Draft:Henry Niemann

Henry Niemann
Born	Henry Niemann (1838-04-27)April 27, 1838 Osnabruck, Germany
Died	October 26, 1899(1899-10-26) (aged 61) Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Known for	Pipe organ builder

Henry Niemann (April 27, 1838 – October 26, 1899) was a German-born pipe organ builder, who spent most of his career in Baltimore. Of all the Baltimore organ builders, Niemann produced the most extant organs, some still in very good condition and retaining the tonal essence of his work. His organs were respected for their bold sound, fluid mechanisms, and quality construction. . !S-11 Niemann is considered one of Baltimore’s premier organ builders.!S-7

Biography

Niemann was born April 27,1838 in Osnabruck, Germany, he was trained as a cabinetmaker there. In 1857 at the age of 19, Niemann came to America where he found employment with organ builder John Closs in Cincinnati, Ohio. !V-38, !V-43. After two years in Cincinnati, he left for England to advance his knowledge of organ building. He worked there for three years with Charles S. Barker, known for his early use of pneumatic pipe organ actions. !V-38

In 1862 Niemann went to France to work for the most distinguished organ builder of the 19th century !x-2 , Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, where he stayed five years. Both Barker and Cavaillé-Coll had high praise for Niemann's work. While in Paris, Niemann built several small organs. Niemann left France to build a three-manual organ for the "Parr Kirche" in Meppen, Germany. This was followed by a tour of the leading organ factories in Europe, where Niemann observed the methods of various builders.!V-v-38 !V-43 Niemann returned to the U. S. in 1872 and subsequently established his business in Baltimore. !V-38. For a short time before 1875, Niemann was also employed by the well-respected organ building firm of E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings in Boston. !V-35 !F-1 He had also serviced organs in the city, including the Thomas Hall instrument in the cathedral (now basilica).!R-2 !V-36 !R-7 He advertised the opening of his first new organ (for Zion German Reformed Church on Aisquith Street, Baltimore in 1875. !R-2

The Niemann Firm

Between 1874 and 1875, Niemann had a partnership with Christopher Doller. Niemann also had a short-term partnership with Charles J. Tillman, which was dissolved in March 1891. !V-41 !V-42 In addition to building new organs, the Niemann firm also performed routine maintenance and renovations of instruments built by others. From time-to-time, Nieman collaborated with other local builders such as Adam Stein. !X-4 After Niemann’s death in October 1899, the firm was continued by his son, Frank", "Niemann (1874−1937), retaining his father’s business name. !D-18 The factory was later sold, and Frank Niemann moved to Philadelphia. !Q-22 !F-3 The firm was dissolved in February 1907.

Death

Henry Niemann died suddenly on October 26, 1899, at the age of 62, at his home at 1108, Forrest Place, Baltimore. His obituary states that he died of Bright's disease. During his long business career he constructed instruments in every part of the country. Iin Baltimore alone he built about thirty. He was survived by a widow and five children. !V-39 !V-40

