2017-07-14 - This entry describes a new home for an organ that was relocated without either tonal or mechanical changes. <br>Identified by J. A. Hefner, citing information from this publication: Referenced in "A Brief History of Central United Methodist Church, 1805-1980" by Harry C. Laybourne, 1982.<br>This instrument was originally installed in 1914 at Central Methodist. It was removed and sold to Second Baptist in 1960, when Central had a new Möller installed. -Database Manager
2017-07-19 - Updated by J. A. Hefner, listing this web site as a source of information: http://www.savetheorgan.org/kbase/opus_lists/pilcher.txt. <br> <br>The Pilcher opus list states this is opus 829, 22 stops. -Database Manager
2024-01-01 - It isn't immediately clear if the Pilcher organ is still there - I tried reaching out a few times and never heard back. It could be - a couple keyboard instruments/consoles can be seen in church photos/livestream videos, including a music rack [the type that would be on an organ console] in the chancel loft, and what looks to be a console instrument to the right of the chancel/stage area. The console of the 1960 organ may have been installed in the chancel choir loft, with the pipes elsewhere in the sanctuary. It also appears that the 1960 organ replaced an earlier organ of unknown origin... An undated photo shows former pastor W. S. Smith and his wife [per granddaughter Marilyn Hoytt] in the chancel, with a 17-stop, 2-manual, attached-console pipe organ visible, surrounded by chairs for the choir. This couldn't be the 1960 Pilcher from Central Methodist, as that had 22 stops [and for a 1910s electro-pneumatic Pilcher, shouldn't they be switch-tabs?]. The facade pipes here are stencilled unlike the Pilcher ones, which appear plain in Central Methodist photos. The facade's middle pipe-flat shows 7 pipes standing out from the rest, in a manner like the 5-pipe distinct flat Hinners often had. To me, the instrument looks rather like an 1890s-1910s tracker organ, though only part of it is visible. The loft organ, showing console and facade pipes - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1163871593949056&set=a.568187372018026 - possibly in the same timeframe as the others linked below "1930s or 40s" mock-wedding showing the loft organ, console closed - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1163871270615755&set=a.568187372018026 Partly visible again - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1163871710615711&set=a.568187372018026 For context of the first image, "I am # 16. Marilyn Pryce Hoytt. Granddaughter of Rev. & Mrs. W.S. Smith, former pastor & wife" - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1163871613949054&set=a.568187372018026 -J. A. Hefner
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