smith became a member of the church and donated a lot for a building. The congregation has continued upon this lot to the present. A simple frame edifice was constructed and became the first house of worship built in the community. Within twenty years the membership had reached 300 and it became necessary to hold two morning services. In 1875, the frame church was moved east onto an adjoining lot and the present building constructed on the original lot. Designed by J. C. Johnson of Freemont, OH, the structure was of Gothic style with a tall central spire over the south entrance. The auditorium had a 35 foot ceiling with carved beams, frescoed walls, large stained glass windows, a gallery, and baptistry. An elevated pulpit was along the north wall opposite the entrance. The edifice cost $13,500. Around the turn of the century the congregation became prominent in the denomination, being the largest in Indiana. No instrument is mentioned in the official history of the church at this time but a reed organ was possibly used.<br><br>In 1901 the building was remodeled. The plans were by W. H. Gettinger, a local architect, (who also designed St. Mary's Catholic Church, located on the adjacent north lots, and still in use). The tall spire was removed and a tower entrance constructed at the southwest corner of the building. A bowl floor was installed with circular seating facing the east. The stained glass was replaced with opalescent opal glass; the walls elaborately frescoed; the ceiling lowered and a vaulted domed ceiling installed. The original carved ceiling beams remained in place, being hidden in the attic. An addition was built on the east side of the building for parlors.<br><br>When the church remodeled in 1901, arrangements were made for a pipe organ. The sanctuary had been turned to face east with Akron style seating and the organ placed in an alcove behind the pulpit. The instrument, built in 1902 by George Kilgen Organ Co., St. Louis, MO, cost $3800. It had a water motor, attached console of 15 drawknob stops, and an elaborate and beautifully stenciled pipe facade. Ione Bush Riddell of Cincinnati, organist at the Pan-American Exposition, played the dedicatory recital.<lockquote>Note: the newspaper gave the builder as George Kilgen Organ Co., but the company was known as George Kilgen & Sons at this period in its history.</blosckquote>During the beginning of worship on November 3, 1913, a fire was discovered in the furnace room beneath the organ. The fire soon spread to the walls and roof. The church would have been lost had it not been for the local firemen. A door at the rear of the organ chamber was flung open and water sprayed on the flames. They soon had the fire concentrated directly beneath the organ and with four hoses turned on it were able to gain control. Damage to the building could be repaired but the beautiful pipe organ lay in ruins. Soon a fund raising campaign was started to restore the sanctuary and replace the pipe organ. -Database Manager
2013-01-02 - Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers. -- Destroyed by fire in 1913 -Database Manager
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