Published: July 13, 2007 10:32 pm      

Members of the Organ Historical Society come to Logansport

Over 200 members of the Organ Historical Society came to St. James Lutheran Church in Logansport on Thursday for its 52nd annual convention.

The group travels to different locations to listen to pipe organs and it made the stop in Logansport to hear John Gouwens of Culver play the 123-year-old organ.

The parish has been home to several organs. In 1851, it first housed a reed organ, according to Keith Williams. In 1863, a one-manual organ, pumped with pedals, was purchased for $600.

When a new church building was constructed, a large, ornamental organ was purchased for $3,300 and installed, but was destroyed by a fire in 1883.

In September of that year, a new organ was purchased for $2,500. Barckhoff was selected to build the organ and it was installed at the end of the year.

The organ is still intact with the help of Buzard Pipe Organ Builders in Champaign, Ill., who made restorations to it.

The organ needed to be repainted and several modifications had to be made because of water damage as well.