The History of the St. Paul's UMC Schantz Pipe Organ
The pipe organ at St. Paul's UMC was designed and manufactured by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville Ohio, a firm established in 1873. It took approximately 110 individuals to build our custom designed pipe organ.
Schantz pipe organs vary from a modest size to large cathedral organs whose replacement value today would be in excess of a half-million dollars.
The Schantz pipe organ of St. Paul's contains 21 ranks of pipes representing a variety of sounds and different pitches. There are 1.283 individual pipes ranging in size from a total length of approximately 10 feet to very high-pitched pipes barely the size of an ordinary lead pencil.
The larger pipes are made of zinc that have been lacquered in a satin silver finish. Intermediate and smaller pipes are of a tin-lead mixture varying in precise alloy depending upon the type of tone color desired. Many of the pipes are wooden to provide a mellow tone quality.
The instrument is controlled from a two-keyboard console which offers a large pedal keyboard that is played by the feet. The Great Organ, the Swell Organ, the Pedal Organ, the Couples, Adjustable Combinations and Pedals are all key components of this organ, There are many separate controls to permit the organist to mix different tones and make quick changes from one sound to another during the performance of a single organ composition or when needed during various segments of the church worship service.
Our pipe organ was entirely customized, designed and handmade for St. Paul's. Members of the Organ Committee includes Mrs. Dorothy Leighton, Mr. Betty Kehoe, Mrs. Margaret Feather, Mrs. Marianne Flinn, Mr. Lewis Jones, Mr. Jay Umstot, Dr. David Sheets and Rev. Allen Ridenour.
A Dedication Recital for the Schantz pipe organ was held at St. Paul's on November 25, 1984 when Allen C. Ridenour was our pastor. The organist was Dr. David Sheets and the organ was dedicated in memory of Mrs. Louise Selby, whose generous bequest in large part contributed to our acquiring this organ. Mrs. M.C Hinebaugh contributed the chimes of the original Estey pipe organ that became an integral part of our Schantz pipe organ.
There is only one other functional pipe organ known in Garrett County and that is the instrument at Zion Lutheran Church in Accident Maryland.
