The Organs in St. Mary Cathedral
BACKGROUND
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| Music has been an integral part of the liturgies at St. Mary Cathedral since its establishment in Lansing. The organ here has always held a place of prominence, and has served to accompany the choirs throughout the worship life of the parish. |
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In 1904, when the church building was moved from Chestnut St. to Walnut St., there was some type of pump organ used in the liturgy. From 1913 until 1958, a temporary organ, originally built in 1872 by the Steere & Turner Co. and having mechanical (tracker) action was purchased and installed into the new church building, now located on the corner of Ionia St. and Seymour Ave. The instrument was placed in the now removed south side gallery of the church. |
| In 1957, Msgr. Herman P. Fedewa was offered a used organ by Mr. J.A. Hebert of the Casavant Organ Co. of Ste. Hyacinte, Quebec. Casavant had originally built and installed this instrument in Christ Church Episcopal, Grosse Pointe, Mich. in 1930. The instrument was in fine shape, and under the direction of Fr. Gerald Boyer and Music Director, David Ferland, this instrument was recommended as an exceptional purchase. |
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The Casavant organ had 37 stops and 40 ranks of pipes, and was purchased for $19,850. It was installed in the same location (south transept gallery) as the previous instrument, and would remain there until 1967. During the Cathedral's 1967 renovation, the instrument was removed and relocated to the rear gallery where it now stands. |
| Local builder, Archie D. White, Jr. was contracted to do the work of moving and minor renovations. A new electric action console was designed, the organ rebuilt, pipes reconfigured, and new blowers installed for around $32,500. The organ was around 40 years old at the time of this project. David Ferland was the overseer and director of this project. |
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By the early 1990's, this relocated Casavant organ had been in existence for 63 years, and had served the Cathedral parish for 36 of those years. It was very much in need of a restoration and renovation project, or else the instrument would be lost forever. |
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