FAREWELL TO AN OLD FRIEND

This weekend will be the last at St. John's for one of its oldest members.  If all goes according to schedule, the console, or keyboard section of the church's organ will be
removed and replaced by the new one, as described in last week's bulletin article.

Mr. Charles Hendickson, a well-known organ builder, related the history of St. John's organ to us after a recent evaluation of the instrument.  According to him the Hall Organ
Company built our organ in the late 1920's. It was probably one of the last instruments built by this company before it went out of business in the Great Depression. It consists
of 16 ranks, or groups of pipes; 5 in the great, 9 in the swell, and 2 in the pedal. This amounts to about 1000 pipes. Although certain minor changes were made to some of the
ranks of pipes, the present instrument, with all of its wind chests, shutters, air reservoirs, and pipe facades, is essentially the same as that constructed in the 1920's

The original console was replaced by our present one in 1958. It was constructed by the Wicks Organ Company, and appears to have been donated in memory of Ben
Telinda, as a dedication plate to him is present on its front wall.

As we bid farewell to this present console, we are grateful for the uncountable number of Masses, weddings, and funerals that this instrument has played since its arrival.
Next week we will continue this article by describing the new organ and thoughts for future restoration of the existing pipe portion of the organ. 

Ron and Mary Smisek  (Church of St. John's Music Directors)