1807 CONRAD DOLL ORGAN

THE CONRAD DOLL ORGAN

Shortly after the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations agreed to use the church jointly, the Lutheran people proposed that a musical instrument should be purchased for the church. Some of the members of the church believed that mechanical music was inappropriate for a church. Apparently, the Lutheran faction won out and on July 6, 1807  an agreement was made between Conrad Doll, an organ maker from Lancaster, and the two congregations. The Peace Church Organ, designated as No. 5 on the name plate, is reputed to be the first instrument of its kind installed in a church in Cumberland County. It is one of the few organs in the United States that still remains, and is played, in the original location for which it was built. The sum paid was indicated as $466.67. They were also to pay for moving the Organ from Lancaster to the church.

Fritz Noack restored the organ in 1974. In his inspection report dated September 2, 1972, he describes the organ as follows: The Chippendale architecture of the case, especially some details – such as the foot lengths of the front pipes, encourage the assumption that Doll was independent in his design of furniture aspect of the organ.” He also describes the case as: “Pine originally painted in a cream-white color, over which later a brown and then white coat of paint has been applied.” The pipes in the towers had been replaced by zinc pipes during the rebuilding of the organ in 1887. The gilding included a first coat of gold leaf, and a second gold paint, apparently in his estimation not original.