2023-06-17 - From - *Baltimore Sun*, Aug 19, 1852 In a lengthy article about the then current work of organ builder Henry Berger, it includes a mention of a large organ being constructed for the St. Paul's Cathedral Pittsburgh. "fourty ft high , 23 ft wide, three rows of keys with pedals, 52 stops" This organ may NOT have been built, but it is possible that Berger was asked to submit a proposal. He was in the process of building a 3 manual organ for St. Augustine's Church, Philadelphia, which was constructed, but in another similar type article he says he has been contracted to build an organ for St. Ignatius, Baltimore, which was actually built by Simmons. Berger had a positive relationship with Bishop John Neuman, when Newman was a priest in Baltimore. Some of his contracts seem likely to have been secured, in the PA diocese, when Neumann was Bishop. Berger was also a showman, organist and self promoter including the organization and touring of his 6 children through the US & Europe as a musical group, and part of the "Swiss Bell Ringers". St. Pau's was first built as a parish church, in 1843. In 1851 it burned and was replaced on the same site in 1855. In 1900, Andrew Carnegie paid for the purchase of a new Kimball organ for St. Paul's, which replaced the "old organ". Its installation was delayed until after Easter 1901. Then it was installed, only to be there a month, as the Cathedral building was sold to Henry Clay Frick, and a new much larger Cathedral was put up on Dithridge St. The Kimball went to this new building. -Steven Bartley
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