2008-12-15 - Church exterior; Photo from church history (Digital image by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)
Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2004-10-30 - Status Note: There 1996. -Database Manager
2004-10-30 - Origins obscure. Said to have come from Calvary Presbyterian, San Francisco, CA; via First Presbyterian, Portland, OR c. 1863, where it was until 1893; via Westminster Presbyterian, Portland, OR 1889 (1893?); via Vernon Presbyterian, Portland, OR 1897 (1907?); via Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR (housed at Dr. L. Thayer residence 1950's-1978). Restored by Coulter in 1979 and relocated back to First Presbyterian, Portland, OR by 1996. Note that the only 1851 1m. Erben for San Francisco was for Episcopal church. -Database Manager
2007-02-19 - Updated through on-line information from James R. Stettner. -Database Manager
2019-04-17 - Updated by Jim Lewis, naming this as the source of information: The Weekly Oregon Statesman January 4, 1864 - \"Old First Presbyterian Church\". Faber, Stephen L. Old First Presbyterian Church 1999. According to a church history, this Erben organ was purchased second-hand in 1852 by George Pettinos for First Presbyterian, San Francisco. It was sold to First Presbyterian, Portland, Oregon, in 1864 for $1000. The Erben was replaced by the former Boston Music Hall 1834 Appleton organ in 1864. -Database Manager
Typed stoplist from the OHS PC Database. Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Portland, Oregon
First Presbyterian Church
Henry Erben, 1851
8' Open Diapason
8' Keraulophon
8' Dulciana
8' Stopped Diapason Treble
8' Stopped Diapason Bass
4' Octave
2' Fifteenth
Bellows Signal
This organ was one of several stock models produced by the New York shop of the distinguished American
organ builder Henry Erben. It was originally acquired by Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco,
but in the 1860's was donated to the Presbyterian Church in Portland (now First Presbyterian). It remained
there until 1893, when it was loaned to Westminster Presbyterian Church, and in 1907 Westminster loaned it
to Vernon Presbyterian Church, where it remained until the late 1940's.
Then it was loaned to Lewis and Clark College, housed in the home of the then-College Dean, Lewis Thayer,
but later moved to a basement conference room in Agnes Flanagan Chapel where it remained until 1978; then
moved to its present location following some renovations and repairs by Ken Coulter.
Tonally in its original condition, except for Keraulophon stop which was lost in the organ's travels. Replaced
by Mr. Coulter with a small-scale oboe. Wind chest repaired, a new blower provided (no room to replicate the
original hand-pumped bellows), and the casework, originally a painted grain, was reconstructed and painted
in the Greek Revival style popular in the mid-nineteenth century.
Typed stoplist and notes, revised by James R. Stettner Source: Stoplist copied from the keydesk Date not recorded
Portland, Oregon
First Presbyterian Church
Henry Erben, 1851
Unknown Builder, 1864 - Reinstallation here
MANUAL (Expressive)
[8'] Open Diapason (tf) 39
[8'] Keraulophon (tf) 39
[8'] Dulciana (tf) 39
[8'] Stopped Diapason Treble (tf) 39
[8'] Stopped Diapason Bass 17
[4'] Principal 56
[2'] Fifteenth 56
Tremulant
PEDAL (27 notes)
No independent registers
COUPLERS
Manual permanently coupled to pedals
PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Expression (hitch-down)
NOTES
This organ was one of several stock models produced by the New York shop of
the distinguished American organ builder Henry Erben. It was originally ac-
quired by Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, but in the 1864 was
sold to the Presbyterian Church in Portland (now First Presbyterian). It was originally installed in the building on the NW corner of 3rd & Washington.
When the new [and present] building was built, the Erben was moved to the
chapel of the new edifice and used until the sanctuary was completed. In
1889, the Erben was loaned to Westminster Presbyterian at 10th and Weidler
in Portland where it was used by the Sunday School for several years. During
his time it was nicknamed "the baby organ." In 1894, it was installed in the
church.
In 1897, Westminster was loaned the use of a pipe organ by Mrs. Walter M.
Cook. It is thought that the organ was loaned to Vernon Presbyterian Church
in Portland at this time, though some sources say it wasn't until 1907. The
Erben remained there as late as 1954, though again, some sources say the
1940's.
It was next loaned to Lewis and Clark College, but came to rest in the home
of College Dean, Dr. Lewis Thayer. It remained there until he sold his home
in 1978, at which time the organ was finally relocated to the college.
It was moved by Ken Coulter of Eugene, OR. and installed in a conference room
in the basement of Agnes Flanagan Chapel. Tonally it is in its original con-
dition, except for Keralophon stop which was lost in the organ's travels. It
was replaced by Mr. Coulter with a small-scale 8' Oboe, though the stop label
still reads Keraulophon.
The wind chest was repaired, a new blower provided (no room to replicate the original hand-pumped bellows), and the casework, originally of solid cherry,
was reconstructed and painted in the Greek Revival style popular in the mid-nineteenth century: white with brown trim. Only the keydesk area remains in
the original finished cherry.
In October 1995, the organ finally "came home" to the second (1889) building
of First Presbyterian. It was reinstalled with restorative repairs by the
Bond firm in Chapel Hall - formerly Westminster Chapel. It's return was cele-
brated in concert on Sunday, October 15, 1995 at 11:15 a.m. in a concert by
Dr. Lyn Loewi, Music Director.
The manuals may be pushed into the case when the organ is not being used.
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