Independence, Missouri

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Community of Christ
The Auditorium

Organ by Aeolian-Skinner, 1959 (Opus 1309)

Historical summary by Michael Quimby

* * *

Initial contact by Franklin Weddle to Harold Gleason regarding 
the installation of an organ in the Auritorium 23 November 1954.

G. Donald Harrison makes initial visit to Independence to examine the
Auditorium and prepare initial specification early March 1955.

Harold Gleason makes suggestions regarding the proposed specification 
31 March 1955.

Contract signed for the instrument 29 March 1956.

Structure of the organ delivered for installation February 1959.

Final contract payment made on the instrument is made December 1959.
5% withheld until certain problems were solved.

Organ dedicated 7 April 1960 at the Amboy Centennial General Conference.

Cliff Bennet released from maintenance of the organ 1961 and weekly service
started with the Miller Organ Company.

Charles McManis began maintenance of the Aeolian-Skinner organ in 1969.

Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. began maintenance of the Aeolian-Skinner organ 
in March 1983.

Renovation of the organ accomplished by QPO between 1984 and 1986.  
Releathering, solid state conversion, and console renovation.

New manual keyboards installed in fall of 1987.

Tonal work during the summer of 1989 by QPO, John Hendriksen, former head
flue voicer for Aeolian-Skinner and Thomas H. Anderson former head of the 
pipe shop Aeolian-Skinner.

Installation of the SSLL playback system March 1993.

Installation of freat 8' Trumpet 61 pipes 1995.

Releathering of the Antiphonal Organ, revoicing of the Antiphonal organ by 
John Hendriksen, installation of SSLL switching system for Antiphonal Organ, 
and new bells for Trumpet en Chamade.  First quarter of 1996.

Installation of the great 8' Harmonic Flute February 1997.  Built by Thomas 
H. Anderson and voiced by John Hendriksen.  New electro-pneumatic windchest 
built by QPO.

Corrective revoicing of the Bombarde division reeds by Eric Johnson 
in 1998.

Swell Vox Humana installed February 1998 on Aeolian-Skinner windchest.