Between 1893 and 1900 - Organ and pulpit (Photograph from an archival source: Rev. Joseph H. Selden (1825-1923), submitted by Jeffrey Neufeld/Jeffrey Neufeld)
2021-12-27 - The church's archives and local historical documents claim the original builder was Farrand & Votey. However, other research indicates the builder may have been Lancashire & Marshall instead. * The Organ, Vol. II, No. 6 (October, 1893): "The Lancashire-Marshall Organ Co. have just erected a three-manual organ in the Congregational Church, Elgin, Ill..." (p. 139) * The Organ, Vol. II, No. 7 (November, 1893): "Mr. Clarence Eddy has given numerous concerts during the past six weeks...Sept. 19 he opened a three-manual Lancashire & Marshall Co. organ in Elgin, Ill..." (p. 163) -Jeffrey Neufeld
2022-10-27 - Several local newspaper articles found from 1893 found that corroborate *The Organ* references to Lancashire-Marshall being the builder rather than Farrand & Votey. An excerpt from *Elgin Daily News*, 8/29/1893, p. 3, col. 3: "...It is by far the finest organ in the city and is the best ever sent out by the manufacturers, 'The Marshal Lancashire Organ Co., of Moline, Ill.' The instrument is 22 feet wide, 10 feet deep, and 30 feet in height. In construction it consists of four distinct octagonal towers, made of pipes. the interstices consists also of pipes. Below are panels and other ornamentations. The wood work is oak of the highest finish, and is massive and modest rather than exceedingly ornamental...The organ is a three-manual, heavy pedal instrument, supplied with tubular, pneumatic action in the manuals and pedals...The pipes are 2,152 in number, of which fifty composer the first tier, all with terra cotta ground work and gilt ornamentation...The manufacturers value it at about $7,000." -Jeffrey Neufeld
2022-10-28 - I finally got around to digging up the newspaper articles from 1893 that confirm the original builder was Lancashire-Marshall--not Farrand & Votey. -Jeffrey Neufeld
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