Owner
1950

Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- This organ was the rebuilt/electrified 1908 Henry Pilcher's Sons (Op. 630) tracker organ originally built for First Presbyterian in Morristown, Tennessee. It was donated to First Presbyterian in Oak Ridge through the efforts of Ed Bettis - member of First Presbyterian in Oak Ridge and former member of the Morristown church. The organ was removed to a warehouse in town where it was electrified by Bettis with help from others. The congregation leased land conditionally from the Atomic Energy Commmission in 1949 - later purchasing the property. Ground breaking took place on July 16, 1950. The first service was held on April 15, 1951, and the building was dedicated on April 29, 1951. The organ was rebuilt over a 6-month period with help from some 30 men of the church and community. It was fully assembled and playing in the warehouse before removal to the church - which required tearing-down part of the warehouse to get it out.