Berschdorf Organ Co. (1974)

Originally Wangerin Organ Co. (1897)

Location:

Christ Lutheran Church
700 County Hwy. B
Stoughton, WI 53589 US
Sanctuary
Organ ID: 65507

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Lutheran Churches
  • The organ is unaltered from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is good, in regular use.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Jeff Scofield on May 24, 2020.
Jeff Scofield on May 24, 2020:

Jeffery Rowley on May 23, 2020:

The Wangerin Organ was purchased in 1896 for the second sanctuary. The organ was moved in 1904 to a new sanctuary build on the same site as the second sanctuary.

The Schantz Organ Company built a new detached console, the 1904 Sanctuary was remodled after a small altar fire in 1966. At this point the entire instrument was now under one expression. A Crescendo pedal was added at this time.

Norbert Berschdorf from Milwaukee, Wisconsin split the manuals into two chambers now at the left and right in the sanctuary with an additional 5 ranks to the Swell and 6 Ranks to the Great. The Swell had always had 73 notes for coupling purposes and the new Swell ranks had 73 pipes per rank as well.

A New Sanctuary was constructed in 1999. The organ was transferred by Fred Hermes. The specification was the same only the offset chest for the swell did not get installed.

2005 was a very bad year for the church because the entire facility burned to the ground including the attached school. A new sanctuary was built at 700 County HWY B. The organ was the only thing that did not burn because it was behind the very last firewall and it was re-installed in 2007 by Fred Hermes. The swell gained the full use of the Bourdon 16' at this time. Additional changes were made in 2013 by the Fabry, Inc of Antioch Illinois. The Swell replaced the Aeoline/Violin/Nasard cut downs with a new proper Nasard 2 2/3'. The Great replaced the weak Gemshorn/4'/2' changes from 1974 and replaced it with a new Gemshorn that was voiced to mach the remaineder of the pipes. A new console was supplied by Organ Supply Industries.

Additions by Norbert Berschdorf - Milwaukee, for Christ Lutheran's 100 Anniversary. The Great Dulciana 8' is one of the best examples of the stop. Originally published 1974-2005 (Organ transferred to New Sanctuary in 1999)

We received the most recent update for this note from Jeff Scofield on May 24, 2020.
Taken from the console: Open In New Tab Stoplist provided by Jeffery Rowley
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Jeff Scofield on May 24, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Nave and rear gallery: Photograph from an archival source: Wisconsin Historical Society, submitted by Jeffery Rowley. Taken approx. 1974

Chancel and left and right organ chambers: Photograph from an archival source: Wisconsin Historical Society, submitted by Jeffery Rowley. Taken approx. 1974

New Console (2000): Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2019-10-28

Original Swell Chest on left. Oboe 8',Flute Harmonic 4', the chameleon Aeoline 8/Violone 4'/Nasard 2 2/3' - that has changed over the years: Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2012-03-04

Swell pipes - 1974 Small new chest with Scharff III-1', Blockflöte 2' and Principal 4': Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2009-09-27

Great Chamber Left Original Chest: Melodia & Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8' and Gemshorn 2': Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2009-09-27

Great Chamber Front new 1974 Chest: Mixture II-IV-2', Octave 4' and Trompette unit: Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2009-09-27

Original 17 Façade pipes of Open Diapason 8': Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2009-09-27

Remainder of original Swell Chest. Behind Nasard and unseen is Voix Celeste8' Stopped Diapason 8', Salicional 8', Violin Diapason 8': Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2009-09-27

Top section of Swell. Behind the Violin Diapason 8' is the Bourdon 16' and at the back wall - offset chests for Subbass 16 and Bourdon 16': Photograph by Jeffery Rowley. Taken on 2009-09-27

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