Serving Commerce since 1895
The Dr. Margaret Wheat Organ
The following is taken from the program printed for the dedication of the Wheat Organ in Dr. Wheat's home in 1993.
"In 1991 the first discussions about the possibility of installing a pipe organ in Dr. Wheat's residence were held. After nearly two years of collecting parts, designing layouts, and figuring out where to put a console, the project was begun and finished in the summer of 1993.
The organ has four sets, or ranks, of pipes, playable from two manual keyboards and a pedal board. The only new pipes are in the center section and are called Principles. These give the instrument its characteristic "organ " sound. The tallest 12 of this set are not new, but come from St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Cheyenne, WY. These 12 pipes were made by the Estey Organ Company. The thin metal pipes on either side section are "strings", so called because their tone resembles that of string instruments. On the right is a Salicional (made by Hilgreeen Lane), on the left a Celest (made by Reuter). When used together, the strings create an "undulating" sound because the celeste characteristically is tuned slightly off pitch. The Salicional was originally in Friedensau Lutheran Church in rural Deshler, NE. The Celeste came from Doane College in Crete, NE. The wooden pipes (on either side and lying below in the cabinet) are flutes and also come from Deshler, NE. The lowest 12 notes are electronically synthesized because there was no room for 12 such large pipes.
The console (shell, bench, and pedal board) started its life at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Osceola, NE. Next it served some years at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Holdrege, NE. It was built by Moller Company of Hagerstown, MD., which went out of business in 1991 after having built around 20,000 organs. The keyboards are from a 1913 Moller organ at Main Street Presbyterian Church, Honey Grove, TX. The key actions (inside the console) were made by Reuter Company of Lawrence, KS., and were originally at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bertrand, NE. The windchests and air reservoir were custom made for this instrument, and the blower was purchased new. The organ is the 19th instrument built or rebuilt by Art and Miriam Eberhardt. Dan Vaughn helped to install the organ in Dr. Wheat's home. "
In 2008 Dr. Wheat was moving into another residence and contacted the parish offer the use of the organ. We contacted Dan Vaughan, who met several parishioners at Dr. Wheat's home on a Saturday morning to remove the organ and place it into storage in the rectory. After the new church was completed we again contacted Dan Vaughan and contracted with him to install the organ into its new home. The Zymbelstern (a group of small bells on a wooden box at the right of the pipes) was part of the organ when we removed it from Dr. Wheat's home. After the organ was installed Dr. Wheat decided that it was not complete. She has now added Chimes to the organ. We do not have much of a history on the chimes other than they were found on ebay.
We are humble and proud to receive such an instrument that so gloriously adds to our worship experience. The organ sings to a community not unlike itself. We come from all corners of the world and from many varied backgrounds and educational experiences. When we add our voices to the voices of the organ great glory is given to God. Dr. Wheat was a professor of Music at East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M University-Commerce. We are fortunate to have a graduate of University of North Texas, Ronald Mark Thomas, as our organist.