Congregational Church Organ Paid For In Full
The Lusk Herald,October 9, 1913
The organ for the Congregational Church was shipped September 23, and is expected to be here soon.
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The Lusk Herald, October 16, 1913
The new Estey organ for the Congregational Church arrived Tuesday, just in time for the conference to be held the latter part of the week.
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The Lusk Herald, October 23, 1913
The new organ for the congregational church came in time for the Conference, arriving Monday. Thew members and friends of the church are well pleased with it and ordered that it be paid for and retained by the church. The organ was purchased from the Estey organ Co., Brattleboro, Vt., through the Knight-Campbell Music Co., of Denver.
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The Lusk Herald, November 6, 1913
Mrs. E, B. Willson has been elected organist of the Congregational Church. Mrs. Willson takes the place of Miss Alice Fowler who occupied that position so long but who is now attending the Conservatory of the Lincoln University.
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ORGAN PAID FOR IN FULL, SUPPLIES A DELINQUENT NOTE
The Lusk Herald, December 25, 1930
The old Estey organ, which performed service for the Congregational Church for seventeen years was retired some time ago, because one key insisted on playing whether the organist touched that particular note or not.
All efforts of supposed organ specialists to find out why that key insisted upon giving off music when it was supposed to be quiet, were baffled, and it continued to play.
Believing the organ to be afflicted with an incurable ailment, it was finally retired, and George Earl Peet gave it shelter in his funeral parlor, where it remained a silent witness to many a touching scene, and kept nightly vigil with the dear departed, awaiting their last ride over the hill to the Lusk cemetery.
Even such a placid, unruffled individual as Earl Peet, got tired of looking at the old organ with the industrious note, and decided to banish it forever sight. Mr. Peet called Roy Combs into consultation, and Mr. Combs consented to move it up to his house.
As the one note continued to play incessantly, Roy secured a mallet and crowbar and proceeded forthwith to explore the innards of the organ to find out what ailed it.
Under the valve, or tappet, of the key, he found a piece of paper, all yellow with age, which he carefully unfolded.
Cheyenne, Wyo., Nov. 18, 1913.Received of S. Burman Long, Two Hundred Fifty-One Dollars and 25 cents ($251.25) payment in full on one Estry organ.
Knight-Campbell Music Co., Per L.A. Huntoon.
The mystery was solved!
Being an honest old organ, it probably wanted the world to know that at least one organ had been paid for in full.
*Researchers’ note: S. Burman Long was pastor of the Lusk Congregational Church from 1911-15.