Tacoma, Washington
First Congregational Church

FRANK ROOSEVELT - Successor to - HILBORNE L. ROOSEVELT, No. 502, 1891 - Original Specifications


GREAT                                         COUPLERS
   8'      Open Diapason            58           Swell to Pedal
   8'      Doppel Flöte             58           Great to Pedal
   8'      Salicional               58
   4'      Gemshorn                 58           Swell to Great
   8'      Trumpet                  58           Swell to Great Octaves


SWELL (Expressive)
   16'     Bourdon            (tc)  46        FOOT LEVERS
   16'     Bourdon Bass             12           Piano  -
   8'      Violin Diapason          58
   8'      Stopped Diapason         58           Gr. to Ped. - Reversible
   8'      Dolce                    58
   4'      Flute Harmonique         58           Forte  -
   III Rks Cornet    [12-15-17]    174
   8'      Oboe                     58
           Tremulant
                                              PEDAL MOVEMENTS
                                                 Swell Expression             (bal.)
PEDAL
   16'     Open Diapason  [wood]    30
   16'     Bourdon                  30

           Bellows Signal


ACTION: Mech. Key & Stop     VOICES: 14     STOPS: 15     RANKS: 16      PIPES: 872
        w/pneum. Assist


NOTES
This is a reconstructed stoplist. It is derived from the extant Balcom and Vaughan work
order for the 1951 electrification; from church files; and from extant examples of the
builder's work such as St. James' RC Church in Chicago (No. 494, 1891), the Convent
Chapel of the Community of St. Mary in Peekskill, NY. (No. 514, 1892), and St. Peter's
Episcopal in NYC, NY (No. 515, 1892) which has an identical stoplist.

In 1888, an addition was constructed onto the First Congregational Church on St. Helens
Street to house the new organ and the choir. The cost of this addition and the organ
combined was $4,000.00.  The organ was purchased in 1889, but was not dedicated until
December 23, 1891 because of the difficulty of obtaining a well-trained organist.  The
dedicatory recitalist was Louis Falk of Chicago.  The original installation was accom-
plished by organ builder George Pilcher.  The organ is believed to have been built follow-
ing new concepts by Cavaille-Coll in France.  The façade had 33 pipes, not counting the
'tomato can' dummies located above the speaking façade, but the only speaking pipes were
notes 1-13 of the Great 8' Open Diapason.  The Great 4' stop, while labeled as Gemshorn,
was in fact a 4' Octave.  One of the church's organists, Mr. Herbert Joy, evidently com-
posed a notable amount of new music to be played on the organ.

The organ was moved without tonal changes to the [present] building on J Street by an
unidentified person or firm in 1909, and re-installed 'as is' – with the exception of
having the façade pipes re-stenciled in a more subdued color scheme and pattern.

In 1951, the organ was electrified by Balcom and Vaughan of Seattle as their opus 532.

Sources: Balcom and Vaughan opus list & files; Church records, JRS; extant pipework.

 [Received from James R. Stettner 2016-08-07.]