St. Paul's Church finishes final piece of restoration

By Teresa Stowell of the Daily Times staff
Friday, December 7, 2007 10:49 PM CST

Noah Schultz plays St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s new digital organ. The church purchased the organ after the previous pipe organ was damaged by a fire two years ago. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

Taking a look inside St. Paul's Episcopal Church many may find it hard to believe a fire tore through the building two years ago causing severe damage. After much hard work and purchasing of new equipment, the church will be fully restored when its new organ, piano and stained glass window are dedicated.

“The organ was really the last major piece of the puzzle in finishing the restoration,” Rev. Mark Moore, said. “The whole restoration process has been fantastic.”

Lightning struck St. Paul's steeple starting a fire early in the afternoon of July 23, 2005. The fire smoldered inside the steeple before it took off inside the church. The blaze was reported to the Watertown Fire Department at about 10:30 p.m. later that day.

Charred walls, a hole in the roof and water-logged floors included damages to the building estimated at about $1.5 million. The fire damaged a large portion of the roof and the church itself sustained significant water damage.

Restoration of the church began the day after the fire. Workers with Restoration Specialists and congregation members sometimes worked 10 to 14 hour days after the fire damaged the church. Many times people would work seven days a week.

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The church's pipe organ that took up a back side wall of the church was completely destroyed. It was positioned against the wall and the tall pipes blocked two windows. The organ had fire and water damage.

A new three manual digital organ was purchased by the church about a year ago. The new organ, an Ahlborn-Galanti, will be dedicated during Sunday's worship service.

“The new digital organ is not synthesized, and it is much more authentic than you'd think,” Moore said. “The organ plays back an actual recording of a pipe. It has a data storage and pulls up what each exact note sounds like when played.”

Cabinets with speakers for the organ were made and hang above the inside main entrance of the church. Some of the pipes from the original organ are displayed above the cabinets.

“Some people weren't too happy about the idea of having a digital organ,” Moore said. “But when you hear it play it just sounds so wonderful and real that everyone seems to be very impressed and pleased with it.”

Church organist Noah Schultz can record a song while he plays it and then play it back and listen to it. The feature is also helpful when practicing musical performances.

Purchasing a smaller organ also made it possible to replace a clear window in the church with a stained glass window. The clear window was originally blocked by the large pipe organ prior to the fire. The new stained glass window was dedicated during Sunday's service as another final piece of the restoration process.

“Eugene and Ruth Schuh left an endowment for the church which could be used to fund music programs, growing education or in an event of a catastrophe the funds could be used for a new stained glass window,” Moore said. “They were two very well known and well loved physicians in town.”

The “Jesus Heals” stained glass window has the theme of healing of all kinds and depicts Jesus healing the blind man. The window is a reminder of the Schuhs' ministry to the community. A medical symbol is part of the window as well as the state flower.

A new piano will also be part of the dedication on Sunday. The Bradberry baby grand piano was given to the church last year by Debbie Quirk. It sits near the altar of the church and is used for many different accompaniments.

“We're hoping with the addition of the new organ and piano we can start building a nice music program here and create a choir,” Moore said. “We've really gained since the fire. We're like a 150-year-old new church.”