10/11/2026
Pipe Organ Restoration
It all began with a question. It was one of our quarterly tours at the Town Clock Church. After talking to those on the tour about the history of the Underground Railroad and the people who made that possible in Floyd County, there is time for questions. Often heard are questions that ask about the number of people who escaped through Floyd County as part of the Underground Railroad. Another question often asked is how people would have known that this church, and the Second Presbyterian congregation, would have been a place where those enslaved who were trying to escape might get help? And occasionally there is a question about the restoration and all that has been done by the Friends of the Town Clock Church nonprofit to preserve this historic building.
“What do you know about the pipe organ?” Not the usual question.
Not much. We know from historical documents that there was a pipe organ in the church in 1889 when Second Presbyterian congregation joined the other two Presbyterian churches in their new building, which is now at St. John’s Presbyterian in New Albany. We know that pipe organ was moved to St. John’s once the new building was completed. Portions of the pipe organ in St. John’s date back to the 1880s. Very little is known for sure about the current pipe organ that sits in the front of the sanctuary at Second Baptist church.
Kathy Wilkerson, whose family has a long history at Second Baptist Church said that several years ago, a man from Germany came to New Albany for a conference of the Organ Guild Association. He was an expert in antique tracker style pipe organs and examined the current one in question.
He sent her some information. He said the builder of the organ was unknown and did not think it was repairable. He described it as slider chest with mechanical key and mechanical stop action. It has one manual, six stops, and six ranks of pipes.
As it turns out, the lady who asked the question that day on the March tour was Janet Hamilton, a local organist who plays pipe organs. Several weeks later, she called and said she has a friend who repairs pipe organ who would like to see this one in Second Baptist Church. Arrangements were made for her friend, Steve Drexler, to look at the organ the next day.
Panels and pipes were removed as Steve and Janet examined the organ. The two of them looked like kids on Christmas morning, unable to contain their excitement at the condition of the pipe organ. It turns out the pipes are in excellent shape. They were certain the organ predates the Civil War. The two were talking a foreign language about pipes, notes, and details of the instrument. Hamilton commented, “I was excited because such a historical, rare, and unique instrument is in a church where a lot of people visit. When it is repaired and playable, it might inspire others to learn to play the pipe organ!”
Coincidentally, that same day the Friends Board of Directors was meeting. A proposal was requested by the board regarding what it would take to repair the historic instrument. This entire process began with a simple question, but it ended with the plan for the antique pipes to sing again. It will take time for a historic repair of the organ. Probably a year.
Which is perfect, because it will give us time to fund raise to cover the cost of the repairs. And more so because in 2027 numerous anniversaries with the historic building will collide. It will be 190 years that Second Presbyterian congregation separated from First Presbyterian to be more active in condemning slavery and helping those who were seeking freedom. It will mark 175 years that Second Presbyterian Church, (aka Town Clock Church) was built, and 160 years that Second Baptist congregation was formed. And 138 years ago, Second Baptist congregation bought this historic building and have worshiped there ever since. An anniversary concert is planned in September 2027 to celebrate these historical markers.
The expected cost of repairing the pipe organ is $50,000. Donations to help cover the repairs of the pipe organ can be made to the Friends of the Town Clock Church, P.O. Box 574, New Albany, IN 47151, on our web site, www.townclockchurch.org or contact Jerry Finn, fundraiser and treasurer at 502-645-2332.
Town Clock Church of New Albany Completed in 1852, this truly significant structure is connected to the Underground Railroad in the metro area. The building served as a beacon of hope to freedom seekers across the river. It was a connecting point between cities in a slave and free state, and a safe....
