The $430,000 restoration of the historic 1905 Schantz pipe organ at St. Bernard Church in Akron culminated with a blessing and recital during a rededication program on Jan. 21.
Lynn Frey-Steward, guest organist, and James Kintz, parish organist, performed at the recital showcasing the newly restored organ.
Father Dan Reed, St. Bernard pastor, said Schantz Organ Co., which built and installed the organ in 1905, restored the instrument. He said in recent years the organ had begun showing its age.
?Because of the incredible skill of our organist, James Kintz, few people really knew anything was wrong. Only after learning that an organ company came in 2007 to analyze and estimate a repair of $347,000 did I find wind chests held together with duct tape; circuits to pipes and keys damaged; dead organ stops; five non-functioning pre-sets on the console; louvers stuck in the open or closed position; and that a 16-foot pipe fell from the loft to the pews years ago but was never replaced,? Father Reed said.
In 2012, the parish finance council began a fund to restore the organ. The campaign coincided with Kintz?s 25th anniversary as parish organist.
Father Reed said donations came in several ways: $100 to memorialize an organ pipe in someone?s name; pledges to Clarence Bechter?s Mountain Climbs & Bike Trek; outstanding pledges from the diocesan Rooted in Faith campaign; and private donations.
After meeting with organ restoration firms, Father Reed said the parish decided to have Schantz handle the project.
He said the choice was ultimately made by the late Father John Broun, who served as pastor for 49 years. During his tenure, construction began on the current church in 1902. He also commissioned Schantz to construct and install the organ. The church and organ were consecrated for sacred worship on Oct. 15, 1905. St. Bernard Parish was established in 1861.
?Unbeknownst to any of us here, after the organ?s installation, Father Broun had written a glowing review on the professional workmanship and quality of the organ tone that the Schantz Organ Co. produced, and he highly recommended them to anyone seeking their services. That settled it,? Father Reed said.
The newly restored organ has a new manual three-console, features that make future expansion possible and restoration was completed in about six months, Father Reed said.
He said the parish looked forward to hearing the original ?voice? of the pipe organ once again.
?Today is our prayerful thanksgiving to God and our gratitude for many donors, a tribute to the faith and spirit of St. Bernard parishioners: their high regard for sacred music in worship and their care for the Church and citizens who for many years will come after them,? Father Reed said.
St. Bernard Parish is at 44 University Ave., Akron.
