Printer's Devil Recalls Melodian Organ

Davenport, Iowa, 1922

Printer's Devil On Gazette in '73 Recalls Melodian in Church At 5th and Brady St.

Do you remember 'way back when the old brick church at Fifth and Brady streets housed the congregation of the First Methodist church? Will H. Hitchcock, printer's devil on the old Davenport Gazette in '73, having read with deep interest the interview with Mr. Magoune, veteran printer on the same journal years ago, which appeared in last Sunday's issue of The Democrat, especially Mr. Magoune's reference to the Methodist church organ, writes as follows:

"Mr. Magoune's reference to the Methodist church organ causes me to wonder how many Davenporters are still living who remember when the same congregation worshiped in the old brick church, still standing on the northeast corner of Fifth and Brady street, and who also remember the little old 'Jubilee' Melodian made by the New Haven Organ Co., which supplied the congregation with instrumental music each Sabbath.

"That melodian was a tiny affair in a rosewood case slightly larger than an ordinary suitcase, set on four spindly legs, and with round wooden rods connecting the bellows with the brass foot pedals underneath. It was about a 3-4-caret, 22-caliber, double action instrument, at least it took the double quick action of both feet to supply wind enough in the bellows.

Occasionally the musician's foot would slip off one of the brass pedals and at such times the instrument would give forth a long shuddering sigh and quit cold, like a horse with the heaves. The order of worship was different in those days from what it is now, for instead of singing the Doxology and Glory Be at the opening of the services, the Doxology was always saved 'til the last, like a piece of apple pie, and was sang just before the benediction was pronounced. It was also the custom of all ministers of that period to read the first verse of each hymn (and sometimes the entire four or five verses) before singing.

One beautiful September morning the pastor of the old brick church had read the first verse of the opening hymn and the musician had seated herself at the melodian when Denny McGee with the old switch engine No. 88 came snorting up Fifth street pulling a long string of loaded box cars and the noise of the engine was fairly deafening so the young lady at the keyboard waited quietly until Denny shut off his engine and all was quiet. And then, as she played the opening bars, the choir and congregation arose and out on the Sabbath stillness floated the music of a grand old hymn, "How Firm A Foundation Ye Saints of the Lord."

The singers had just begun the second line when Denny put the old 88 in the back motion and began back down in the yard. Noise? There were no automatic couplers in those days, the old link and pin being still in use with about six inches of slack between each drawhead and just as the words "Is Laid For Your Faith' rang out, Denny slammed 'em together. Denny 'laid 'em all right, laid 'em cold, for the very earth shook while the walls trembled and the windows rattled like castanets. The remainder of that hymn may have been heard by the listening angels but it failed to reach the Methodists. The choir might have been singing, "Mother May I Go Down to Swim," without any one being the wiser. Among the singers that morning was the late Judge J. S. Altman who possessed a fine bass voice and a keen sense of humor and when anything tickled him he would laugh 'tho the Heavens fall.' Mr. Altman said afterward that the 'foundation' was firm enough but that Denny McGee sure shook up the side walls.

"Brother Magoune is right when he said that 'those were the days of real sport.'

"Can you wonder, Mr. Editor, that the favorite hymn of so many old Davenporters should be 'I Love To Tell the Story.' "

—The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Davenport, Iowa, July 16, 1922, p. 13.


Note: Next is the article from "last Sunday", in which Mr. Magoune mentions the old Methodist organ.


Recalls Pioneer Days when Hiram Price Found Organ Too Giddy for Methodist Worship

D. Orrine Magoune, who has memories of the Davenport of 40 years ago when the First Methodist church was where the Hastings apartment now stands on Brady street hill-top, the Baptist church was down on Fourth and Perry streets and the old Gazette, for which he worked as a printer, with the late Edward Russell editor, was on East Third street, is spending the week-end in Davenport, having come from Cincinnati, where he has been making his home for the past several years.

"Those were 'The days of real sport,' " said Mr. Magoune, reminiscently, as he settled down in one of The Democrat's easy chairs, pushed back his hat and looked around for a convenient desk on which to rest his boots, while he recalled old times.

"I miss lots of folks around here! Yes, I knew Edward Russell and Charlie Russell — he's Charles Edward now — and Warren Teele was in the postoffice and Hiram Price was in all his glory at that time as congressman — and by golly, it was Hiram who found the new organ they'd just put in the Methodist church at the top of Brady street hill too giddy for him and he had it taken out. I believe they sold it second-hand — hated to lose the price, you know.

"I've been a newspaper man and all-'round reporter all my life, and pencil and paper are my daily companions," and the veteran of many reportorial scoops opened a small black traveling portfolio he carried which was packed with his traveling kit, paper and a pencil or two being conspicuously handy.

The traveler went on to say he hardly knew the old town which had been his home for so many years, "and I do miss the old friends." Mr. Magoune is the author of an attractive little book entitled "Life in Florida," which is full of quaint humor, bits of stories, rhymes, anecdotes and considerable matter of interest to the Florida visitor. He has been in the habit of spending his winters for the past number of years south of the Mason and Dixie line, explaining, "I just can't stand these northern winds."

Mr. Magoune is the son of the late Dr. George F. Magoune, who first came from Maine to become president of Iowa college, Ames, a position he held for 20 years. Iowa was then part of the Territory of Wisconsin. His father was a freshman at Bowdoin college when Longfellow was a senior. Recalling the stately presence and fine physique of Dr. Magoune, he said his father had supplied the pulpit of the Congregational church here a number of times in the early days.

Altho getting along in years and using a cane at times, Mr. Magoune preserves something of his spritely stride of more youthful days, and his eye is keen and his hand — and by the way he has the long tapering fingers and slim artistic hand one finds in the artist and among those whose trend in life has been towards the arts — holds the expressive gesture articulate with feeling which one associates most closely with the writer, musician or painter.

Mr. Magoune stated he was here "on business for just a few days and very glad to see how Davenport has grown and progressed." He goes back to Cincinnati shortly.

—The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Davenport, Iowa, July 9, 1922, p. 11.