LA PLATA COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Our Historic Pipe Organ

The beautiful historic pipe organ has been a part of Community Presbyterian Church since it was installed in 1924 when the church was built. It is a tubular pneumatic organ, a type that was manufactured for a relatively short period of time, built by the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, Vermont, and sold and installed by Lyon and Healy, Inc. of Chicago.

 

In 1952, the church, through a committee consisting of Scott Gault, chairman, Mrs. Eva Rigg, organist, and Clifford Wilgus, contracted with B. Schmeing of Quincy, Illinois, to do the first major renovation of the organ. Building acoustics were corrected, sections of the organ rebuilt, electric renovations made, and definition given to the otherwise meaningless visual pipes. The pipes are recessed within a sound shell. Schmeing treated it as a large Italian Renaissance picture window overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Symbolically portrayed in the distance was an atomic explosion mushrooming to the very heights of the sky, and in the midst of this total destruction appears the symbol of the Christian Philosophy, the Cross, the one true saving factor. The Cross is fashioned of Renaissance art glass, with chrome beading, and is electrically lighted. Solid color walls have since replaced part of this symbolic artwork.

 

Nearly 50 years later, in 2001, it became apparent that the organ was once again in need of renovation to correct problems that had been manifesting themselves in recent years. The Session appointed a committee to research the cost. The committee consisted of Robert Johnson and Sara Beth Fouch, co-chairs, Ann Bullock, Mary Grace Mansfield, and Richard Cochran. Subsequently, the project was approved, and permission was given to begin a campaign to raise the money for an approximately $50,000 project. St. Louis Organ Company, the company that had been servicing the organ for many years, was contracted to do the work. “Seed money” for the project came from bequests designated for organ maintenance from several individuals and estates: the children of Clarence and Lucille Woods, the estate of Rodney and Viola Collins, Helen Naughton, and the James Shepherd estate. The remainder of the money came from the generosity of members, former members, and friends of the church, and within a year of the start of the campaign, the full amount needed had been received. The extensive renovation took place during the summer of 2003, restoring the organ to “near new” condition, adding versatility, and eliminating long-standing problems caused by changes in weather and humidity. It was due to the blessings of God and the generosity of the congregation, former members, and friends of Community Presbyterian Church that a project of this magnitude was able to be completed. Grateful thanks to all!

 

A service of dedication was held on October 5, 2003. The church has been very fortunate to have such a quality instrument as part of its historic heritage. Sara Beth Fouch has been the organist since 1965, following her mother, Eva Pash Rigg, who served for over 30 years. Shirley (Grear) Maticks served as assistant organist for many years.