Organ

The first organ was purchased by Rev. Carlson and Carl P. Anderson for $50 and moved from place to place where meetings were held in 1880. It was a reed pump organ, meaning the sound was generated by sucking air through brass reeds. The vacuum was generated by the feet pumping the vacuum bellow and regulated by the knee board, stops, and keyboard. The reed organ was invented in 1835 and was commonly used in homes and small churches from 1860 to 1920. 

Shortly after the church was disbanded it has been told that part of the organ was sold. It was reported in the Spokane Review on May 30, 1948 that "mice had made shambles of the interior of the little organ, eating the felt padding and ivory keys had been torn away." In 1948 the lid exposing the inside of the organ was made to hinge, but it did not work properly in 1991. Extensive damage to the organ in the summer of 1997 was consistent with someone sitting or falling on it. Structural repairs were made, but damages described in 1948 were extensive and the organ would never play music again.

A functional pump organ was donated to Cordelia on April 7, 2007 by John Elwood and Sally Burkhart. The organ was built by Clough and Warren Company of Detroit Michigan in about 1883. The disassembled organ was found in the basement of a Goodwill Store near Bellingham, Washington by their son who restored the instrument. The organ dedication concert was held on September 23, 2007.

We were excited to announce the gift of a third pump organ to Historic Cordelia. The new organ is a "Golden Toned," made by the Beethoven Organ Co., of Washington, NJ.  John Elwood and Sally Burkhart installed it on July 9, 2024.  The organ was in their home for several years after John and Sally brought it back to life with a complete restoration. The organ was owned by Miss Aubrey Wetherell of Pullman (see Wetherell link). She inherited it from her parents, Simeon Otis and Alice Wetherell.  The family were Baptist when they lived in Missouri and Washington. Aubrey gave it to her friends and neighbor, Tom and Elizabeth Wahl of Pullman and Genesee in the late 1970’s. It was given to Cordelia by Dave and Dorothy Wahl of Genesee, descendants of Tom and Elizabeth.  Friends of Cordelia held an organ Dedication Concert on August 25, 2024. 

Information about when Otis and Alice Wetherell purchased the Beethoven Organ, or details regarding the specific year of manufacture, are not available.   Dave Wahl told us during the organ dedication concert at Cordelia that Otis would have a couple of men from the Baptist Church load the organ into a truck so the organ could be used for baptisms in the Snake River.  It is unclear if the organ was regularly used in the First Baptist Church in Pullman (1904 to 1913) or Pullman Baptist Church (1913 to 1940).  Detailed annual reports of the First Baptist of Pullman were not found.  Annual reports of Pullman Baptist Church show an expense for a piano player and not an organist.

The Beethoven Organ Co, was a brand name of pianos and organs built by Daniel F Beatty Piano and Organ Co of Washington, Warren County, New Jersey.  Beatty was one of the first piano and organ makers to use the mail order system to sell instruments, starting in 1869. They focused sales to farms and rural areas via mass mailings and advertisements in the back of magazines and newspapers.  He marketed everywhere including New Zealand, Canada, and Australia and his signs and billboards were everywhere in the United States.  Beatty’s advertising budget was reported to be $400,000 per year.  Piano prices were about $150 and organ prices ranged from $35 to $155 including shipping and free returns if you were not satisfied.  Instruments were shipped as Cash on Delivery (COD).

In 1881, fire destroyed the factory.  The City of Washington encouraged Beatty to rebuild with $25,000.  His plan was for an expanded state of the art factory, and it was completed in 1882 and in full production.  The new factory was reported to produce 200 organs per month and had 100 employees. Prior to the fire it was 1,000 organs per month and 500 employees.  Sadly the fire and new factory costs caused him to overextend and his creditors took over the business in 1883.  

To top off Beatty's problems, he was arrested for mail fraud in 1884 but was able to avoid trial.  He committed mail fraud by requiring payment at delivery, but failing to refund it when the purchaser felt the organ was unsatisfactory and returned it. Beatty's defense was that many customers were just ordering the organ and returning a perfectly good organ, so it was not fraud. 

This case was brought by the New York Postal Inspector based on evidence gathered when his secretary ordered an organ and returned it.

The Beethoven Organ Company incorporated in 1885 with the intent to purchase the business from the creditors. The Beethoven Organ Company used 60 bonds issued as $1,000 certificates to complete the purchase in 1886. This is equal to $1.3 million in today’s dollars.  The investor made 6% interest after 10 years.  The Needham Piano Company took over control of the Beethoven Piano & Organ Company in 1897 when the bonds could not be repaid and bankruptcy was declared.  They continued to sell organs under both Beethoven Organ Company, and Neeham names.  It was later sold to John Sommer Company in 1915, a faucet and piano sound board manufacturer.  The factory closed after being destroyed by a second fire in 1916.

Cordelia’s Beethoven Organ has a Shipping/Serial number of 196988. The first 2 digits was the model number and the remaining 4 digits reflect the sequence produced.  Models ranging from 11 to 19 were produced between 1885 and 1895.  The 1888 catalog shows 19 models of reed pump organs were for sale.

The organ is a close match to the Beethoven Organ Co, Washington, Warren County, New Jersey, USA advertisement description and image found in Short Stories: A Magazine of Select Fiction Vol 9 1892. 

“FREE/  Do you want a Piano or Organ?  Then send at once for our new illustrated catalog, full of valuable information.  We offer the greatest bargains of any reliable manufacturer in the world. Any instrument of our make will be PLACED IN YOUR HOME at your request, subject to a 15 days’ test trial.  NO CASH ASKED in advance.  Simply give us your order and we will ship you the instrument selected; and if not in all respects as represented, you are to ship it back, and we will pay freight charges both ways.  Thus you will be placed at NO EXPENSE if the instrument is unsatisfactory.  Write for a catalog, which is free to all.”

“Think of it! An organ for $35 worth a wholesale $75. Will purchase a beautiful Cabinet Organ with adjustable stool and music book.  The case of the Organ is made from solid black walnut, thoroughly Kiln Dried, of hansom design, profusely decorated with hand carving, heavily coated with varnish, and finished with elegant oil polish.  It has a music pocket, beveled mirror, sliding lid, lamp stands, handles, rollers, ect. Ect.  It contains our Triple Upright Bellow, with improved pedal attachment.  Also our patent indestructible action, with its world-renowned Golden Toned Reeds, which are to be found in no other organ.”

What happened to the old organ?

The previous organ was donated by John and Sally on April 7, 2007. It was found disassembled and restored by their son.  The organ worked but needed constant attention because of the location.  The old organ found a good home in Lapwai, Idaho. The new owner is a retired minister, music teacher, bus driver and substitute teacher.