Our Organs
Our church organs have had and interesting history as they served us well through the years. From the very beginning, the congregation of this church has maintained that our music be the very best that we could achieve. The importance of music in our worship services was evident even when Col Albert Deal became a part of the church in 1897. We have heard that he joined the church primarily because of the Presbyterian’s insistence on a good music program.
We do not have much information about the musical instruments used by the young church in the early 1900’s. We do know that at some point in time, the church acquired pianos and a pump organ. We know this because we have a list of names of the ladies who played the piano and pump organ. We do not know id the pump organ was still being used when the Broad Street Church burned, or if it had been replaced by a newer instrument.
Seven years after the building on Savannah Avenue was constructed, a new organ was dedicated in1948. It may be reasonable to assume that pianos were used from 1941-1948 because the list of organists began with Horace McDougald in 1948. This organ purchased in 1948 served the church for over twenty years and was moved to the new Sanctuary on Fair Road in 1967.
A campaign was begun in February of 1972 to purchase a new organ and by December of that year, the new organ was installed and in use. This organ was completely paid for by donations. The church took out a five year note to pay for the organ, but I was paid off in just three years. The final cost of the organ in 1972 was $12,664.
This up-to-date, state of the art digital organ was purchased from Wooten Music Company in Augusta and was among the first of the computerized organs. However, a computer in 1973 was a far cry from today’s computers.
In the past 32 years of use, this organ has suffered some serious problems. In 1974, there was the first of several lightning strikes which caused considerable damage. Much work was done to the building to make sure that lightning could be controlled in the future. The organ computer was updated in 1983, but still is far behind today’s computers. The organ is showing its age and many parts no longer work. The cost of repairs would be considerable and the organ would still be 32 years old. As someone has said, “We need organ donors because our organ is on life support!” So this is the history of our organ, but what about the future?
THE FUTURE----------
Our session has determined that the time has come to start the process of raising money for a new organ.
Dot Odom,
FPC Historian