First United Methodist Church - Sheridan, IN
The original organ at First United Methodist Church served the congregation for nearly eight decades. Built by Henry Pilcher's Sons of Louisville, Kentucky, this small instrument was installed when Woodrow Wilson was President, and the doughboys were fighting in Europe. By the turn of the millennium, however, it was clear that the organ suffered from serious mechanical wear and tear, and that a major renovation would be needed to preserve it. Reynolds Associates, Inc., of Marion, IN, designed a new organ for the church that conserves a significant amount of material, mainly excellent Pilcher pipework, from the old organ. The façade was also saved, as was the external cabinet of the console - a cabinet constructed of solid quarter-sawn oak. The new organ seamlessly incorporates the older pipework, which was completely renewed and revoiced, with an ensemble of new pipes, creating a sound that is modern and flexible, at the same time preserving the warmth and breadth of tone of the old instrument. The new pipes were designed and scaled especially for this particular organ, and constructed by master pipe makers in the Czech Republic. All the pipes - old and new - were regulated and finished on site to provide exactly the right sound in the church sanctuary.
It is interesting to note that the replacement value of the materials that were preserved from the old organ probably exceeds the total amount spent by the church on the old organ from the day it was installed in 1918 until it was removed in 2003. The church's entire original investment in its pipe organ, an investment made over eight decades, will continue to serve the congregation in the twenty-first century. In a post-modern "Dixie Cup" world, this new pipe organ celebrates both authenticity and permanence. This wonderful and very versatile small organ was dedicated on May 23, 2004, with a concert by the Rev. Robert A. Schilling, AAGO, retired Minister of Music and the Arts at North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. SPECIFICATION
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All the mechanical portions of the organ are new, including the windchests, winding system, and blower. The console cabinet includes new keyboards and stop controls, and a solid-state control system with a MIDI interface and record/playback capability.