Area churches build for the future

The First United Methodist Church, Ottawa, had the pipes in its 80-year-old organ cleaned; the First Baptist Church, Ottawa, remodeled its sanctuary and Elliot Hall; and the Homewood Christian Church is raising funds for a building.

Sound improvement

The organ, made by Reuter Organ, Lawrence, has been in the church since 1926 and has held up well, Dave Cording of the restoration company said.

“This one has done well for 80 years, most often there are leather problems at 50,” Cording said about the leather valves in the organ’s windchests.

The organ has more than 1,200 pipes which range in size from a speaking length of one-half inch to 16-feet, Cording said. Speaking length is the height the pipe extends above the chest which holds it in place.

Cleaning the pipes produces a clearer, brighter sound from the organ, Cording said.

“The most satisfying part for me is when you go back in and hear it,” he said. “There’s a lot of satisfaction in taking something that’s well built to begin with but has just gotten tired and bringing it back.”

Adding energy efficiency

The noticeable changes to the sanctuary include changing the carpet and the pads in the pews, painting the walls and improving the lighting. The altar was enlarged to give more room for praise services, David Alderman, one of the organizers of the renovation project, said.

The enlarged altar allows for the piano to be moved around and room for a drum set. Before the drum set had to be placed in the back of the sanctuary.

Most of the upgrades to the church built in 1895 are ones you can’t see, Alderman said.

The old boiler system was replaced with baseboard heaters, which use hot water. Also some electrical wiring was done.

“It was a real energy saver,” Alderman said about replacing the old boiler.

Energy efficiency also was the focus on Elliott Hall.

All of the windows in Elliott Hall have been replaced with double pane windows to be more energy efficient. The boiler which was from 1956 was replaced with a new one. The offices, library and conference room are all being remodeled, Alderman said.

A change was made to the outside to improve accessibility. A portion of the curb was cut out of the curb for a wheelchair ramp which leads directly to the lift into the sanctuary, he said.

Elliot Hall, which is home to Franklin County Daycare, will benefit from the increase in the building’s efficiency, Alderman said.

“Any efficiency we do there, we’ll get back quickly,” he said.

“There should be some long term savings.”

Building Anew

“People were getting sick. The church was 140 years old and had no foundation,” Don Higdon, an organizer and a member of the church board, said.

Higdon said he believes the lack of a foundation caused water to soak into the wood structure and years of this caused the mold.

“It’s something we all hated to see done but sometimes you have to bite the bullet,” he said about tearing down the church which was on Idaho Road just south of Old U.S. 50.

The congregation has had services in the Sunday school annex, which is about 15 years old and near the church site. The church has been raising funds to build a church. The new church will be built where the old one stood and a handicapped accessible hallway will connect it to the Sunday school annex.

“It’s gone real good,” Higdon said about the fundraising.

“We’re about to the point of construction.”