Better Pipe Organ Database

Prairie Organ Co. Opus 1 (1984)

Images

2024 - Freestanding organ, to the right of the chancel (Carolyn Bosse, organist/Ronald Damholt)

2024 - Drawknobs (Carolyn Bosse, organist/Ronald Damholt)

Consoles

Main

• Organ type: Traditional Without Cover
• Console position: Keydesk Attached
• 1 manuals
• 5 stops
• 5 registers
• 2 divisions
• Key action Type: Mechanical (Details Unknown)
• Stop layout Type: Drawknobs in Horizontal Row Above Top Manual
• Manual compass: 58 notes
• Pedal compass: 32 notes
• Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Details Unknown)
• Expression Type: No Enclosed Divisions
• Combination action: None

Notes

2016-11-27 - This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. Identified by Ronald Damholt, based on personal knowledge of the organ. This mechanical action instrument was the first built by Walter Bradford after completing his apprenticeship. It was the only new organ built under the name Prairie Organ Company, as the firm's name was changed to Bradford Organ Company in 1986. The four-stop manual division employed a restored 19th century Barckhoff chest. -Database Manager

2025-03-28 - Updated through online information from Ronald Damholt (March 12, 2025): Having discovered additional Prairie Organ Company documents, I have found the wind pressure for the organ: a description composed by Walter Bradford in 1985 stated 2 1/4" of wind. -Jim Stettner

Stoplist

Drawknob labeled "WIND" turns blower on and off. Wind pressure is 2-1/4". Source: Conversation with St. Paul's organist, Carolyn Bosse, in March 2025.

Manual Gedeckt 8, Principal 4, Octave 2, Larigot 1 1/3

Pedal (Added in 2000 when the organ was relocated to the parish's new facility.) Subbass 16 (Added in 2000)

Manual to Pedal 8 (Man to Ped)

Documents

• (1996-01-01) This contract was with Bradford Organ Company, successor to Prairie Organ Company. -Ronald Damholt
• (1997-01-01) These photos were taken at the time of the enlarged organ's reinstallation in St. Paul's new building. Walter Bradford is seen in the second photo, which was taken by Greg Simanski. -Ronald Damholt
• (1983-05-03) As this was to be Prairie Organ Company's Opus 1, this recommendation proved essential. (Mr. Leland's assertion that Prairie was already building an organ for a church in Woodlawn, IL is a bit off the mark; in fact we were helping to complete a Kurt Roderer organ for a church in Oak Lawn, IL.) -Ronald Damholt
• (1982-01-01) These 9 pages show the history of the original project, starting with a creative ad placed by St. Paul's in the Chicago Episcopal "Advance" and Prairie Organ Company's initial response, and ending with two somewhat different descriptions of the organ by Walter Bradford. -Ronald Damholt
• (1983-01-01) Contract between Prairie Organ Company and St. Paul's for Prairie Opus 1 -Ronald Damholt

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