Wilson S. Reiley
1894

Updated through online information from Steve Bartley (July 16, 2025): An article in the Sun Papers (Oct. 30, 1894 pg. 8) reveals that the organ, in this photo, was installed by Wilson Reiley, of Georgetown DC. Reiley's father (J. Mckendree Reiley) was the pastor of the church, at the time the instrument was installed. Several of Wilson's organ exist today and all make use of older materials. When Father Reiley was pastor of Madison Square Methodist, Baltimore, Wilson installed an organ in that church, 1889. The Harlem Park Methodist church burned in 1908 and the Reiley organ was destroyed. Rebuilding of the church included a new 1909 Moller organ.

Updated by Steven Bartley, naming this as the source of information: Sun Paper - 5/20/1895; 2/14/1902; 2/6/1904; 6/30/1908; 3/6/1909; 6/5/1909; 12/23/1909; 4/4/1924; 6/15/1924; 7/12/1924; 11/20/1926; 2/11/1927. In addition Steven Bartley gave this as a source of information: This writer owns a photo postcard showing a 1 manual tracker organ prior to the 1908 fire and in the new 1909 building; Maryland Historical Society owns a photo showing the new & larger Moller organ after the 1909 fire repairs. Piecing together the events and history of the several organs and buildings for Harlem Park Methodist has been difficult, as the congregation suffered two fires in short succession. Forming in 1875 they constructed a small frame building at N. Gilmor & Mulberry Sts. In 1880 a new site was bought, 614 N Gilmor St. A square cross shaped Gothic stone church was built at the rear of the lot, in anticipation of a larger building. (Md Hist Society has a photo of this building). May 1895 Sun Paper announces a NEW pipe organ. In 1902 The new larger auditorium is started, the congregation uses the basement for services, and the older Gothic building becomes the Sunday School building. In 1908 the main sanctuary is completed, and a photo post card is taken from the back balcony showing a small late 19th century one manual tracker pipe organ in a large elevated choir loft behind the pulpit of the new sanctuary. (Could this organ have been the 1895 organ, by Moller?, or moved by Moller into the new building, from the old building?) Late Dec. 1908 the building burns during a snow storm, Sun Paper reports that the organ was destroyed. The congregation quickly rebuilds, Moller organ, costing $3200 is purchased. (MD Historical Society photo of this organ exists). It is a standard Moller of the period, filling the arched niche, with columns and cups supporting pipe turrets at either side of the facade. In April 1924, the church mysteriously burns (this during a period of racial unrest, which the church has been negatively involved. Organ is destroyed. The building is sold to a Movie theater company and builds a new complex at Lafayette & Warwick St, installing a new Moller.

Identified through information in List of More than 5200 Moller Pipe Organs (Hagerstown, Maryland. M. P. Möller, 1928).