Westwood Lutheran Heralds Its Holtkamp/Dobson Organ
The Holtkamp/Dobson OrganThe Holtkamp organ, a lovely instrument originally installed at Westwood in 1964, was the last of Walter Holtkamp Sr.'s designs. After Walter Sr.'s death the organ was completed and installed by his son. The Dobson Pipe Organ Company of Lake City, Iowa, has now rebuilt, refurbished, updated, and expanded the organ, including 11 additional ranks of pipes. These enhancements provide more dynamic range, foundational support, and tone colors; improving its ability to lead hymn singing , and making it possible to perform organ music in a greater variety of musical styles. Dobson Pipe Organ Builders. Ltd. was founded in 1974 in Lake City, Iowa, by Lynn A. Dobson. Although the company's reputation rests mainly on the many new mechanical action organs it has built, it has also received favorable notice for the restoration of historic instruments and renovation of older electric action pipe organs. Although new organs have been built for institutions of every denomination, a substantial number have been sent to Lutheran schools, such as Augsburg College, Bethany Lutheran College, St. Olaf College, Susquehanna University, Wartburg College, and Wartburg Theological Seminary. Dobson organs can be found in churches, schools, and residences from Long Island, New York to Manhattan Beach, California, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The congregation attended the dedication of its rebuilt and expanded Holtkamp/Dobson organ on November 17, 2002.
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