1910 Postmark - Church exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Vintage postcard, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)
2022-12-13 - The local Paonia newspaper reported on November 29, 1907: A pipe organ in the new Christian church is being urged by some of the music loving people of Paonia. This suggestion comes from people who have looked over the building and examined the auditorium and concluded that it will take a pipe organ to completely equip this splendid church for successful Christian work. Such an addition would enable the people who love music to render and enjoy some of the very best sacred concerts. No steps will be taken just yet to let a contract for such an instrument but the sbscriptions [*sic*] that are being offered and the large number of friends who are coming up as the news spreads is making Pastor Hester think that if the friends to the movement come as fast from now on as they have the last week you may hear the big organ at the dedicatory services. The March 20, 1908, issue of the newspaper announced that the Pipe Organ Committee of the church "wish to present to the public the above view of the new Kimball Pipe Organ which is to be installed in the church in a few months" (see under "Documents"). The contract had been signed, and the first payment had been made. The March 26, 1909, issue of the newspaper reported that the new church building would be dedicated on Sunday, March 28. The morning service would include "good music led by the pipe organ and trained singers." The article further noted: "Many words of cheer and praise are being sounded forth by the public. It would seem everybody is proud of the outlay: modern church building, parsonage, pipe organ, spacious basement for Sunday school and social purposes and well arranged hitching ground with suitable racks for horses." Sources: "Dedication of New Church," *The Newspaper* (Paonia, CO), Friday, March 26, 1909, 1, Chronicling America, accessed December 13, 2022, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/data/batches/cohi_dorchester_ver01/data/sn90051107/00340585823/1909032601/0634.pdf. "Local Items" (column), *The Newspaper* (Paonia, CO), Friday, November 29, 1907, [4], Chronicling America, accessed December 12, 2022, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/data/batches/cohi_dorchester_ver01/data/sn90051107/00340585823/1907112901/0156.pdf. "Two Thousand Dollar Pipe Organ for Paonia," *The Newspaper* (Paonia, CO), March 20, 1908, 1, Chronicling America, accessed December 13, 2022, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/data/batches/cohi_dorchester_ver01/data/sn90051107/00340585823/1908032001/0241.pdf. -Charles Eberline
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