St. Paul, Minnesota
First Baptist Church

1875 Steere & Turner organ
History of Rebuilds

The original organ was rebuilt and modified several times, as follows:

In 1939, electro-pneumatic pull-downs were added, along with electro-pneumatic 
action Reisner console work was done by Arthur Fellows, with a dedication 
concert played by his wife, Mary, both prominent in the Twin Cities organ 
community in the middle of the 20th Century.

In 1958, the original tracker windchests were discarded and replaced by electro-
pneumatic 73-note Durst chests in newly constructed chambers. The Reisner 
console was evidently retained. The work was done by J.R. Gould. If treble 
extensions were ever present, they have been removed. Frank Steinhauser, 
organist at the church for 40 years, performed the dedication. At this time the 
wind system was drastically altered. The original organ would have had, at 
most, two large, heavy weighted reservoirs. It may have been hand-pumped or it 
may have had a water motor. Today there is a reservoir for each division. This 
gives the organ a very different sound. The Mankato Johnson restoration (Our 
Lady of Good Counsel) done by the Dobson Organ Company, restores the original 
winding and has a much different sound than the First Baptist organ.

In 1962, a new Moller console replaced the Reisner console.  It was a memorial 
to the Brandenburg family. That console is still in use.

In 2000, Steve Lethert made several modifications as follows:

The Great, Choir and Static reservoirs were re-leathered.

The Great Mixture IV was removed and replaced with the Swell Mixture III. The 
Great Mixture IV is in storage in the church basement.

The 16’ Open Diapason (open wood) disconnected/removed to the basement and the 
16’ facade Diapason was wired in its place. The largest wood pipes remain 
inside the organ chamber and the trebles and windchest were removed to the 
basement. The facade 16’ Open Diapason from the Great (zinc pipes) now serve 
the pedal as a unit stop.

The Oboe, Trumpet and Clarinet reed stops were sent away for cleaning and 
re-voicing.

The Viole de Gamba, Salicional, and Vox Celeste string stops were revoiced/re-
scaled.

The organ currently has 31 ranks of pipes from the original 41 ranks.