Methodist Episcopal Church
Antigo, WI
Opus 778
 

 
Great (unenclosed)
8 Open Diapason
8 Melodia
8 Dulciana
4 Octave
   Sw to Gt 8-4

Swell (enclosed)
8 Stopped Diapason
8 Salicional (TC)
4 Harmonic Flute
8 Oboe
   Tremolo

Pedal
16 Bourdon
     Gt to Ped 8
     Sw to Ped 8
Tubular-pneumatic key and stop action, mechanical pedal couplers.
61 note manual compass, 30 note pedal compass, Radiating, concave pedalboard
 
"The organ was sited on a raised choirloft within an apse at the front of the
church. The case was free-standing, of quarter-sawn oak, with an attached,
projecting keydesk with the Haskell stopkeys. The façade was divided in 5
secions, arranged: 7-11-13-11-7, with the basses of the Great Open Diapason
sited in the centre flat and two towers. The pedal pipework was sited either
side of manual chests, divided diatonically.




The organ was broken up in 1966, and replaced with a Wicks, sited in the
same location, but with the console sited on the nave floor. The organist of
the church at that time, Mrs. Wallace (Catherine) Ryland, informed me that
some of the components were to be used to rebuild (and extend?) an Estey in
Merrill, Wisconsin (thought to beeither the Presbyterian or Catholic churches).
The Antigo Methodist building was razed in 1989,
and the Wicks relocated to the congregation’s new edifice."



"The church building was built about in the 1880s, and was the second
building for the congregation. The church history stated that in 1909
"hardwood flooring was laid throughout, carved oak pews put in, and a fine
Estey pipe organ installed", as well as new oak chancel furniture. The dedicatory
recital was by a Clarence Eddy, said to be an eminent Milwaukee organist.
The sister of one of my great uncles was one of the organists at the church
in the 1920s & 30s, and as a young child I can just about remember her
playing there (as a very old woman) a couple of times in the late 1950s when
the regular organist was on summer vacation. The pump organ (c 1880) which
served the church prior to the Estey, was sold to another great-aunt of mine
in the 1930's for $5.00, and has been in my possession  since 1959, and I
still have it here in England. About 1960-62 I use to hold keys for the
organ tuner when he tuned the Estey, taking lessons on the instrument in
1962, and playing my first service on it in December 1962."
                         -Rick Erickson


 
Sources
Estey Opus List
Rick Erickson

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