This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ.
Identified by Scott Gercken, based on personal knowledge of the organ.
-- From the church's website, (http://www.augsburgchurch.com/125anniversary/page12.htm): "May 1, 1917, a contract was signed with George Kilgen and Son of St. Louis, Missouri for the purchase of a Kilgen Organ for $1,800.00. The organ was to be ready for use by October 1, 1917."
Also from http://www.augsburgchurch.com/125anniversary/page14.htm "January 10, 1952, we signed a contract with W. H. Barenfanger, Jr. and C. W. Barenfanger and Barenfanger Construction Company to install acoustical tile, sheet rock walls, spackle to make smooth, one coat of sealer and one coat of satin textured paint. [...] February 23, 1952, W. F. Barrett serviced the organ. A blower was added for $730.00. The pipes were removed and cleaned. Holes were cut in the bellows for the air pipe."
There are no indications that the organ was ever re-voiced to compensate for the installation of acoustic tile in the sanctuary.
Congregation members inform me that the feeder bellows for this instrument were in what's now the pastor's office, underneath the instrument. Confirmands and other youth served as calcants and the teachers for the parish day school all had duties as organist.
The façade toeboard leaks air due to the less-than-careful installation of two music desk lights and a signal light.
The organ stopped receiving regular service ca. 1996 when the church purchased an electronic organ and installed speakers behind the non-speaking pipes on the south side of the organ gallery.
The organ has suffered damage from obvious roof leakage and uncouth use of the organ chamber as church picnic supply storage. The organ is playable as of 2013, though it needs a great degree of tuning. Pitch is roughly A432Hz.
There is interest in restoring the organ for the building's centennial.