DHORPA News

DHORPA has now acquired a replacement Kilgen organ console. On October 29, 2024, DHORPA Chair Carol Donahue and Secretary Mike Donahue along with their son Joel, transported the 1932 4-manual Kilgen console from Christopher Soer Pipe Organs, LLC shop in Washington, Missouri to Duluth where it will be stored at Jaeckel Organ Company until it is needed in the restoration process. The purchase and transportation were made possible by a generous donation from Karen and Gerald Ruona and in-kind donations from Carol, Mike, Joel, Dan Jaeckel, and Rebecca Peterson. Chris Soer, Joseph Eckelkamp, and Brian Seever carefully loaded the disassembled organ console into the truck and trailer. The original 1920 Kilgen organ console was discarded during a previous unsuccessful attempt to restore part of the organ and was replaced with a smaller Riesner console. The Riesner console is unable to connect to all of the Denfeld organ’s 5 divisions.

DHORPA is in the process of applying for a HAS Foundation grant (Hampson Albert Sisler Foundation – Supporting the preservation and restoration of pipe organs (thehasfoundation.org). Look for further updates on our progress to be posted here in News.

KSKJ Life Foundation responded to a request from DHORPA for a grant to help with expenses for a Spring 2025 fundraising dinner. Their board approved the request. Plans are in the works for a joint effort with the Denfeld Music Department at one of their Spring concerts. Proceeds would benefit both Denfeld music and DHORPA’s restoration project.  KSKJ will also supply volunteer workers to help with the dinner. More details will follow with the date, location, and ticket costs.

WDIO's "The Lift" With Host Baihly Warfield Featured the Denfeld Organ. WDIO Channel 10 news anchor/reporter Baihly Warfield and her videographer visited Denfeld High School on October 17, 2023, and spent nearly two hours learning about the workings and history of the organ in the Denfeld auditorium. She interviewed DHORPA board chair Carol Donahue and technical advisor David Rollin. Their story was featured on WDIO's “The Lift” and covered the organ’s history and ongoing efforts to raise funds to restore the organ. The feature was part of the Friday, November 3, 2023 program which aired on channels 10 and 13. The feature is now available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn8PwznUHT4 and has had over 6000 views ranking it as one of the top stories of 2023. “The Lift” airs Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 5 PM. For other local stories of interest airing weekdays on “The Lift” visit the WDIO website and click on “The Lift”: WDIO News - WDIO.com

DHORPA Organ Project Makes Front Page of the Duluth News Tribune. The March 8 print and digital edition of the Duluth News Tribune featured an article by reporter Joe Bowen which included interviews with DHORPA chair Carol Donahue and Denfeld High School Principal Tom Tusken. Over the course of a 2-hour tour of the Denfeld auditorium organ, Carol explained the workings of a pipe organ and all its various components. Duluth News Tribune photographer Clint Austin captured Carol, the auditorium, and various features of the organ. A link to the complete article: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/nonprofit-hopes-to-restore-denfelds-school-organ

Minnesota Historical Society Grant Awarded to DHORPA. DHORPA was awarded a Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grant through the Minnesota Historical Society (Minnesota Historical Society (mnhs.org)). The grant is limited to the following project: Denfeld Historic Organ Condition Report and Treatment Proposal. In other words, this grant helped fund a complete physical checkup of all parts of the organ: blower system, several pipe chambers, the organ console, and the pipes and pipe components. Foley-Baker Inc., pipe organ builders of Tolland, Connecticut, (Foley Baker Inc. | Pipe Organ Restoration, Consulting & Repair Services) were at Denfeld on February 6 and 7, 2023 and completed the condition assessment and treatment plan of the auditorium Kilgen and Sons organ. The full 21-page survey report including a cost estimate was received March 10, 2023. The next step in the process, to solicit bids from additional organ builders capable of the complete restoration of this 1920 vintage pipe organ, was completed later in 2023, and in early 2024.

