Pipe Organ Database

Owner (1933)

Originally M. P. Möller (Opus 188, 1897)

Exhibited in the 2007 OHS convention(s)

Location:

Zion Lutheran Church
1151 S Germantown Road
East Germantown, IN 47327 US
Organ ID: 31189

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Status and Condition:

This instrument's location type is: Lutheran Churches
The organ has been restored to a previous state.
The organ's condition is good, in regular use.

We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Paul R. Marchesano on January 17, 2023.

Technical Details:

Chests: Slider
16 ranks. 902 pipes. 3 divisions. 2 manuals. 18 stops. 22 registers.

Divisions

All:

Chest Type(s): Slider chests
Position: In a case at the front of the room.

We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.

Consoles

Main:

Manuals: 2
Divisions: 3
Stops: 18
Registers: 22
Manual Compass: 61
Pedal Compass: 30
Key Action: Mechanical connection from key to chest (tracker, sticker or mix).
Stop Action: Mechanical connection between stop control and chest.
Has Coupler Reversible Toe Pistons

We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.

Notes

Paul R. Marchesano on January 17, 2023:

Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers, September 27, 2012  -- The following article appeared in the:    WESTERN WAYNE NEWS    August 29, 2012    Page 16, column 3    Volume 21, No. 51    Published at Cambridge City, Wayne County, Indiana. 
ZION'S YEARS NUMBER 190       Zion's Lutheran congregation at East Germantown will be celebrating its 190th year on Sunday, November 4. Former pastors and members are invited to return for the 10:30 worship and the fellowship dinner at 12:30 followed by a 2 p.m. program called "Celebrating the Years." Chair persons have been named for the task forces...[omitted here for privacy of the individuals named.] The Bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod is expected to attend. Zion's is the longest established congregation in Indiana, having been formed in 1822.       The organ room renovation has been completed, so the installation of the historic tracker pipe organ is expected to begin before the first of September.  All pieces and parts of the organ have been repaired and cleaned over the past three months by Mike Rathke of Spiceland and his crew.  ...
Some of the 1900 stenciling around the ceiling of the organ room was preserved, and photographs were taken of all stenciling in that area. The room was originally used as a Sunday School room    and has a rectangular stained-glass window of the same colors and design as the Gothic style window in the north entry. When the organ was purchased in 1933, the ceiling of the room was removed to make room for the tall organ. Major reconstruction of the brick wall with a steel I-beam barely made room for the organ installation back then."

We received the most recent update for this note from Paul R. Marchesano on January 17, 2023.

Database Manager on June 26, 2017:

Updated by Timothy E. Conyers, who has heard or played the organ.  
 
The instrument had some restoration work done in 2000 and was featured in a piano & organ patriotic concert on July 4, 2000, to a packed sanctuary. 
This organ was part of the OHS 2007 convention tour of central Indiana. 
In 2014, the pipe chamber room was renovated. All pipes and parts were removed, cleaned and repaired by Michael Rathke of Spiceland, Indiana, and then reinstalled. 

NOTE: The town is known locally as both Pershing and East Germantown. The name was changed to Pershing due to the political climate prior to and during World War I and World War II. The town is now officially listed as East Germantown and is the name found on State maps. This has caused confusion to non-residents of the county. Records of the church are under both names. The instrument is listed on this database under both town names for understandable reasons but with slightly different information.