Organ
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A great part of the liturgy in St. Michael’s is centered around the organ. The organ is about 80 years old, as it was installed in St. Michael’s in 1927. At this time, Rev. Fr. J. Mispagel was responsible for selecting the organ and its stops. He was very careful about his choosing of an organ, and went with one from Wicks Pipe Organ Co. out of Highland, Illinois. The funding for the organ was provided by Senator M. J. O’Brien of Canada, who was at one time a parishioner of St. Michael’s.
In about 1989, it became necessary to refurbish and revoice the organ. It had provided a good sixty years, and was showing the wear and tear of doing so. Rev. Msgr. Gosche was the priest at this time, and he appointed an organ council to decide what needed to be done. The organ council consisted mainly of organists at that time.
It was decided that they would add three more ranks, put in a new coupler and relay system, new magnets in all of the topboards, put in new pedals, put in a new swell motor, give the swell box a quarter turn, and put new lights, both on the music rack, and the pedal board.
The organ was re-dedicated on Sunday, September 23, 1990. These improvements are still in use to this very day, and any the parishioners will tell you how good it sounds, especially on Christmas Eve at Midnight Mass. It contains a total of 618 pipes, which is 9 ranks of pipes, and a set of chimes. Each pipe has to be tuned twice a year, once in heating season, and once in cooling season. This prevents the pipes from going flat or sharp when the heating or cooling is switched from one to the other. It gives glory to God the Creator of all things.
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