Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes

"Assisi Heights"

1001 14th St. NW
Rochester, MN 55901


Builder: Various
Manuals: 2
Ranks: 10
Action: Direct electric
Hybrid pipe/electronic (Allen)


There was originally a small pipe organ in the balcony. It is unknown what it was or when it was removed.
In 1981 Richard Lurth of Mankato placed an organ at the front of the chapel, made with salvaged pipes, the core of which had been Skinner Opus 642 from St. Mary's Hospital Auditorium. At one point it was said that none of the Rochester organists would play it because of mechanical problems and ciphers.
Peter Duys somehow took possession of the organ, removing its large facade pipes for another project.
The current organ is mounted on cantilevered platforms in the transept, invisible from the nave since they are around the corner. Principal pipes are on one side (7 ranks) and flute pipes are on the other side (3 ranks). Many were involved in its construction.
The organ was completely rebuilt in 2015-16 by Grandall and Engen of Maple Grove. Chests were extensively rebuilt to ensure reliable operation of what were homemade, amateur wind chests full of leaks and ciphers. Soundproof boxes for blowers were installed. The blower for the principals was found to be running backward and not producing enough pressure. G&E replaced a very small scale wood rank with a larger one more appropriate for the space. The 8' and 4' Principals had been flipped, so wiring was corrected to reflect the current locations. The mixture was restored. All pipes were checked for proper speech. Wiring was cleaned up. The organ now works.

Pipe ranks are marked *

GREAT ORGAN:
16' Violone
8' Diapason*
8' Montre
8' Holzgedeckt*
8' Harmonic Flute
8' Flute Celeste II
4' Octave*
4' Prestant
4' Flute*
4' Spitzflote
2.2/3' Quinte
2' Fifteenth*
2' Doublette*
    Mixture IV*
    Plein Jeu IV
8' Tromba
8' Krummhorn
    Chimes
    Tremulant

SWELL ORGAN
8' Gedeckt
8' Viola Celeste
8' Viola Pomposa
4' Octave Geigen
4' Traverse Flute
2.2/2' Nasard
2' Piccolo
1.3/5' Tierce
    Fourniture IV
16' Waldhorn
8' Oboe
8' French Horn

PEDAL ORGAN
32' Contre Bourdon
16' Diapason
16' Bourdon
16' Lieblich Gedackt
8' Octave
8' Flute
4' Choralbass
    Mixture III
16' Posaune
8' Tromba