Howard Best (Howard M. Best III)
1970s

Updated through online information from Randy Terry. -- When I visited the organ, I was told that the new Principal unit had been made by Aeolian-Skinner pipe maker Tommy Anderson and voiced by A-S head voicer John Hendriksen. The 4' extension was accessed via the "Chimes Damper on/off" tab. I discovered that by accident. The Cornopean was one of the best reeds I've ever experienced, and I was told it had been redone by Trivo. The Principal and Cornopean ranks alone made quite a nice sound. The remaining Austin pipework for the most part was a disappointment.

Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- When I visited the organ in January 1988, the organ had 19 speaking stops, and I believe 12-registers/12-ranks. The chimes and harp were missing - or at least not playing. I did not get to examine the chambers and pipes. Every rank seemed to be 61 notes rather than the expected 73 for a 1920's Austin.

The organ was originally installed in Gardendale Methodist Church; it was moved here when the congregation merged with Mt. Vernon Methodist in the 1970s. The original free-standing enclosure was installed in a large chamber above the choir loft, set back from the screened opening into the church.

According to Mark Hayes, who inspected the organ December 1, 2005, the organ has a new Trombone unit (16 & 8) in the pedal, and a new Principal playing on the Great at 8 & 4, both stops on new chests, unenclosed, and installed at the time of installation here. The original Open Diapason (with some of the leather removed from the lip) remains in place, but it is not wired to play at all now. New Peterson Swell motors were installed, but half of the shades are wired shut. These changes were made when the organ was installed in this location.

The original builder was Austin Organ Co.