Bidding packets were sent to several organ builders in July 2023 inviting them to bid on the total restoration of the organ. One builder, Schantz Organ Company (The Schantz Organ Company | Pipe Organ Builder since 1873), completed an assessment August 2, 2023, and on August 25 offered a proposal for the complete restoration of the Denfeld organ. Goulding & Wood Pipe Organ Builders (Goulding & Wood – Pipe Organ Builders (gouldingandwood.com) completed their assessment on November 15, 2023, and offered their proposal on February 9, 2024. This completes assessments by three highly regarded organ builders/restorers, Foley-Baker, Schantz, and Goulding & Wood. All three of these companies have adequate staff and experience restoring Kilgen and Son pipe organs. DHORPA’s goal is to select a builder by December 2024. More information on the bidding progress will be shared here on our website as developments occur.

DHORPA Progress: From our first meetings of the beginnings of DHORPA, with five people in attendance, the organization has grown to include an organ builder, a professor of organ studies, a legal advisor, several organists, educators, fund raising experts, grant writing experts, a graphic artist and designer, a facilities advisor, Denfeld parents and staff, and organ enthusiasts—all serving as volunteers. DHORPA has no paid employees. Officers and Board Members serve without compensation. In little over half a year, DHORPA was recognized as a non-profit corporation by the State of Minnesota and granted tax-exempt 501(c)3 status by the IRS. This status required the approval of DHORPA’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and a Conflict-of-Interest Policy. DHORPA welcomes your questions and comments. Please contact us by email: dhorpa65@gmail.com.

Security Upgrade: The Denfeld auditorium organ has five organ chambers housing almost 2000 pipes. Four of the chambers are located behind the fabric grills on the right and left sides of the stage. A fifth chamber, the Echo, is located in the balcony. Holm Construction in February 2024 installed secure locks and hinges on the doors of three of the five chambers and on the door leading into the blower room. In past years minor damage occurred along with some pipes being removed when break-ins occurred into the chambers. This security upgrade is to prevent any additional damage now and, in the future, when the organ is fully restored. Donations are welcome to offset the cost of $6531 for the installation of the locks, hinges, and related hardware.

Fundraising Progress: DHORPA has produced an informational and fundraising brochure, designed a website, produced a short educational video of the Foley-Baker assessment, secured a credit card processing arrangement, and has received several donations of varying amounts from people who have heard of our efforts by word of mouth and when DHORPA has made presentations to various community and school groups. DHORPA’s officers and advisors are currently putting together a multi-year fundraising and capital campaign to begin soon, now that the organ assessment has been completed. Funds, grants, and donations will be sought from individuals, businesses, corporations, foundations, and entities such as the Minnesota Historical Society. DHORPA was fortunate to receive an initial transfer of funds from the previous organ restoration committee. This transfer and the many early donations have provided DHORPA with funds necessary for its operational expenses. DHORPA appreciates donations of any amount. A recent donation came from a 1947 Denfeld graduate who “has fond memories of the sound of the organ”. You may contribute by mailing a check or making a secure credit card donation on our Donate page.

Getting the Word Out: DHORPA’s story was shared with the West Duluth Business Club in June 2023 and with an update in June 2024. DHORPA’s story was again shared with the Duluth Rotary Club in August 2023. In addition to these visits, representatives from DHORPA have and will continue to visit Denfeld class reunions. At the December 15 Denfeld Holiday Concert, DHORPA presented a brief overview of the project during a pause between musical groups, handed out brochures to interested attendees, and had a poster board and banner display of the organ’s current condition. DHORPA was also present at the Red-Carpet Concert and attended all additional concerts of the band, orchestra, and choirs for school year 2023-24.

View a video of the Denfeld auditorium pipe organ’s assessment by using the following YouTube link: Denfeld Organ Video V5 Shortened some.mp4 - Google Drive

An Inspirational story of a restored Kilgen organ in Oklahoma: To hear what the restored Denfeld auditorium organ will sound like and the reasons it needs to be restored check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDbM-3ol3Gg

There are only a handful of Kilgen organs still in existence and only one other Kilgen organ like the Denfeld auditorium organ. This makes DHORPA’s project in preserving a historical musical and cultural treasure a timely opportunity.

THANK YOU FOR YOU INTEREST IN THIS HISTORICAL PROJECT.

11/02/2024