One way to combat declining church attendance...

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http://newsitem.com/news/concert-chance-to-show-off-church-s-1951-organ-1.1289892#axzz1qeKdyauk

Concert chance to 'show off' church's 1951 organ
By Mike Staugaitis (Staff Writer mike_s@newsitem.com)
Published: March 24, 2012


MIKE STAUGAITIS/Staff Photox One of the three rooms behind the church wall that house the pipes of the First Presbyterian Church's organ.
Photo: N/A, License: N/A, Created: 2012:03:21 18:22:22

Noriene Ladd sits at the controls and keyboards for the First Presbyterian Church's pipe organ on Wednesday afternoon. Ladd is in her 43rd year of service as the church's organist and will be one of the performers at the organ concert at the church on Sunday.

SHAMOKIN - Many city residents are unaware of the large, beautiful pipe organ inside First Presbyterian Church.

That could change on Sunday, when the church, at Sunbury and Liberty streets, hosts a unique event: an organ concert.

The idea originated approximately a year ago, according to William Milbrand, who has been church choir director since 1977.

"Because of the declining church attendance, we felt as though we had to give some opportunity to show this instrument off," he said.

"We think we have one of the best pipe organs in town and it has been well cared for," added Noriene Ladd, in her 43rd year as the church's organist. "We keep up with the repairs. We think we should show it off a little bit and we know some very good organists."

Those organists include Ladd, Philip Maue, Margaret Morris, Mary Ann Stump, Dan Umholtz and Jack Umholtz. Also to be featured in the concert, which starts at 3 p.m., are pianists Maxine Howerter-Harvey, Melanie Jessop and Irvin Liachowitz. The show will include duets featuring the two instruments.

2nd organ since 1889

Milbrand said the organ is serviced and tuned quarterly, and any maintenance needed is done in between.

The organ cost $27,000 when purchased and was built and installed by the Reuter Organ Co., Lawrence, Kansas. The company was awarded the contract in 1948 and the organ, a "three-manual" version with 1,907 pipes, was dedicated in January 1951.

When seated in the church the only visible part of the organ is the control board where the organist sits. All the pipes are located in three rooms behind two grated screens on the back wall of the church.

It is the second pipe organ in the church's history.

The first was installed in 1889 at a cost of $1,800 and served the church for 59 years.

During that time, the church had but one organist, Helen Caldwell. With her resignation, a campaign was started to replace the original organ. The campaign's slogan was "A New Organ Without One Cent of Interest."

'Everyone's excited'

Milbrand and Ladd shared their excitement for Sunday.

"Everyone seems to be excited. I have been privileged to play it all these years," Ladd said. "We have very good acoustics in the church."

"I think that people just don't know what these instruments are all about," Milbrand said.

"They don't realize what is right here on Sunbury Street," Ladd added.

(A freewill offering will be received. Refreshments will follow the performances. For more information call 648-0201. The pastor of First Presbyterian Church is The Rev. Dr. Carrie L. Stine.)

Eric
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