London, UK: St Paul's Cathedral

This image of the St Paul organ is vertically oriented. My first post on this organ featured a horizontal card. Aside from that we have essentially the same view: a straight-ahead shot from the crossing through the pulpit area into the choir and east end. The organ cases are visible on both sides. My mint card includes some descriptive text on the front. On the reverse it becomes apparent that this was a "birthday card," as there is a blessing and a Bible verse where a personal message might usually be placed. The card was produced by the Beagle firm, in London.

Charlotte, NC, USA: St Mark's Lutheran

The church was founded in 1859 according to the card, and the new sanctuary, pictured was built in 1960. The card also gives the name of the pastor. It was created by Dexter Press, NY. My mint condition card is in color. The church's website gives a pretty good description of the music program, but no information on the organ. The pipeorgandatabase reports that the instrument is a  3/30 Moeller installed the same year the building was built. The most recent information was added in 2009, so one hopes it is fairly accurate.

Möller   Op. 9396   1960   3/30

       GREAT                         CHOIR
   16' Quintaton 61               8' Nasongedackt 61
    8' Diapason 61                8' Erzähler 61
    8' Bourdon 61                 8' Erzähler Celeste 49
    4' Principal 61               4' Koppelflöte 61
2 2/3' Quint 61               2 2/3' Nasard 61
    2' Octavin 61                 2' Prinzipal 61
   IV  Fourniture 244         1 3/5' Tierce 61
       Tremulant                  8' Krummhorn 61
       Sub                           Tremulant
       Unison Off                    Sub
       Super                         Unison Off
       Chimes 21 (present Maas)      Super

       SWELL                         PEDAL
    8' Gedackt 61                16' Violone 32
    8' Viole de Gambe 61         16' Bourdon 32
    8' Viole Celeste 49          16' Quintaton GT
    4' Flute Harmonic 61          8' Violone 12
    2' Flautnio 12                8' Bourdon 12
  III  Mixture 183                8' Quintaton GT
   16' Bassoon 61  L/2            4' Violone 12
    8' Trompette 61               4' Bourdon 12
    8' Bassoon 12                 2' Nachthorn 32
    4' Bassoon 12                16' Bassoon SW
       Tremulant                  8' Bassoon SW
       Sub                        4' Bassoon SW
       Unison Off
       Super

Easter Greetings, novelty card

My wife got this card for me at some point. It does indeed include organ pipes along with lilies and a chorister. It is a novelty card, not depicting a specific instrument, but is intended rather to "celebrate the Easter season." The overall color scheme is gold/brown. Very small lettering on the front is a copyright notice: "Copyright (c) 19xx M M Huse (?) perhaps. The adequately rendered pipes include some intricate stenciling. On the reverse it seems that it was produced by the TR Co. It is also apparent on the reverse that the front is actually embossed. On the reverse we learn that my used card was sent from Fleeton, VA to Reedville, VA in 1909. A common Franklin 1c stamp was used for postage. The card went to a Mr Taliafero in Reedville, Taliafero being a rather prominent surname in Virginia. The two towns are located in Northumberland County, a region of the state I never explored while living in Richmond. Both towns are located on the Chesapeake Bay probably less than 20 miles from each other. "Bernard" seems to be penned in the LL of the reverse but absent anything to clarify we can only suppose this refers to the sender.

Unknown Easter

I have absolutely no information about this card! I'm not even sure if I got it myself, or if it was a gift at some point. There is no identifying text on the front and none either on the back. The only bit of information is that it was produced by Artur. The image shows an Easter scene at the front of a church. Behind a railing there is a communion table covered by a white cloth, so it appears things are prepped to celebrate the sacrament. One notes lilies throughout the chancel area, two large chairs and the lower casework and facade of the organ. There seems to be a small mirror below the central pipes which would allow the organist to keep an eye on activity in the chancel area and nave. There is a hymnboard at right and an upright piano. There seems to be some stenciling near the top of the walls almost at ceiling height. A sign on the wall at left is illegible. The facade pipes have been painted/stenciled, though the sepia-toned card doesn't reveal the color scheme. A complete mystery!

Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Mormon Tabernacle (2)

The organ in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City must be one of the most frequently depicted instruments in the world! The is my second (at least) post on the instrument (the first). This card is interesting for its orientation and proximity. In the present view one can see what may be shutters on the side of the instrument, which would control volume from the pipes within. In this image one can also see a rather gaudy star and "UTAH" sign above the organ, with what seem to be electric light bulbs. This iteration of the organ is relatively early, as the case is narrow. However we can see a very full chorus of singers. The reverse of the card tells us it was published by the Int(ernational) Art and Nov(elty) Co. Leipzig, New York and Salt Lake City. We're told further it was printed in Germany. The card's description emphasizes the choir depicted and its exploits, with no mention of the organ. My color card is unused, though a hand-written "W" suggests the beginning of a usage.

New Haven, CT, USA: Yale University

The Newberry Memorial Organ at Yale University has a rich history. The Newberry family gave money for a Hutchings organ in Woolsey Hall in 1903. It was reworked by Steere already in 1915 and again in 1928 by Skinner. With 197 ranks the instrument remains much as it was with the Skinner work. My mint card is in color. The reverse states it was made in Germany, but there is no printer information.

Volunteer Organist

I'm pretty sure this was a gift from my wife, who enjoys finding kitsch-y examples for my collection. This card shows an organ and organist at left, with "adoring" listeners seated nearby. The right side of the card shows members of a congregation likewise listening to the organist's musical offering. The substance of the card is a stanza from a poem. The designation "2" in the title suggestions there are other cards that make a small set related to church music. Indeed the reverse mentions, "Songs" Series No 5004/02 which no doubt means something to the publisher. The card was made by Samforth and Co of Holmfirth England and New York, and was printed in England. No date is given.  A copyright notice on the front states the words are used by permission of Paxton of London. My copy is in color and is un-used. The organ appears to be a three-manual instrument with richly colored facade pipes. It's impossible to know if it is a real instrument or an imagined one for the purposes of the card only.

Denver, CO (USA): Trinity Methodist

My un-used card of the sanctuary at Trinity Methodist in Denver,  CO is unused. It was produced by Mile High Photo Company, Denver. No date is given. Based solely on conjecture andd perceived condition of the card I would guess it's from the middle of the last century. Text on the card says the sanctuary can seat 1300 people and that the Roosevelt organ from the late 1800's has 4290 pipes, making it one of the nation's "most outstanding."


The church's website doesn't seem to mention the organ, but images on the site seem to indicate the current instrument is the one shown in the image. The Roosevelt organ seems to be the 3rd that has served the church, preceded by an instrument of 1886 by Charles Anderson and an Odell instrument completed before 1910. The Roosevelt instrument is Opus 380 from 1888. It's not clear to me where the organ was before coming to Trinity-Denver. It has been worked on many times over the years, most recently in 2012 by Morel and Associates.

Ocean Grove, NY (USA): Methodist Auditorium

The Methodist Church elected in 1869 to establish a permanent camp meeting in Ocean Grove, NJ. The Great Auditorium was built on the site in 1894 and is now a venue for both religious and secular events. It can seat about 7000 persons. The organ was built by Robert Hope-Jones and dedicated in 1908, having been funded in part by none other than Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), who was a friend of Hope-Jones. On-going work since 1974 under the leadership of Gordon Turk, organist and artist in residence has brought the instrument to more than 200 ranks and 12000 pipes with a five manual and pedal console. The facade as it appears on my card and that currently shown on the Auditorium website are the same.

The most recent update on the instrument at the OHS database has it at 184 ranks in 2008 after work by John Shaw. The auditorium site says an antiphonal division of 15-ranks was installed 2007-2008. That may make the difference in counts.

My color card has been used. It is dated 5 July 1958 and bears a common Jefferson two-cent stamp from that era. The card was sent to California. It was produced by Tichnor Brothers of Boston and printed by Star Stationary in Newark, NJ. Text on the card calls the instrument the "largest in the world." It certainly ranks among the several that claim that title.

Valparaiso, IN (USA): University Chapel

Few instruments are more iconic than that found in the Chapel at Valparaiso University in Indiana, USA. The chapel was built 1956-1959 and is itself a striking work of architecture. It's only fitting that the organ be similar. The nave ceiling is 58 feet; the chancel height is 98 feet, capped by stunning stained glass. The chapel can seat about 2000 person depending on the configuration of the flexible seating. Schlicker installed the organ concurrent with the completion of the building. There were 71 ranks over three manuals and pedals in 1959. Dobson worked on the instrument in 1996. There are now 102 ranks over four manuals and pedal. The organ's page on the university website includes the stoplist.

