Oregon Organ Authority ...a unique web-offering visualizing notable pipe organs of Portland.

This late 19th Century tracker was built at the Moller shop in Hagerstown, Maryland and originally installed in St. Paul's Lutheran in Annville, Pennsylvania. It was later moved to a Roman Catholic gymnasium. Ray Morse, a former director of music at First Christian, moved it to its final home in 1974, where it now shares the podium with a drum set and other misc. gear.

The organ was originally blown by a water motor. The control valve is still visible to the right of the keyboards. A handle for hand pumping is also still part of the organ. The action is mechanical.

Manual pistons include Swell to Great, Swell to Pedal, and Great to Pedal. Toe levers are marked "Swell to Piano, Swell to Forte, Great to Piano, and Great to Forte."

A "pedal check" turns off the pedal, the keys won't even move! (A great innovation for long sermons?).

GREAT	SWELL	PEDAL (30 notes)
8' Open Diapason	8' Stopped Diapason	16' Pedal (sic)
8' Melodia	8' Violin Diapason*	Pedal Check**
8' Dulciana	8' Aeoline
8' Doppel Floete*	4' Flauto Transverso
4' Principal	2' Flautino
2' Super Octave	8' Oboe* (labial)
	Tremolo

* = 49 notes
** "Pedal Check" mutes the pedal - prevents keys from going down.

Loretta G. Petty writes: "Albany has not one but four historic organs! In addition to First Christian, there is Immanuel Lutheran, United Methodist, of course the Kimball organ at Whitespires Berean Fundamental Church." (Loretta is a free-lance writer for the Albany Democrat-Herald and plans to write an article on our visit.)