The bulwark instrument of the First Presbyterian church of
Sac City had, since 1878, been first a cabinet Mason and Hamblin organ,
replaced in 1903 with a pipe organ, and finally in 1942 with the Wicks
three-part organ - the Great, the Swell, and Pedal. Our congregation
has since, with both pride and humililty, enjoyed this particular organ.
In c. 1929, Mr. Charles Lawrence returned to Sac City from Florida
where he had been organist both in a synagogue and Catholic church. He
was a graduate of Oberlin College in Cleveland, and had studied abroad
in Germany. He was a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists and was
well qualified to design the specifications for the instrument.
Mr. Lawrence's records say: "The specifications for this organ have
been drawn after consultation with experts from six different organ
manufacturers and two independent organ maintenance men, and after
playing on many organs of different makes and sizes. It is designed to
conform especially to the needs of our church and the preferences of
the committee and others from the church who have been most helpful in
their comments."
In
terms of the mechanics of this organ, it has 834 pipes varying in
size from one about a foot square nd 16 feet long weighing about 250
pounds, to several about the size of a small lead pencil. The largest
pipe sounds the lowest note, and the smallest gives the soft, highest
tones. The organ has about 1200 electric magnets nd ten miles of
electric wire for controlling the admission of air under pressure to
the
pipes. The entire organ weights about 3 tons. Since no two organs are
made exactly alike, every fine insrument is completely hand made from
start to finish.
An intense personal pride in the organ has been characteristic of the
company by whom it was constructed and the parishioners by whom it has
been enjoyed.
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