My unused card is in color. There are some extraneous pencil markings on the reverse. It was published by Harvey's Studio of Lebanon, IN, the image having been taken by Mr. Harvey himself. The chapel was known as "Memorial Chapel" from its completion until 1969 when it was re-named the Chapel of the Resurrection. The card uses the former name, which indicates it is from the earlier period in the chapel's history.

Chautauqua, NY (USA): Chautauqua Institute

The Chautauqua Institute was founded in 1874 as an educational locale for summer-time use. It was envisioned as an extension of church school education in local churches in the experimental setting of the NY outdoors. Founded by Methodists, it ultimately is utilized by a variety of church denominations. Music was always an important part of the Chautauqua experience and in 1929 an on-site orchestra was founded.

The OHS database has an extensive list of instruments that have been at Chautauqua, the earliest being a Ryder organ from 1881. A letter to patrons states that ice and water damaged the organ console in Winter 2018. The letter mentions the "1907 Massey Memorial Organ." That would seem to delineate the Warren Church Organ instrument in the OHS database of 1907. The Moeller company replaced the console for the 94-rank instrument in 1928 and did a thorough remaking of the instrument in 1972. The most recent substantive work seems to have been done by the Fischer company of Pennsylvania in 1992.

My sepia-toned card has been postally used. The recipient was in Kingston, NY. The postmark is dated 14 August 1919. It was published by the Institute, and was sent using a common Washington type A140. Based on the perforations (11x11), it seems this is from the 1917-1919 printing,  Scott 498

 

Tennent, NJ (USA): Old Tennent Church

 

The Old Tennent Church, or as it's currently known, Old Tennent Presbyterian Church was founded in 1692. Church history marks this as the year the congregation formed and purchased land. A second plot was purchased in 1731 and it was upon this site that the present building was situated. The 1730 date on the card seems to correspond with this later building undertaking, rather than the actual establishment of the congregation. Apparently The Rev. Mr Tennent, second pastor, experienced some sort of religious ecstasy and fell into a trance (according to information on the reverse of the card). He was pastor for this congregation for 43 years and was buried beneath the building. The present website does not mention either of these bits of information. My unused card shows the front of the church with its raised pulpit and organ beside. The building is two storied, and one can see pillars supporting the wrap-around second level of seating in the card. The present building was built in 1751 and restored 1985-1988.  

The Organ Historical Society's database lists two instruments associated with the Tennent Presbyterian Church. The earliest is a Moeller instrument (Opus 86) of one manual from the 1880's. A second installed in 1934, Moeller Opus 6275 of 8 ranks. This is probably the instrument shown in the image below. The organ on my postcard above seems to have a single manual, so it may be the earlier instrument from the 1880's.

Wellesley, MA (USA): Dana Hall

I have been able to find no information about the organ shown on this card. The caption states this is the "living room" at Dana Hall in Wellesley Mass. Dana Hall is a girls' preparatory school. C.B. Dana was a philanthropist of some renown who donated to schools of various stripes. (One of the main buildings at Guilford College, Greensboro, NC, where I graduated, includes a Dana Auditorium.) I was able to find a letter from a key figure of Dana Hall which listed various improvements at the school, including an organ that cost $7000. But I have not been able to find any more details about the instrument itself. No doubt the room has undergone changes over the years, and it's possible the organ is no longer there.

My black-and-white card is used, and was sent to Brooklyn, NY in early 1907. Postage was paid by a common 2c Washington stamp type A129 type II, Scott 319. Various shades of red determine the final version of the stamp at hand; I have not bothered to determine if mine is "carmine rose" or "scarlet."

Angers, France: Cathedral

My black and white card of the Angers Cathedral organ is unused. On the reverse is found C* des arts Photomechaniques Strasbourg-Schiltigheim" where *=an illegible character. There is no date anywhere.

Organs in Angers Cathedral have a long and colorful history. In 1869 Aristide Cavaille-Coll proposed what amounted to a new instrument, including perhaps pipework from previous instruments. It was finished in 1873 and inaugurated by Alexander Guilmant. It is this instrument which survives to this day after work at various times.  Debierre did work in 1901 and 1937. Beuchet-Debiere did more work after the war 1957-1959. At that time 19 new stops were added though the original pipework remained. This site is dedicated solely to the Angers instrument and includes a handful of fascinating images.

