Unknown Builder
1931

Updaetd through online information from Alex Swanson [July 10, 2026]: This organ was built in 1925 by the Bartola Musical Instrument Company ("Barton") for the Unique Theater in Mitchell, South Dakota and its original cost was $3,500. Following the advent of sound in motion pictures and the begin of the decline of the theatre organ genre, this particular organ was sold in 1931 to WDAY radio station in Fargo, North Dakota. It was installed in WDAY's studio in the new Black Building on Broadway in Fargo, in February 1931. According to Dan Barton himself, the organ itself was one of very few 3-rank organs built by Barton. It consisted of a 4' Vox Humana, 37 pipes; a 4' Viol d'Orchestre, 61 pipes; and an 8' large-scaled Tibia Clausa, 73 pipes. The percussions included a small toy counter and xylophone. At WDAY, the organ was installed in a low-ceiling, cramped chamber which was never meant for an organ. It had one tremulant and was voiced on 10" of wind. It was played by Hildegarde (Usselman) Kraus and Ruth Berge. It was used for radio request programs, filler material, and accompaniment for singers. WDAY sold the organ around 1953 to a Lutheran church in Mayville, ND, who in turn sold it in 1957 to a Baldwin Organ salesman named Donald Geiken. Donald sold it to a young organ builder, Lance Johnson in 1958 for $100. Lance installed it in his parents' home in Fergus Falls, MN, then a roller rink in Fergus Falls, and finally at Bud's Roller Rink in Moorhead, MN in 1963. The owners of Bud's purchased the instrument from Lance for $2,000 and it was expanded to 3/7 size. The owners of Bud's Roller Rink advertised the organ for sale, and Steve Stevenson of Wichita Falls, TX purchased the organ for $10,000 in April 1978. The organ was dismantled, loaded on a rental truck. It was said that Mr. Stevenson later donated the organ to a nearby university where it was used as a practice instrument for students.

This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. Identified by William Dunklin, using information from this web site: http://www.savetheorgan.org/kbase/radiostations/#WDAY. -- The organ reportedly later moved to a roller skating rink. Its current fate unknown.

Editor-JS [July 15, 2026]: This was NOT a new organ. This entry represents the installation of a USED organ in 1931. It was originally built for the Unique Theatre in Mitchell, South Dakota in 1925.