Authored By Julia Titak
In Druid Hills Georgia, near the Emory University campus, is the Callanwolde Mansion. The history of this Mansion does not include just the walls. The building begins when Charles Howard Candler bought a piece of land in Druid Hills, Georgia. He went on to build the Callanwolde Mansion. The most interesting fact about the building of this Mansion is not that it has seven bedrooms and six bathrooms. The sheer number of bathrooms would stun anyone during that time due to the cost. However, inside the mansion is where one finds Candler’s crown jewel, the Aeolian Organ.
This organ was “operated by pressurized wind generated by a five horsepower electric blower…and was considered an outstanding special feature of the house” (Smith 2017, 32). The organ was so large that it “contained 3,742 pipes, with a console of 147 controls and contained in four specialty built chambers in the house” (Smith 2017, 32). The significance of the Aeolian Organ was that it exemplifies “music in the home in the era before the wide-spread use of the phonograph and radio” (Smith 2017, 31). The organ furthered society by becoming a “social mecca: [Candler] gave parties for the cast members of the operas which came to Atlanta each year” (Gwin 1971, 5). The organ was used in the ballroom and “recitals were given by some of the world’s finest organists and… there were also elegant musicals, receptions and parties especially during the opera season” (Gwin 1971, 5). Atlanta society was connected to the organ just as it was connected to the society.
At Candler’s death, in 1959, his widow donated the Mansion to Emory University. Emory could not pay to keep the mansion in working condition and therefore, “[t]wo years later the home was sold to the First Christian Church, where the organ would be used regularly” (Gwin 1971, 6). The donation of the Mansion to Emory University is clearly done with the Vincentian attitude of a “courteous regard for all people whose diversity is embraced and shared” (St. John’s University 2020) because Emory University sold the Mansion at such a low price – Emory University could be comforted in knowing that they were giving back to their community.
A community consists of varieties of people and this church is given in Christ to appeal and attract any and all sorts of people. This is Vincentian because Emory University embraced its Christian brothers and sisters in showing that they believe their Christian campus should then become and be used as a Christian establishment. Even if this Christian perspective was not realized at the time, the purchase price made way so that “The First Christian Church [could acquire] the home at an extremely reduced price; minus the furnishings” (Matthews 1943, 11). The Aeolian Organ was included in the price, as it “would have been impossible to move without first destructing the home” (Corley 1971, 23), the organ was happily embraced and brought back to life by the church and was therefore used as part of its music ministry. With the organ being the center of the home, originally so the elite society could enjoy the ballroom alone, it now stood as a symbol- connecting the community with history and religious values. The Aeolian Organ remains to this day.
References
Corely, Charley. 1971. “Candler Estate Open,” Atlanta Journal, March 3, 1971, 23.
Gwin, Yolande. 1971. “Callanwolde to Be Revisited.” Briarcliff Times, June 6, 1943, 5-6.
Matthews, Tabitha. 1943. “The Candler’s- Their History and House.” DeKalb Arts, no.61, 31-33.
Smith, Rollin. 2017. “The Aeolian Pipe Organ and Its Music.” The Tracker, August 23, 2017. https://jerome.stjohns.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.jerome.stjohns.edu/docview/1884858595?accountid=14068.
St. John’s University. 2020. “St. John’s Mission and Values.” Last Modified March 12, 2020. https://online.stjohns.edu/about-us/mission.
Wilson, Bill. 1971. “League Members View from Giant Stairway.” Atlanta Gazette, April 1971, 8.