Partial List of Organs built by Henry Niemann

• St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran (Fayette St), Baltimore, MD ca. 1886.
• Zion German Reformed Church, Baltimore, MD 1892.
• Zion Reformed / Waters AME Church, Baltimore, MD 1875.
• St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Taneytown, MD 1876.
• Universalist Tabernacle, Baltimore, MD 1877.
• Eutaw Methodist Church, Baltimore, MD 1878. In the early, 2000s it was sold to a Lutheran Church near Lemasters PA, after being restored by organ technician John Johnson.!x-7
• Maryland Institute, Baltimore, MD ca. 1878.
• Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption, Baltimore, MD 1880. Niemann's largest organ. It was later sold to Associate Presbyterian Church and the facade went to Clark Memorial Methodist Church.
• Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore, MD ca. 1880.
• Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Annapolis, MD 1880.
• St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, Baltimore (1880) / Mount Zion AME (Annapolis) / First Unitarian Church Hall, Baltimore (1985), Baltimore, MD 1880. It was built in 1880 for St. Mary’s, Industrial School for Boys, opened in Baltimore, MD City in 1866,. For many years, the organ was in the Mount, Zion A.M.E. Church in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1985, it was, installed at First Unitarian Hall.
• Chatsworth Independent Methodist, Baltimore, MD 1881.
• St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD 1881. Organ extant & in use in 2024.!x-7
• St. Joseph Passionist Monastery / Mountain Manor, Baltimore, MD 1884. Organ is extent, but walled in in a former chapel balcony !X-7
• Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton MD 1886.
• Christ Episcopal, Cambridge, MD 1887.
• St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD ca. 1888. Extant and Playable in 2024.
• Harlem Ave Christian Church, Baltimore, MD 1889. A July 15 1889 article in the Baltiomore Sun mentions a new organ, but makes no mention of builder name. !X-7
• Algquith Street Presbyterian / 2nd German Reformed Church, Baltimore, MD ca. 1890.
• Easton Methodist Episcopal Church, Easton, MD ca. 1890.
• Ebeneezer African Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore, MD ca. 1890.
• Faith Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD ca. 1890. Sun: Feb 5 1890 mentions new organ cost $4,000. !X-7
• Har Sinai Temple, Baltimore, MD ca. 1890.
• St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD ca. 1890. Organ demolished by contractor in early, 2000s when building was converted to condos. !X-7
• Associate Reformed Church / Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Baltimore, MD ca. 1891. The 3 man Niemann sanctuary organ of the cathedral was purchased and, installed in the balcony of this church. !X-7
• St. John’s Methodist Episcopal South, Baltimore, MD 1891. Sun Paper Sept 12， 1891 describes this organ. !X-7
• Twelfth Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD 1891.
• Grace English Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD 1892.
• New Jerusalem Church, Baltimore, MD 1892.
• St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD 1892. Extant, in storage. !X-7
• St. Thomas' Evan. Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD 1892.
• First Unitarian Church (Sanctuary), Baltimore, MD 1893. Extant in 2024 and in working condition,, with several added stops !X-7
• Greene St. Evangelical Church (AKA Emmanuel), Baltimore, MD 1893.
• Appoid Methodist Episcopal Church(AKA Christ Methodist), Baltimore, MD 1894. Der Deutsche correspondent. 9/3/1894 describes large organ. !X-7
• Pitts Creek Presbyterian Church, Pocomoke City, MD 1894.
• St. Paul's Catholic Church, Washington, DC 1894.
• St. Elisabeth's Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD 1895.
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Suffolk, VA 1895.
• Fourteen Holy Martyrs Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD 1897. Niemann contracted in 1898 for a new $2500 2 man organ. This replaced or made use of the Pomplitz organ., Sun 6/7/1897 & 6/30/1897 say organ was 20 stops and 781 pipes. !X-7
• Methodist Church, Chestertown MD 1897.
• Old Otterbein United Methodist Church, Baltimore, MD 1897. AKA German Evangelical Reformed, a Otterbein United Brethren
• Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Cumberland MD 1898.
• Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD 1899. This was probably an Erben organ which was repaired and installed by Niemann. !X-7
• Immanel Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD 1899.
• Second English Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD 1899.
• Clark Memorial Methodist Church / St. John's Independent Methodist Church, Baltimore, MD 1900.
• Holy Name Catholic Church, Washington, DC ca. 1900.
• First Independent Christ Church, Baltimore, MD
• Lee St Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD Sun 9/30/1901. article refers to a concert using the new Nieman organ. !X-7
• North Avenue Baptist / McCormick Memorial, Baltimore, MD
• Sharon Baptist Church, Catonsville, MD fix col d vs col 3
• St. Agnes Catholic Church, Catonsville, MD
• St. Ann's Catholic Church, Waverly Baltimore, MD
• St. Barnabas Protestant Episcopal Church, Baltimore, MD
• Third English Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD Named in 1903 Niemann advertisement, but probably Pomplitz & Rodewald, from 1850's !X-7
• Third Universalist Church, Baltimore, MD ca. 1877.

This is a name plate from one of Niemann's instruments

References

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• American pipe organ builders
• 1838 births
• 1899 deaths
• Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the United States