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On what is generally called the organ loft on the gallery is the splendid pipe organ, purchased by Father Garrett B. Welch, when pastor of the parish, at a cost of $1,600.
Copy of Specifications for Church.
From the Specifications it is seen that the architect was Joseph Stillberger, of Pittsburg, and a competent and honest architect he was, as may be seen from the specifications which, if followed to the letter, the result would have been a more beautiful church than the ornate structure seen today, the plans being on account of the fact that the contractor, as already stated, took the job at a figure far too low to keep him from serious loss, hence, he was allowed to modify them.
According to the specifications the contractor was to erect good scaffolding and be amenable to laws of the land relative to compensation for damages in case of accidents; the ditches were to be 8 inches wider than the wall, the concrete used in the ditches to be 1 bbl. Louisville cement, 2 bbls. coarse sand and 3 bbls crushed stone to go through a 2 inch mesh, concrete to be tamped hard in the ditches, the walls to have two faces, to be laid in good lime and sand mortar in level layers and coping stone to extend the width of the wall and not less than 10 inches thick, crandalled (that is dressed with a hammer with several sharp steel blades), and joints to be pointed with cement mortar; window sills to have wash and drip; coping 4 in. thick to cap battlements on tower buttresses and pediments to be bedded in cement and well anchored to walls. The ceiling of the church was to be plastered. Of the brick work a header course was to be laid every sixth course, and secret bond allowed only on front and tower. The lime mortar was to be of No. 1 fresh burned lime and sharp sand, mortar to be mixed 48 hours before using. The inside sidewalls and ceiling were to be plastered with good mortar of lime and sand with hair well beaten to be separated.
It is doubtless owing to the exacting specifications formulated by the architect that, notwithstanding the fact that said specifications were very materially modified, the church, as it stands today, is noted for its solidity of construction, and even for its interior beauty.
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