Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2016-06-26 - This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. Identified by John J. Miller, using information found in Milwaukee Sentinel article, October 15th, 1906; information from the church's 50th Anniversary book published in German in 1923; article from the Milwaukee Journal from February 15th, 1977; and many conversations with John A. Miller. <br>The organ, along with the church building, was dedicated on October 14th, 1906. Cost of the organ was $3000, and was donated by the youth group. The organ had a single reservoir with feeder bellows. The feeders were pumped by a water engine powered by city water. <br>Three alterations to the organ were made: one was the addition of an electric blower, another being the electrification of the action. The church had electricity from the beginning, so there is no indication of when these changes were made. The stenciled façade was also repainted with gold paint at an unknown time. <br>The Hann-Wangerin-Weickhardt firm also built the highly ornamented Gothic altar and pulpit with schalldeckel, which was donated by the Ladies Aid. The focal point of the altar is a painted relief of Christ-s Ascension with angels flying in the air and the disciples looking up. The altar was painted white with gold trim. The English Gothic Revival building (with a French Gothic "Flamboyant Styleâ€? façade) was designed by Milwaukee architect Otto C. Uehling. The building could seat 900 people and was completed at a cost of $60,000. In the towers were two bells, one weighing 1600 pounds, the other 1000. They were cast by the Meneely foundry of New York and were donated by the school children. The congregation-s pastor at the time, Rev. John Jenny, undoubtedly influenced the interior design. The theological idea behind the interior design was to "take the believer with Christ up into the Holy City.â€? The original color scheme was olive green with gold trim. Biblical symbols surrounded by clouds were depicted in the nave stained glass windows. The two transept windows depicted Jesus the Good Shepherd and the boy Jesus teaching in the Temple. The windows were produced by Milwaukee Art Glass Co. and were donated by several families. Above the chancel was a large mural depicting two angels holding a banner on which the introduction of the Lord-s Prayer (in German) was written. In the background, two rainbows shine into the New Jerusalem. The mural was made by the firm Milwaukee Associated Artists and was donated by the youth group. <br>At some point (more than likely during WWI), the mural was altered. The rainbows and the city were painted over with clouds and the Vater Unser was repainted to be a book with Alpha and Omega on each page. The remainder of the church interior was also repainted at some point in time. <br>In 1961, the congregation purchased land on Forest Home Ave. in Greenfield, WI. In 1963 the cornerstone was laid for the new school building, and in 1969, the Mitchell St. property was put up for sale with plans to build a new church building in Greenfield. After many unsuccessful attempts at selling the Mitchell St. building and property, the Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority decided to purchase the property in 1977 on the condition that the church raze the building, despite it being an official city landmark. The final service was held on February 20th, 1977 with 1,152 people in attendance and the building was torn down in spring of that year. <br>The two bells were moved to the new church. The altar furnishings were put into storage and later donated to St. Marcus Lutheran of Milwaukee, WI where they were installed in 1997. Before being installed they were repainted and some decoration was removed. The pulpit and schalldeckel were also rebuilt to be installed on the opposite side of the chancel. <br>The pipework and windchests of the organ were relocated to the new church with alterations by Laurence Marowski. The casework and non-speaking façade pipes were sold at auction at the time of the church demolition. They were purchased for $25 by Paul Jakubovich and John A. Miller (high school seniors at the time). After being divided and stored in various places over time, these items were given to John J. Miller in 2015. -Database Manager
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