Long-time Wayne Zion pipe organ restored to glory

     Wayne Zion Lutheran Church in Monticello recently took on quite a project, several years in the making.

     The church’s pipe organ was disassembled, cleaned, refurbished, and reassembled, the first time in the instrument’s 70-plus year history.

     The church’s Moeller Organ was built by the M.P. Moeller Organ Company in Maryland in 1948. It was once part of the original Wayne Zion Church, having been installed in 1949. According to the Monticello sesquicentennial book, the Moeller Organ replaced the “Hinners-Albertsen one-manual pipe organ, which was installed in 1898.” The replacement organ cost was $8,000.

     In order to pay for the Moeller organ, the Zion Brotherhood established a fund with a war bond in 1945.

     The current organ refurbishing project was quite a “major financial undertaking for the church, according to Barb Andreseen, director of Music Ministry, at Wayne Zion.

     Ground was broken in November 1964 for the current church, with a dedication service held on March 27, 1966. The Moeller Organ was in play at this time.

     Andreseen said credit for the Moeller Organ goes, in part to, Arenda Balster, Jr. of Scotch Grove. Balster took on two major projects in contribution to the Monticello community: remodeling and expanding John McDonald Hospital in 1961, and construction of a new Wayne Zion Church in 1966. Balster served on the church’s building committee.

     “He (Balster) put his heart and soul into this project and it was a proud moment for him when the church was dedicated on March 27, 1966,” states the sesquicentennial book.

     A plaque on the organ notes the date of the original dedication: Dec. 12, 1948. The very first organ committee included: Rev. F.H. Kehren, chairman; Balster, secretary; Prof. G.J. Zeilinger, organist; Sievert Sievertsen, deacon; and John Doden, trustee.

     After all these years, Andreseen said the organ was in need of some attention, especially because some of the keys no longer played. She said she wished long-time organist Doreen Streeper, who passed away in 2017, were still alive to play the instrument today, in its new glory.

     In September 2018, Dean Zenor with Dobson Pipe Organ Builders in Lake City, Iowa, came to the church to offer a presentation about their company’s services in restoring pipe organs.

     “Dean is quite familiar with Moeller Organs,” noted Andreseen. “His team (along with Donny Hobbs) was a good fit. They know these instruments, and they’re an Iowa company. They have respect for the instrument itself, and knew it could be restored.”

     At that time, Zenor also provided the church with an assessment of the needs and condition of the instrument.

     “It’s had no major repairs since it’s been installed in this church,” noted Andreseen. “The keys and chimes were not working. It had mechanical issues.”

     The church’s current organ committee felt the organ needed to be refurbished.

     “This Lutheran Church is known for its lovely music,” noted Andreseen. “We hoped to keep that tradition.”

     Wayne Zion is currently without an organist, so taking the time to take the instrument apart really did not disrupt the church services at all.

     In mid-September, Zenor and Hobbs arrived at Wayne Zion to begin their on-site work. With the help of church volunteers, they got to work right away.

     Hobbs explained that their preliminary trip back in September was to take the metal and wooden pipes apart. Dust was wiped off and blown out of the pipes outdoors. They were also inspected for damage. And damaged pipes were taken back to Lake City for repairs.

     Dobson also cleaned the organ chamber different parts of the instrument. The mechanical issues were dealt with in the organ’s reservoir.

     The chimes were also repaired.

     “We also went over the keyboard and console and made some adjustments to make it play better,” said Hobbs. “Just some general cleaning.”

     The pneumatics and pedal board also needed some attention.

     “We brought the trumpet pipes back to our shop to clean them,” added Hobbs. “This can be a technical process.”

     Hobbs said the organ’s condition was relatively decent noting its age.

     “When we were done with the project, the church noted a big change in the instrument,” Hobbs said of when they concluded their portion of the project on Oct. 21. “Every note was now playing properly.”

     “This instrument is something our church is very proud to have,” said Andreseen. “We felt the work was worth doing all at once rather than piecemeal. It’s worth it if the organ lasts another 50 to 60 years.”

     Andreseen said Wayne Zion Church celebrates a special anniversary in 2022.

     The last few days Dobson Builders were on site involved tuning the organ.

     Hobbs praised and thanked the Wayne Zion congregation for their hospitality and assistance during their on-site work.

     “They were very friendly to work with,” he said, even noting the delicious lunch they were served each day.

     Andreseen said the church plans to conduct regular maintenance on the organ.

     “It’s been a fascinating project,” she said. “Perhaps getting the organ fixed will be an incentive to find somebody to play it again.”

     The church’s original goal after the organ was repaired was to invite the community in for a public concert. Due to COVID-19, those plans are on hold.

     “People love to listen to the organ music,” said Andreseen. “That’s part of the joy.”