Pump Organ Provided Music

The picture above shows an old pump organ that we have in the museum. This musical instrument was used long years ago in the Monticello Baptist Church.

Notice that there are two large foot pedals that had to be constantly pumped to get the proper sounds out of the organ. The keys are the same as the piano but in addition it has several “buttons” that the organist has to push in or pull out to get the proper sound effects.

It must have been a real beautiful sound as it led the congregation in many church songs over the years. The piano preceded the organ in churches at that time and the addition of organ music was a great alternative to the piano.

This organ was in the church and had been used for congregational singing for a great number of years and was probably manufactured about 1870. The church minutes of 1891 report that a committee has been formed to repair the old organ.

This must have worked because it was used for another six years, and then the minutes show a new organ purchased in 1897.

This fine old organ was retired to the back of the church and stored and finally ended up in the basement of the new frame church constructed in 1902. Moisture was bad for the wood and wind parts so my mother requested the organ from the church leaders in the early 30s and removed it to her back porch.

It was stored there under a sheet for some 50 years until her death and then I moved it to the museum. A great old musical instrument had found a new home but still needs care.

Also, according to the minutes, the new church building mentioned above cost $3,800 and in 1904 the debt was discharged. A new finance committee reported that $700 would be required for the current year’s expense. This includes pastor’s salary, lights, sexton, fuel and Sunday School literature. Building insurance for three years would be $53.

If anyone would like to refinish and repair the old organ so that it could be eventually donated back to the Monticello Baptist Church it would be greatly appreciated.

FOOTNOTE: I have had many compliments on my articles that have appeared in The Monticello News for the past 13 months. People have also asked if they could be preserved in some sort of way for future reading.

I have assembled all of the articles with the help of The Monticello News and my daughter, Julie, who owns Bel-Jean, a copy and print center in Athens, and am presently putting it all in book form. The book should be out within the month and ready for sale.

The book will not only contain these 56 articles with pictures but also Mr. Powell’s history, 14 pages of our veteran’s pictures and in addition another 12 pages of some 250 old houses in Monticello and Jasper County built before 1935.

I think it will be real interesting and a local history of our past to treasure. I can’t wait to get my copy.