OUR NEW ORGAN CONSOLE HAS ARRIVED

                In 2008, the Annual Fund Drive was dedicated to the preservation of our organ. Since that time we have been studying and researching necessary improvements to enhance the organ and to extend its life time.

                About a week and a half ago a new organ console was installed. This was a yearlong project in the making. A new organ console was built by Kerner and Merchant of Syracuse, New York. It was built in Syracuse and transported to Buffalo where it was disassembled and carried up the stairs to the choir loft. The old organ console was then taken apart and carried down the stairs piece by piece. There are pictures on display at the Main Street entrance to the church showing the work as well as artist drawings of the new console. There are also pictures on our website showing the day the organ was installed.

                The cabinet of the organ console was created to match the rest of the architecture of the church. Because the sale and use of ivory is illegal now, the organ keys were fashioned out of a bone material. The new computerized wiring makes the organ more responsive when played. It is one of a very few such consoles in Western New York.

                The Kimball organ was first built in 1903 by the W.W. Kimball Company of Chicago, Illinois at a cost of $7,000.00. In 1952 the organ was rebuilt and a new console was installed at a cost of $10,500.00. The new organ console was built and installed at a cost of $97,408.

                In October 1987, William (Bill) Kurzdorfer, our Curator of the organ, began the project of rebuilding the organ over the course of five years. Much of the work that he did he did at his own cost. Over the years Bill has donated much of his time, energy and hard work maintaining the organ for St. Louis again much of it at no expense to the parish.

                The organ in St. Louis Church is one of the oldest Kimball instruments still in its original home. It still retains 98% of its original pipework, its original two bi-fold reservoirs and its patented wind chests.

                We are proud to have such a remarkable instrument to lead us in praising God each week. Thank you to all who have worked to protect this fine instrument over the years.