Atchison (KS), USA: St Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church

 

St Mark Lutheran Church in Atchison, Kansas was formed in 1868 with a small congregation. It never really got established and seemingly went defunct a few years later. It was reconstituted in the late 1800's. A new sanctuary was built 1908-1909. An organ was installed in at that time. No mention is made of the builder on the church's history page. The Pipe Organ Database suggests that it was George Kilgen, but there are no details. My card is in color, and is used with a common 1c Washington stamp paying postage from Atchison to Fort Scott. There is no identifying information on the back aside from a stylized "W" in a diamond-shaped enclosure as a logo. When I was on sabbatical in 2019 I went to Atchison to see if I could find out more about this church and instrument. I was not able to contact anyone by telephone beforehand, and the facility was closed when I was in town. I enjoyed my short visit to Atchison, but came away without the added information about this organ that I had hoped to gain.

Emporia, KS: First ME Church

This card shows the "4800 pipe organ" in First Methodist Episcopal Church in Emporia, Kansas. Also in view are the first few pews in the nave and the chancel platform. There is no further information on the instrument. The website for the current First United Methodist Church in Emporia doesn't give any information about the music program nor organ. Their Facebook page shows a modern looking facility, so I doubt anything in the postcard remains, unless the old building (and organ) were sold to another church to occupy and use. The stenciling on the facade pipes is quite lovely. In the new building, the chancel image shows grillwork on the right side, which suggests there may be a pipe organ there, but again, no information at this time.