Troyes (FR): Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul

A church building has been on the site of Troyes Cathedral since the 5th century. Begun in the 1200's it took a couple hundred years to complete the cathedral: chancel, nave, stained glass, pulpitum, towers. The modern history of the organ dates from 1731-1736 when Jacques Cochu installed an instrument in the gallery. The French Revolution led to creative methods of preservation. The instrument survived the Romantic era unchanged, but not the neo-Classic "wave." Work by Danion-Gonzalez between 1964 and 1969 radically altered the sound of the instrument. The most recent though less substantial work seems to have been completed in 2004. The case was declared a national treasure in 1974, which helps explain the consistent representation of it in many photographs. Without knowing for sure, I suspect my card dates from the early 1900's perhaps around the time Jacquot-Jeanpierre did work on the instrument. My unused card is in black and white with red lettering on the front. Though it's hard to read, it seems that Granddidier of Troyes produced the card.

Chalons-sur-Marne (FR) St Stepen's

 

My card has been used. It looks like it may have been postmarked in 1906 based on the postmark and the message on the reverse. It is black and white, but has no identification of the publisher. Postage was paid by what appears to be Scott 113, a common "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" stamp from 1900-1929. The 5c stamp is light green-blue. This site gives a good description of the church and the organ along with the specification. There were instruments in the facility prior, but the current history begins in when Salmon built a postif instrument for the west gallery. He added other divisions over the next 20 years. In 1839 John Abbey of Versailles was selected to build a new instrument but by 1849 it was still not complete and Abbey went out of business. In 1896-1898 Abbey's sons undertook completion of the instrument. It is this instrument that was damaged during World War 2, and repaired, altered in 1957 by Roethinger, and variously worked on over the next several years. The most recent work was completed in 2006. Much of the 1898 instrument remains.  

St-Omer Pas-de-Calais (FR): Notre-Dame Basilica

My card is in a striking shade of blue which is unusual in my experience. It shows part of the nave looking west toward the gallery and the organ there. There is no information about the card's publisher on my unused example. The organ of St-Omer is striking for its casework as much as for it's musical aspects. The Piette family of woodworkers spent several years at the beginning of the 18th century building the case. Thomas and Jean-Jacques Defontaines built the organ in 1717. The instrument served its purpose well while being worked on by various builders over the course of 140 years. By 1853 Aristide Cavaille-Coll submitted a proposal for a major reworking of the instrument which was received by the cathedral; that instrument was inaugurated in 1855. Further work was done in 1927, 1973 and 1985, though the instrument still contains pipework from both the 1717 instrument and that of 1855.

Geneva (SW): Cathedral of St Peter

At least three organs have stood in the west gallery of the St Peter cathedral in Geneva. I believe that my postcard shows the second. This helpful site gives a thorough history of the cathedral as well as the organs, in French and English. This site also gives information about the organ's history in the cathedral. Both describe the Tschanun organ as having a "Gothic facade" which is definitely what appears on the postcard. This instrument was installed in 1907 but within several years was having problems with its action. In the early 1960's upon examination it was decided that replacement of the mechanical systems would be nearly as expensive as installing a new instrument. So the decision was made to go in the direction of a new instrument for the west gallery. It was built by Metzler of Switzerland. My card was produced by O Sartori of Geneva. Metzler has a page on their site on the instrument.

 

Paris (FR): Notre-Dame

This card seems to focus on the statue, Our Lady of Paris (Notre-Dame de Paris), but the choir organ (orgue du cheour) is visible in the background. My card is unused, with serrated edges, in black and white. It was produced by Chantal of Paris. The statue is still in place in the cathedral, though the elaborate encasement has been removed. The organ facade is today much as depicted in the card. This site gives a specification for the instrument (but not the builder's name). The cathedral's website describes a bit of how the instrument is used in conjunction with the "grand organ" in the west gallery. But again the builder is not mentioned. This site in Canada gives a very thorough histroy of both the gallery organ and the chancel organ. The content is provided in French at the top of the page; you can read in English by scrolling down. The specification and more images are provided. The organ dates from 1968, standing within the casework from 1863.

In the picture below one can see the statue as it is today. The facade is barely visible in the background on the left. The bottom photo shows the choir organ more clearly.

