Page 141 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 141
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
campus, where band concerts were given and orchestras played. Mrs. Jenny Lind Shirley was married
on the lawn near the band stand and an orchestra played at her wedding.
The U.B. Church in Dayton had an organ which had to be pumped by hand. It was later moved
to the college. A notation in the Official Minutes of the Church, dated July 15, 1897, states: “The
Trustees were authorized to fix a price for the use of the organ for practice, and to ask the Institute to
advertise that it can be rented for practice.”
The Minutes also noted, on October 26, 1898, “It was ordered that a Story & Clark Organ to
range in price from $75 to $100 be purchased at once.” On February 22, 1899, the minutes recorded the
Committee on Organ had purchased a Story & Clark Organ at a cost of $78.00. On May 11, 1904, the
organ is again mentioned in the minutes: “Prof. J. H. Ruebush made a proposition to take the Church
organ now owned by the Church and put in its place an Estey Organ of larger and stronger make.”
Further research discovers that in 1908 a new pipe organ was purchased and installed at a cost of $1,100.
In 1926, this organ was replaced by the four-manual Möhler pipe organ now in use in the church. It was
learned recently that this Möhler organ is one of approximately six or seven 4-manual organs installed
that long ago which are still in use.
Although Dayton Church wasn’t actually a part of the Conservatory, the Shenandoah students
attended church at the Dayton U.B. Church,
and through the years, had access to whatever
organ was there at the time. Mrs. Jenny Lind
Shirley said, “Many days the organ was being
played from six in the morning until midnight.
This was especially true after the large Möhler
organ was installed. One of the donors of the
organ, Mr. J. O. Funkhouser, was heard to
remark, in a joking way, “Well, anyway, they can’t wear it out.” The organ and sanctuary were used for
concerts and senior recitals by the Seminary students.
News, 1898-1902. Many items of interest were found in the Official Minutes recorded between
the years 1882 and 1906. For instance, on February 9, 1898, it was ordered that “the lower sash of the
Church windows be painted so as to exclude the gaze of outsiders.” On September 6, 1899, “The
Committee on repairs reported informally recommending the painting of inside walls and ceiling, new
carpet and pews, chancel-rail, stained glass windows, etc., and the probable cost between $500 and
$600. A Committee of three consisting of J. W. Keiter, G. P. Hott and J. H. Ruebush [was] appointed to
superintend the repairs and instructed to proceed at once.” On February 7, 1900, “The Repair
Committee reported the work near completion and a debt of about $90.00 unprovided for. The question
of building a vestibule at the front of the church was fully discussed, and on motion the Repair
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 127
campus, where band concerts were given and orchestras played. Mrs. Jenny Lind Shirley was married
on the lawn near the band stand and an orchestra played at her wedding.
The U.B. Church in Dayton had an organ which had to be pumped by hand. It was later moved
to the college. A notation in the Official Minutes of the Church, dated July 15, 1897, states: “The
Trustees were authorized to fix a price for the use of the organ for practice, and to ask the Institute to
advertise that it can be rented for practice.”
The Minutes also noted, on October 26, 1898, “It was ordered that a Story & Clark Organ to
range in price from $75 to $100 be purchased at once.” On February 22, 1899, the minutes recorded the
Committee on Organ had purchased a Story & Clark Organ at a cost of $78.00. On May 11, 1904, the
organ is again mentioned in the minutes: “Prof. J. H. Ruebush made a proposition to take the Church
organ now owned by the Church and put in its place an Estey Organ of larger and stronger make.”
Further research discovers that in 1908 a new pipe organ was purchased and installed at a cost of $1,100.
In 1926, this organ was replaced by the four-manual Möhler pipe organ now in use in the church. It was
learned recently that this Möhler organ is one of approximately six or seven 4-manual organs installed
that long ago which are still in use.
Although Dayton Church wasn’t actually a part of the Conservatory, the Shenandoah students
attended church at the Dayton U.B. Church,
and through the years, had access to whatever
organ was there at the time. Mrs. Jenny Lind
Shirley said, “Many days the organ was being
played from six in the morning until midnight.
This was especially true after the large Möhler
organ was installed. One of the donors of the
organ, Mr. J. O. Funkhouser, was heard to
remark, in a joking way, “Well, anyway, they can’t wear it out.” The organ and sanctuary were used for
concerts and senior recitals by the Seminary students.
News, 1898-1902. Many items of interest were found in the Official Minutes recorded between
the years 1882 and 1906. For instance, on February 9, 1898, it was ordered that “the lower sash of the
Church windows be painted so as to exclude the gaze of outsiders.” On September 6, 1899, “The
Committee on repairs reported informally recommending the painting of inside walls and ceiling, new
carpet and pews, chancel-rail, stained glass windows, etc., and the probable cost between $500 and
$600. A Committee of three consisting of J. W. Keiter, G. P. Hott and J. H. Ruebush [was] appointed to
superintend the repairs and instructed to proceed at once.” On February 7, 1900, “The Repair
Committee reported the work near completion and a debt of about $90.00 unprovided for. The question
of building a vestibule at the front of the church was fully discussed, and on motion the Repair
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 127
