Our Wurlitzer Organ ~ 90 years old
The organ was purchased from the Wurlitzer Company at a cost of $4,067.38 and was shipped from the factory on Niagara Falls Blvd. to the church at 453 Old Falls Blvd. on December 29, 1936. Many people employed at the Wurlitzer Company were also members of St. Paul. George Zuch and Otto Exner were among them and may have been involved in the actual installation of the organ and, over time, if there was a problem with the organ, these two men were often called upon to solve the problem.
Classical composers back in the day, would compose symphony after symphony, concerto after concerto, etc.and then take them all in a big pile to a publisher to be printed. The printer would have no idea when the composer had completed the “work” or in what order it was completed. So, to better keep track of each composition, publishers assigned “Opus” (meaning “work” in Latin) numbers to each “work” – thus you have Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C major, Opus 21. The Wurlitzer Company did the same thing.
Each organ the craftsmen/craftswomen at Wurlitzer completed (“composed”), the Company (“publisher”) assigned to it an “Opus” number. Our Wurlitzer Organ is “Opus 2205”. It is said that Wurlitzer produced only 250 “true” church organs and our Wurlitzer may be one of the few that remains as it was originally built. The name Wurlitzer was known around the world.
Restoration work has begun!! You can view some photos below of when the company was here removing organ parts to take to their workshop to start restoration work. More photos will be added in the upcoming weeks so please check back!
If you would like to donate towards the restoration, you may click here to go to our “Donate Now” tab on this website or use one of the special envelopes with green lettering, that are available at The Information Center in The Gathering Place and also in each pew rack.
Thank you for your support of this project which is dedicated to the Glory of God especially through the gift of music! May our worship be blessed and pleasing to God!
These photos are in no particular. They show the process of removing parts to be refurbished and what the “unseen” parts of the organ look like.