 

Franklin (PA), USA: First Baptist Church

I feel certain that I got this pair of cards together, though I don't remember specifically. They were both sent to a Mr Dedrick of Brodhead, WI in 1906. Interestingly the space of note-writing is on the front of the card, rather than on the reverse with the address information. These two cards are both black and white and have been postally used, with a common Franklin 1c stamp for postage. One card features the exterior of the facility, the other the interior with the chancel and organ facade. The church's website (a blog really) doesn't offer any information about the music program nor the organ, let alone any history of the instrument. The interior image reveals rather remarkable murals on the ceiling of the sanctuary which must have been stunning to see in person, in color. The two cards were published by CL Griffin.

I clicked through to the church's Facebook page and found a contemporary image of the interior. It seems the organ in the postcard is still in place at the church (as are the murals!).

Annapolis (MD), USA: Naval Academy Chapel

This card shows the interior of the Chapel at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The oblique view shows the facade of part of the organ. When I was in graduate school in Washington, DC I visited here. My color card is in mint condition. It was produced by DE Traub of Maryland; it uses something called "plastichrome" by Colorpicture Publishers of Boston. The original organ was built by Hutchins of Boston in 1908. MP Moeller of Hagerstown, MD installed a larger instrument in 1940 to complement the enlarged chapel facility. Much additional work has been done over the years, though specifics are not included on the Academy's site. The instrument now includes digital voices in addition to pipe ranks, and a stunning array of what I was classify as theater-organ stops, including several percussion ranks. Text on the back of the card mentions the stained glass that is visible, but not the organ.

Boston (USA): Old South Church

Old South Church, founded in 1669, has a rich and complex history. There have been a succession of buildings over the years, and a series of musical instruments within. The present building dates from 1875. Current pictures of the interior of the church reveal instantly that considerable work has been done on the interior design. It's not possible to know exactly when the image for this postcard was taken. In the early 1980s several factors were at play in the musical life of the congregation. There was a desire to make the musical portions of worship more vital. An organ built by the Reuter firm was sold back to the builder and in turn adapted for a church in Florida. A civic auditorium in Minnesota was about the be demolished with the loss of EM Skinner Opus 308 within. The Old South Church purchased the Minnesota instrument and installed it in the front of the sanctuary. One can see from the 360-degree video of the church that a second organ resides in the rear gallery. Neither of these instruments seems to match the organ shown in the postcard. No doubt the information is available somewhere, but not readily to me at the moment. My card is in color, is un-used and was printed in Germany by the Reichner Brothers firm.

West Point, NY, USA: Cadet Chapel

The present card represents that odd co-mingling of religious and military that is somewhat unique to the US. The Cadet Chapel at the West Point Military Academy in New York is a non-denominational facility for use by all faiths represented in the student body and faculty of the academy. The present building was completed in 1910, replacing a structure from 1836. The chapel boasts of the largest pipe organ in a chapel in the world, with 23,511 pipes. My card does not have a  copyright date but copy on the reverse gives the number of pipes as 18,200 and calls the instrument the 3rd largest organ in the world, and the largest located in a church. The card is by Pendor in NY and is used. It was sent to me by a fellow-collector. Postage was paid with a USMA stamp issued in 2002. My friend lived in NY at that time. The organ was  build by Moeller in 1911 and then expanded over the years. This is an interesting article on an event in the life of the instrument.

Somerset, UK: Wells Cathedral

My postcard of the Wells Cathedral is in color, printed by DRG J Arthur Dixon, in the UK, and is in mint condition. The address side states that the view is of the "quire looking west, with the new organ case." The cathedral site specifies that the present organ began as a Henry Willis instrument in 1857, with work done in 1910 and again in 1973-4. It seems no further work has been done since. Harrisons, who did the more recent work, has a bit more information. It seems that the rather modern-looking cases are from the 1970's work, which also removed much of the sound of the Willis instrument. The cathedral site has some to say about the evolution of the case. The National Pipe Organ Registry has the specification and additional photos.

Carlisle Cathedral, UK

This card shows the choir area at Carlisle cathedral in the UK. The organ is on the rear wall in this photo. This organ dates from 1856 by Henry Willis, with work done in 1907, 1962 and 1995 when David Wells strove the return to the organ some of the Father Willis sounds. Without knowing the date of the card one cannot know during which period of the organ's history this image was created. the Cathedral site has a helpful introduction to the instrument. Be sure to read the embedded pdf for more details and to see the specification. The card was produced by Sankeys Photo Press in Barrow-in-Furness.