Basilica of St. Mary

Minneapolis, MN

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Reconstruction of the Great Chamber

1/24/12

           After past roof leakage issues the plaster ceiling of the Great chamber is badly deteriorated and has started falling apart and dropping plaster debris into the pipes of the Great Organ.  It was decided that the only way to fix this problem is to empty the Great chamber of all pipework and have the ceiling properly repaired.  The pipes will be removed and stored in the walkway behind the organ console.  This will be the first time most of these pipes have been out of the chamber since 1949.  The smallest pipes are the size of soda straws and weigh only a few ounces while the largest are up to 20' long and weigh several hundred pounds.  Check back often for pictures and updates as work progresses.

1/26/12

Work has now begun and the pipes of the Great Organ are being removed and stored in the church.  

The Great organ chamber.  From floor level to the chamber is about 24 feet.  Access is via the ladder on the right.  Everything mus come out the small opening behind the railing.

Plaster damage in the Great chamber. 

Past roof leaks have damaged the plaster arches and ceiling in the great chamber.  The large pipes of the 32' contra bombarde are in the foreground.

Chunks of plaster have been dropping off the ceiling and falling into the pipes.  The top of the 32' Contra Bombarde is to the left.

The north east corner of the Great chamber is by far the most damaged and we decided to clean up some of the debris to make way for the contractors who will repair the ceiling.

Close up of damage to the north arch

Everything must be lowered one piece at a time.  This is a rack which holds up some of the 32' Contra Bombarde pipes.

There are approximately 1700 pipes in the Great chamber.  All the pipes are lowered to ground level mostly one at a time although some of the smaller pipes can be lowered by bucket.

Pipes under 4' long are carefully stored in trays.  These pipes are from the 8' Gemshorn rank.

Pipes are stored leaning against the sanctuary wrought iron.  These are the the larger pipes that don't fit in the pipe trays.

3 pipes of the 16' Violone

Pipes and windchests stored at ground level.  Trays of smaller pipes at the left.

Plaster dust and debris laying thick on the Great offset windchests. 

More plaster.  This was completely cleaned 4 years ago.

The Great main windchests.

Great main chest

We shoveled up about six 5 gallon pails of plaster debris from just the north east corner

Large chunks of the plaster molding from the north east corner

What a mess!