From the Loft

The pipe organ continues to fascinate younger generations. During VBS, I observed several children looking
up in the loft and marveling at the site of the pipes. Cole Prescott, age ten, was justifiably proud to tell them
a little about the organ and that he can play it. Last Sunday, an eight-year-old visitor came up to look at the
organ with his family and I learned that he has loved organs for years. This week, one of my 15-year- old
piano students is attending her second American Guild of Organists Pipe Organ Encounter in Holland,
Michigan. Incidentally, the director of this organ camp is Elizabeth Claar, organist at FPC from 1994-1996.

When I came to this church last summer, I made a goal to learn more about the history and continuing
stewardship of our 1979 Schlicker pipe organ. You can read some of my discoveries about its history
elsewhere in this newsletter. Although the pipe organ is an expensive investment at any time in history, its
value continues to appreciate. I am thankful for the generations before me who made this organ possible.

An archived, undated (sometime after 1979) Dominion Post editorial by Jack Reese, promoting a March 21
organ concert to celebrate the birthday of J.S. Bach, stated:
Members of First Presbyterian Church are lucky people because they have an organ with absolutely
gorgeous and thrilling sound, that soars and engulfs the church sanctuary. There is nothing –
absolutely nothing – as majestic and striking as that instrument of all instruments, the organ.

The loft is open on Sundays and you are welcome to come upstairs and take a closer look. While there, peek
into the choir room and its recent updates. If you would like to participate in the stewardship of this organ
for future generations, you can assist the Worship Committee’s upcoming task force to consider options for
its continuing care.

Janna Kisner, Minister of Music

A Brief History of the Organ of

The First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown, West Virginia
Janna Kisner, Minister of Music

The First Organ: Felgemaker 1900-1954 - $2,300

On May 1, 1900, First Presbyterian Church dedicated its first pipe organ at the High and Kirk Street location.
This organ, made by Felgemaker Company of Erie, PA, was a $2,300 gift from Col. J.M. Guffey of
Pittsburgh. Originally, this instrument was manually pumped by a person who stood to the organist’s right at
the side of the organ. The church made updates in 1906 with a water-powered motor and in 1916 with an
electric fan blower. The pipes of this organ were painted green with gold decorations to match the sanctuary
décor at the time.

Rebuilt Tellers Organ: 1954-1979 - $8,950

In 1954, the congregation re-located and re-built the original Felgemaker Organ at the front of the new
sanctuary at the Spruce Street location. The Tellers Organ Company of Erie, PA, successors to Felgemaker,
completed the work for $8,950. Including both locations, the first organ served the congregation for nearly
80 years!

1979 Schlicker Organ - $68,000

In 1977, the FPC Session appointed a committee to study the replacement of the organ: Beverly Shumaker
(co-chair), Jean Humphreys (co-chair), Roger Sherman, Gene Klingberg, Don Worrell, Martin Piribek, Mary
and Charles Krusenstjerna, Ruth Garlow, and Clyde English. In a period of only a few days in November
1977, the church received pledges for over $50,000 to insure that a major portion of the $68,000 cost would
be available. Simultaneously, the church raised money for the Presbyterian Hunger Fund.

Schlicker Organ Company of Buffalo, NY installed a new electro-pneumatic organ with slider chests in
1979. The pipes on the front of the organ are made of zinc. Other pipes are made of a lead/tin mixture and
others are made of cherry wood. The church completed only 14 of the 18 stops in the original design in 1979
to total 999 pipes. Cassie Boyd, Organist, played for the Sunday Service of Dedication on February 10,
1980. There is no record in the archive of the Dedication Recital.

1999 Completion of the Organ - $33,940

The original design organ was ‘completed’ in 1999 with the additional four stops. Alan Donaldson, Clerk of
Session signed a contract with Schlicker Organ Company on January 21, 1998 for $33,940. George and
Tizzie Curry made possible the enhancement of the organ in 1999. WVU Professor William Haller played a
Service of Dedication on May 16, 1999. The addition of 311 pipes in 1999 brought the organ to its originally
designed 18 stops, 25 ranks, and 1,310 pipes.

An archived, undated (sometime after 1979) Dominion Post editorial by Jack Reese, promoting a March 21
organ concert to celebrate the birthday of J.S. Bach, stated:
Members of First Presbyterian Church are lucky people, because they have an organ with absolutely
gorgeous and thrilling sound that soars and engulfs the church sanctuary. There is nothing –
absolutely nothing – as majestic and striking as that instrument of all instruments, the organ.

Estimated 2008 Replacement Cost for the Current Organ: 25 ranks x $16,500 per rank = $412,500
The 1979 and 1999 combined installation costs of the Schlicker organ totaled $101,940. The organ has since
appreciated to a 2008 replacement value of $412,500.

Organists Who Have Served First Presbyterian Church

High and Kirk Street location: Harriet Williams and Celia Tower

Spruce Street Location: Celia Tower, Martha Manning (1956-1968), John Klingberg, Clyde English, Cassie
Boyd, Sherry Turner (1992-1994), Elizabeth Claar (1994-1996), Linda Seime (1996-1999), Stephen Harouff
(1999-2003), Solee Clark (2003-2006), Janna Kisner (2007-present).

Please submit any additional information you may know to help complete this list of organists who have
served First Presbyterian Church. If you have old organ recital programs or memorabilia, consider donating
them to the church archives.