The Corner

The Corner
280 W. Muskegon Ave.
Muskegon, Mi 49440

Description

The former Christian Science organ is a three manual organ with 21 ranks and 22 stops. The console is in its own pit to the left of the podium, and the pipes are in chambers behind curtains to the left, right, and behind the podium. This Aeolian Skinner organ is a small example of the American Classic style for which Aeolian Skinner is famous. Note the presence of an Erzahler (story teller) stop in the great, similar to a Gemshorn, but invented by Earnest Skinner himself. The Grave Mixture II in the Great provide the 2-2/3 and 2 foot principal or diapason sound to complete the ensemble in the Great. The ranks in the Choir and Swell consist of 73 pipes, so that the 4′ couplers will sound correctly to the top of the keyboards.

The Auditorium which houses the organ is in the top floor of the building, which is smaller than the lower floors. The Arched windows of the auditorium are just visible in the photo below.

History

The Christian Science Society of Muskegon was formed in 1898, and grew in numbers until in 1901 they became the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Services were held in the Muskegon Women’s Club until 1931, when they moved into this Greek Revival Building. The organ is Aeolian Skinner Opus 1078, installed in 1948. The Christian Science folks moved to a new locations in 2013, and the building is now managed by Central United Methodist, for a contemporary ministry called “The Corner” The organ remains unchanged from its initial installation and is in good condition.

The Aeolian Skinner Organ company began in 1901 as the Skinner Organ company, founded by Earnest Skinner and another partner. They made large instruments, typically in the 60 to 80 stop range, in the romantic/orchestral style for which Earnest skinner is known. Earnest perfected its own version of the pitman wind chest, which proved to be very reliable, and was an innovator in both the mechanics of the organ and in the creation of new organ sounds. G. Donald Harrison joined the Skinner firm in 1927, and the firm acquired the Aeloian organ company, which had been founded to create organs which played automatically from paper rolls, in 1932. Mr Harrison began to lead the company toward the American Classic style, which featured more narrowly scaled Diapasons, and more upperwork. At about this time disagreements within the management of the company caused Mr Skinner to leave, and the Harrison tonal approach was dominant till his death in 1956.