Editor’s Note: The Yuma Museum will be presenting information in the Pioneer regarding the various items one can see there. This is the first installment by Cindy Korf.
In the late 19th Century, parlor organs, pump organs, cottage organs or harmoniums became quite popular. This was due to their compact size, portability and affordability. Thus, making them a staple in most affluent homes.
Previously, organs produced sounds through pipes, but with the invention of organ “reeds,” sound could be produced by forcing air past a thin metal reed. When pumping the foot pedals (they’re connected to a set of bellows that send air into the reeds) music is made.
A newspaper ad from 1882 advertises “Beatty’s Parlor Organs for $50,” the equivalent of $1,583.57 today. Several prominent composers, Rossini, Maher, Dvorak, Strass and Liszt wrote for the harmonium or reed organ. It went by several different names. By the mid-20th century electric organs started replacing the pump organs, making them obsolete.
In the Yuma Museum we have a renovated and restored pump organ with its own history. Our organ was built in 1879, serial number 11710. F. Durand of St. Joseph, MO is embossed upon the front of the organ. F. Durand was the president and founder of the Durand Organ Company that sold reed organs that were manufactured elsewhere. It was a common practice of the time to “rebrand” an instrument with the name of the seller.
The pump organ in the museum came via Bill Holder, grandson of Elsie Waechter. Elsie received the organ in 1906 when she was 9 years old. It stayed in her family for 117 years, when they donated it to the museum. Elsie and her family lived north of Yuma where her father, Art Waechter, farmed 160 acres, now farmed by the Nau family. Elsie married Floyd Day and they farmed 480 acres southwest of Yuma, the current Russell and Shirley Goeglein place.
After Elsie moved to Yuma in 1916, she wrote a letter to her friends in Nebraska. It is quite informative in describing Yuma. This letter can be read and/or heard at the museum. In addition to the letter, a book on the organ shares information and photos of Elsie and her family.
The pump organ was restored by Shad Nau and can be played today. It is a beautiful sounding instrument and worth the trip to the museum to hear it. We hope to see you there. The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.