2013-01-04 - This is a rebuild of an existing organ. Identified by Timothy E. Conyers, based on information from Church historical records, old church photographs, old Union City newspaper articles on microfilm (1960), organ company correspondence.. -- In 1960 the sanctuary was remodeled to its present form. A new chancel was created at the north end of the building by dividing the Sunday School auditorium in half with a wall. That portion beyond the new wall became one long hall-type room the width of the building. The bowled sanctuary floor was made level. New pews were installed and the seating returned to the original position facing north as it had been when the building was constructed in 1875. For nearly sixty years the seating had faced to the east. The chancel was furnished with a new communion altar, deacon's bench, pulpit, lectern, choir seating and a baptistry pool. A large cross was installed on the chancel wall. It was surrounded by an outline in gold paint. The old pulpit furniture was dispersed throughout the building and can still be seen today. <br><br>The pipes of the 1914 Kilgen organ were relocated to newly constructed chambers on each of the upper chancel side walls. The chambers spoke directly into the chancel. The Swell chamber was on the east chancel wall and the Great chamber on the west wall. A new detached console was built in a fixed position directly behind the pulpit at the left side of the chancel. Mrs. E. F. Lephart presented special organ music for the dedication of remodled building. <br><br>The Temple Organ Co., Lamoni, IA, contracted for the job, after which serious problems began to surface and continued most of the decade. An organ committee formed in the Fall of 1968. Several organ companies were called in to examined the instrument. It was discovered some parts were missing that were essential; the wiring was incorrect to the point of being a fire hazard; some pipes were not finished and most were improperly installed; the chests leaked which caused insufficient air supply to the pipes thus causing some to not play; other pipes did not work because the electric contacts had burned out; and it was nearly impossible to tune the west chamber which caused the organ to be constantly out of tune. Several options were explored including electronic organs. The church could repair the existing problems which would only postpone for a short time the need to remedy the basic problems; buy a new pipe organ for $30,000 to $35,000; purchase a used smaller pipe organ for $16,000; or purchase an electric organ. Upon hearing a rebuilt pipe organ similar to ours and listening to a $17,000 electronic organ, the committee chose to save the instrument. It was the recommendation of the organ committee that the instrument be rebuilt by another pipe organ company. The congregation voted on September 21, 1969 to have Lima Pipe Organ Co., Lima, OH, rebuild the organ. -Database Manager
2013-01-10 - Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers. -- Church records show that serious problems surfaced immediately after the rebuild by the Temple Organ Co., and these problems were not resolved. The situation continued for almost a decade. -Database Manager
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