Columbia Organ Works

915 Lancaster Avenue; Columbia, Pennsylvania USA 17512

Telephone: (717) 684-3573 Fax: (717) 684-4428 

Lee Street United Methodist Church

Americus, Georgia

                                            Before Restoration                                                                                                                                After Restoration

Lee Street United Methodist Church in Americus, Georgia received a new pipe organ in 1917, from J. W. Steere & Sons of Springfield, Massachusettes.  The organ consisted of two manuals and pedal with seven stops.  The instrument received sporadic maintenance over the years and at some point well meaning members of the congregation sent the case pipes to a local paint and body shop where they were sandblasted and repainted.  The less than stellar result can be seen in the upper left photo. 

In 2006, the congregation contracted with Columbia Organ Works for a complete historic restoration of the instrument.  Damage to the case pipes was repaired, all of the mechanism was releathered (yes, it was still running on its original 1917 era leather), interior pipework was cleaned and repaired as necessary, and the original electro-pneumatic coupling and switching system was restored and re-wired.  The original ivory and ebony keybords were restored and a new blower was installed in the organ chamber replacing the original blower which was in the flood prone basement.

This instrument is a rare example of a Boston area builder's work in the deep south and it is now ready to provide another 80 years of reliable service.

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Last modified: 10/09/10