Christ on Capitol Hill

105 West University Avenue
St Paul, MN 55101


Builder: Votteler-Holtkamp-Sparling, 1922
Manuals: 3
Ranks:
Action: Electropneumatic

Notes: Information from Dale R. Senty-Haugen, 2009

GREAT
8' Diapason
8' Gross Flute
8' Gamba
8' Gemshorn
8' Tuba

SWELL
8' Diapason
8' Stopped Diapason
8' Salicional
4' Aeolina
4' Flute Harmonique
8' Oboe
8' Vox Humana

CHOIR
8' Violin Diapason
8' Melodia
8' Dulciana
8' Unda Maris
8' Clarinet

PEDAL
16' Diapason
16' Bourdon
8' Gedackt Flute


Prior to the present church building on West University Avenue in St Paul, the congregation was established on the corner of 13th and Canada Streets and the first organist for the congregation was Mr. O. O. Bergh, who was also the choir director. Bergh was followed by Professor John Dahle who served the congregation at first as organist association of this highly respected musician began in 1910.

By 1916 the congregation was situated in the present building and at that time the records show that Miss Gudrun Ylvisaker was the church’s organist. Miss Ylvisaker was a highly respected organist and apparently presided over a reed organ with pedals. It was under the tenure of Miss Ylvisaker that the congregation decided to invest in a new pipe organ to be installed in the rear gallery of the church. On May 1, 1921, the congregation entered into a contractual agreement with the Votteler-Holtkamp-Sparling Pipe Organ Co of Cleveland, Ohio.

The organ was completed as promised in the summer of 1922. A dedication recital was played on the instrument on September 12, 1922 by Mr. Clarence Eddy of Chicago. The total cost of the instrument was $10,000 with a one year warranty.

Editor's note: Gudrun Ylvisaker went on to be organist at Bethlehem Lutheran on Lyndale in Minneapolis, playing the Kilgen organ in the chancel. The console is in the right transept. I was baptized in this church and as a child I always wanted to sit toward the front so I could see the hat on the organist bobbing around while she played (she always wore a hat in church, and that's all I could see.)  She eventually became my first piano teacher, and I had lessons from her for 5 years. She taught me how to play hymns on the piano, which was the beginning of my eventual organ career. -- David Engen

Gudrun Ylvisaker at her home on Sheridan Ave in Edina, 1960

Gudrun Ylvisaker and Aunt Martha, 1960