Fort Greely Chapel Pipe Organ gets repair

Photo By Angela Glass | Art and Terri Thompson of Nenana diagnose issues with the Chapel’s pipe organ, which has been silent for years. According to Mr. Thompson, “there is approximately less than a dozen pipe organs in working condition in the entire state of Alaska.” He believes that it will take 120 hours of labor to get the organ in working condition again. The Thompson’s have committed to not only making the improvements, but also covering the cost of the parts. (Photo by Angela Glass, USAG Fort Greely Public Affairs)  

FORT GREELY , UNITED STATES

12.07.2018

Story by Angela Glass 

Fort Greely

The Fort Greely Chapel is experiencing a true Christmas miracle, their vintage pipe organ is getting some much needed repairs after years of silence.
Missionaries Art and Terri Thompson have offered to completely restore the Chapel’s pipe organ, which contains 914 wind pipes each one resembling one distinct musical note, back to its original sound.
The Thompson’s traveled to Fort Greely to inspect the organ, and spent the entire day with Fort Greely Garrison Chaplain (LTC) Paul Fritts diagnosing what it would take to make its original sound. “Other than a bit of water damage and a few decades of neglect, it is in not too bad of shape and still has quite a nice sound, said Mr. Thompson.
The incredible story does not end there, Chaplain Fritts and Mr. Thompson noticed that the pipe organ had a name etched into the side, “R. Byard Fritts.” Assuming the name was the builder or installer of the organ, Mr. Thompson was able to research and successfully locate the son of the late R. Byard Fritts, Mr. Paul Fritts. Through email communication, Mr. Fritts was able to recall helping his father install the organ in the summer of 1966.
“I remember being there stuck on base several weeks, and thinking of how ambitious my father was to place an organ above the stairs,” recalled Mr. Fritts.
The Thompsons moved to Nenana in 2007 to become radio missionaries and being avid lovers of music, they have rescued many organs, but intoned that it is a true miracle that a location as remote as Fort Greely has such a rare antique. According to Mr. Thompson, “there is approximately less than a dozen pipe organs in working condition in the entire state of Alaska.” He believes that it will take 120 hours of labor to get the organ in working condition.
The Thompson’s have committed to not only making the improvements, but covering the cost of the parts.
“We consider ourselves philanthropists, and have been looking for ways to support the work of the chaplaincy, and we believe that the organ will greatly enhance the worship experience,” said Mr. Thompson. “We are very happy to be supporting the U.S. military.”
All in all, it looks like Chaplain Fritts’ wish for a refurbished pipe organ has become a holiday miracle.

• Date Taken: 12.07.2018
• Date Posted: 12.27.2018 15:31
• Story ID: 305425
• Location: FORT GREELY , US