Unknown - Sanctuary Interior, Chancel, and Pipe Facade (Photograph from <i>Sun Papers</i>; image courtesy of Steve Bartley/Database Manager)
2016-03-05 - An original installation. Identified by Steven Bartley, using information found in Sun Paper Oct 20, 1874 pg 2. The Zion German Reformed church was erected in 1866 at Aisquith Street between Jefferson & Orleans Streets. Baltimore Sun Paper, 10.20.1874, p. 2- 'The Zion church announced a concert highlighting their new Niemann organ,"the first organ he has built in this city."' Around 1882 the Zion congregation made an arrangement with the Aisquith Street Presbyterian congregation, to swap buildings. The Presbyterians were, then, located at Aisquith and Edward streets, a few block south of the Zion Building. Interestingly they too had installed a Niemann organ in 1881. In 1924, Zion moved to a new building at Harford Rd & Iowa Rd. and installed Moller Op. 4071. Meanwhile the Presbyterians occupied the old Zion building until 1904 when they sold the building to the Water's African Methodist Congregation. Henry Niemann advertised his new organ business in the Sun Paper oct 6, 1874 pg4. (interestingly a few months after August Pomplitz death) In an advert, in the Sun Paper Oct 1875, pg2 Niemann advertises building an organ for the Zion Reformed Church, Aisquith Street. This is the first mention of a new organ by Niemann, possibly his first organ in Baltimore. In 1880 Zion Reformed swapped buildings with the Aisquith Presbyterian Church. Aisquith Presbyterian stayed in the building until 1930 when they sold to Waters AME church. A photo taken by the Sun Paper (Nov 14, 1974) inside the Waters church shows an organ facade which could be the Niemann organ, behind the pulpit. Recent webs website of the Waters AME church show the facade to still in place. (Database Manager. 2016-03-02) -Database Manager
2017-02-03 - Updated by Steven Bartley, naming this as the source of information: Der Deutsche correspondent Baltimore MD., October 13, 1875,Pg.4. <br>The German Newspaper "Der Deutsche correspondent" gives an account of the dedication of this organ, including some details- 18' tall x 17' wide, cost $3000, 27 registers, including these stops. 16 Bourdon, 8 Diapason, 8 Gamba, 8 Melodia, 8 Dulciana, 4 Principal, 4 Rohrflote, 8 Trompete, 8 Keranlophon,8 Hohlflote, 4 Violine, Oboe. <br>It is interesting that so many of the stops listed, were the American spelling, and not the usual German spelling, so often included in this newspaper's accounting of a new organ. The Baltimore Sun Newspaper, did not announce the organ, though an advert for a dedication concert was included in the Sun Paper for this date. It is also interesting that Niemann sets up shop, in Baltimore, a mere 7 months after the death of August Pomplitz (Feb 1874). -Database Manager
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