Organist Carol Sundermann, right, gets a lesson on the new buttons of the recently renovated organ at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Westboro, Missouri.

By Beverly Clinkingbeard

It was 1940 and St. John’s Lutheran Church, located in rural Westboro, Missouri, broke ground to build a new church, a building program in the planning stages for some time. The church was contacted of the availability of an organ that had the capabilities of providing music to the new and larger sanctuary. It was a pedal organ and “had a wheel on the side which was turned by one of the boys.” Thus, when the architectural plans for the new church were drawn, an alcove was reserved for the pieces and parts of a new organ.

While the organ in consideration was new to St. John’s, it had a previous life and history. It was designed and “manufactured after 1926 and probably before 1936” and was made by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York, a “style B” created to be a theatre organ. It “was built to accompany silent movies.” Thus, it had many percussion stops, tuned and non-tuned, which were sound effects made to enhance the movie experience of that day. The “works” of the organ are German made/engineered. Originally, it had a curved console and this was changed in 1960 to the present, straight two-level console that was purchased from a church in Des Moines, Iowa. The partial upgrade was dedicated to former Pastor Moessner. Other than this change, the organ had functioned with limited attention and maintenance.

Before the organ took up its new residency and duties at St. John’s, the organ was “sanctified” for its new home. This included “…pipe ranks have been exchanged to provide an instrument capable of a sound more in keeping with its liturgical use.” The console that the organist plays and what the congregation sees is but a small part of the whole. In the basement is an electric motor (that takes the place of boys cranking to make air) and it literally rumbles when the organ is played. In the loft above the choir are the “works” that make the music directed by the organist when the keys are pressed and the stops on or off.

Fast forward to today. Once the present congregation voted to restore the organ, purchased for $2500.00 by their grandfathers, the craftsman of Emerson Pipe Organ Specialties, LLC, arrived from Warrensburg, Missouri, with a U-Haul trailer and dismembered the many wires and tubes. Friends of the church gathered to follow his direction and the organ quite literally was handed out the door, pipe by pipe, tube by tube. All pieces were pre-labeled, crated or swathed in packing material. In the weeks ensuing, while the organ master cleaned and rejuvenated what makes an organ the instrument it is, the organist, Carol (Halliday) Sundermann, improvised music for the congregation with a small electronic organ.

Four months later, the organ returned as it had departed. The pipes were in 12 crates, the wooden pipes that didn’t fit in the crates separately wrapped in packing cushions. Each piece was cleaned, repaired and some required new leather seals and new leather, where required, for the bellows. Members of the congregation lined up again and one by one, piece by piece, the organ parts were carried through the front door, down the aisles and through the hole into the alcove. The organ expert, Christopher P. Emerson, III, reassembled it. In the renovation, the organ received an upgrade and entered our computerized world. The old is still there, plus it now features capabilities of programming music – a board that can be loaded with computer cards – a playerless organ, if needed. However, Carol, has once again resumed her place on the bench. It’s as though the congregation’s old friend has returned, rejuvenated and ready to make music.

Steve Klute took many photos of the event for those who followed on Facebook (photos are also available with a description of the repairs on Google – Emerson Pipe Specialties, LLC.) When asked of Carol’s feelings as it was dismantled and hauled away she said, “It was a bit like watching your kids go off to college. I started playing 50 years ago and hadn’t realized how much the instrument meant to me.” Carol started piano lessons when she was five years old. Mrs. Bullerdeik of Westboro was her teacher (she was known to be stern teacher and used a ruler to rap a player’s fingers). Carol said she didn’t do this to her (perhaps because Carol was a good student). An added bonus for the lesson was the nickel Carol received for going to the post office for Mrs. Bullerdeik’s mail. She said she promptly spent the nickel on candy. When asked if she required urging to practice, she thought not. She simply loved music and had mentors to encourage her. Carol’s sisters also took piano lessons.

Meanwhile, congregants of St. John’s have learned more than they ever thought they might want to know as to what makes an organ that is perfectly suited for worship with music of hymns. The organ purchased for $2,500 eighty-four years ago by the original parishioners of St. John’s has stood the test of time and is ready for the future. Eighty years from now, will the great-grandchildren of today’s generation be fascinated with the mechanics of the organ and marvel at the antiquity of what is currently modern electronics?

’Til next time.