♪♪ >> CATHY: IN DULUTH, THERE'S A MUSIC SPACE IN A LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY CATHEDRAL.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

"ALMANAC'S" KAOMI LEE VISITED THE SACRED HEART MUSIC CENTER TO FIND OUT MORE -- INCLUDING HOW A MANUAL, TWO-RANK ORGAN WITH MORE THAN NEARLY 2000 PIPES SAVED IT FROM DEMOLITION.

>> ORGANIST CHARLES SUNDQUIST SAYS IT'S RARE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY AN ORGAN 127 YEARS OLD.

>> THIS ORGAN WAS BUILT FOR THE CHURCH BACK IN 1898.

THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE PREVIOUS CATHEDRAL AND THAT ORGAN WAS LOST.

SO THEN THIS ORGAN WAS PUT IN.

>> Kaomi: SUNDQUIST IS PART OF A GROUP THAT PROTECTS AND MAINTAINS THE STUNNING INSTRUMENT BUILT BY PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY.

IT'S AT THE SACRED HEART MUSIC CENTER IN DULUTH.

HE SAYS IT'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF LATE 19th ENTURY CRAFTSMANSHIP.

>> IT'S IN ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION, OUTSIDE OF A NEW PEDAL BOARD WAS PUT ON AND IT'S A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL SPECIMEN, ESPECIALLY THE TONAL QUALITY OF THIS INSTRUMENT IS JUST VERY VERY SPECIAL.

>> Kaomi: IN 1896, BISHOP OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF DULUTH PICKED THE ORGAN OUT OF A CATALOG FOR $3,000.

>> I STILL ASK ORGAN BUILDER FRIENDS, HOW IS IT THAT THE COMPANY, FELGAMCKER, TO CREATE AN INSTRUMENT THAT WAS BASICALLY A STOCK MODEL, THAT WAS IN THE CATALOG, THE PRIEST IN DULUTH HAD SAID, ELL, WE'LL TAKE ONE OF THESE.

THEY BUILT IT, PACKED IT, SHIPPED IT, SENT A GUY FROM THE FACTORY OUT TO PUT IT TOGETHER, AND THEN HE LEFT.

♪♪ IT PLAYS INTO THE BUILDING IN A MAGICAL WAY.

FORTUNATELY, THE SACRED HEART SPACE HAS A WONDERFUL ACOUSTIC.

AND THIS ORGAN MATCHES IT AND USES IT WITH PERFECTION.

>> Kaomi: DECADES LATER WHEN THE DIOCESE PLANNED TO DEMOLISH THE CHURCH AND MOVE THE ORGAN ELSEWHERE, LONGTIME ORGANIST JOAN CONNOLLY SAID NO.

>> THE BUILDING WAS IN DISREPAIR, THEY WERE BUILDING A NEW CATHEDRAL CHURCH IN THE EASTERN PART OF DULUTH.

AND, SO, SHE ROUNDED UP SOME FRIENDS, THEY BOUGHT THE BUILDING FOR A DOLLAR, FROM THE DIOCESE.

>> Kaomi: A NONPROFIT WAS BORN IN 18 -- IN 1985 MAINTAINING THE CATHEDRAL AS A 21st CENTURY MUSIC SPACE TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND VISION.

>> I'M PRESIDENT OF THE MUSIC CENTER.

I'VE BEEN THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I'M ALSO IN MY REGULAR DAY JOB RUN A DESIGN/BUILD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

AND I'VE DONE A GREAT DEAL OF THE RESTORATION WORK ON THE BUILDING FOR THE LAST PROBABLY 40 YEARS.

>> Kaomi: HE SAYS THE ACOUSTICS STAND OUT.

>> THE ONLY MUSIC THAT DOESN'T WORK WELL IN HERE WOULD BE SOMETHING WITH A REALLY HEAVY BACK BEAT, A LOT OF DRUM.

>> Kaomi: KAHN HAS OVERSEEN A LOT OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES.

THE ORIGINAL FLOOR AND FLOOR JOISTS ARE GONE, THEY ADDED A NEW ROOF, MODERN DANISH RADIATORS, L.E.D.

LIGHTS AND OTHER UPGRADES.

>> AND THEN AS YOU COME UP INTO HERE, YOU'LL SEE SOME SIGNS OF NEWER-AGE PERIOD.

YOU'LL SEE THE STEEL PLATES ON THE WALL AND THESE METAL CONNECTORS THAT YOU CAN TIGHTEN UP, AND THESE ARE THE TENSION CABLES WE PUT ON WHEN WE TORE OUT SOME OF THE MASONRY OF THE BELL TOWER.

>> Kaomi: TENSION CABLES KEEP THE BUILDING IN COMPRESSION FOR SUPPORT.

BUT THE TOUR WASN'T DONE.

>> IF YOU'RE SLIGHTLY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, YOU'RE DOING BRILLIANTLY BECAUSE THIS IS A CHALLENGING WALKWAY.

IT'S NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

>> Kaomi: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

SO, YEAH, I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE THE OUTSIDE AIR.

>> YOU'RE IN THE OUTSIDE AIR.

THIS IS A SCREEN TO KEEP THE PIJ BE ONS OUT.

>> Kaomi: THIS IS THE BELL TOWER?

>> THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE BELL TOWER.

AS YOU LOOK UP, IF YOU'RE LOOKING UP AT THE BELL RIGHT HERE.

PIGEONS.

♪♪ OVER THE YEARS, THE CENTER AS HOSTED OUNTLESS LOCAL AND TOURING MUSICIANS.

>> I LIVED IN DULUTH FROM THE LATE 1990s, UP UNTIL JUST TWO YEARS AGO.

DULUTH IS KIND OF WHERE I GOT MY START.

>> aomi: FOLK BLUES SINGER, CHARLIE PAEHR, IS ONE OF THE MORE WELL KNOWN USICIANS TO PERFORM AND RECORD.

>> THE REVERB TIME, THE DECAY TIME IN THE ROOM IS NINE SECONDS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHICH IS MASSIVE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REALLY PLAY WITH THAT WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPACES IN THE BUILDING THAT YOU CAN GO AND THE SOUND IS DIFFERENT IN ALL THESE SPACES.

I RECORDED A RECORD IN THE CLOAK ROOM THAT THE CHOIR WOULD USE TO STORE THEIR CLOTHES.

AND IT SOUNDED AMAZING.

IT'S RESCUED, YOU KNOW?

MAKES IT EVEN MORE SPECIAL, I THINK, TO THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE LOST IT.

>> Kaomi: KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON AND THE DOORS OPEN COSTS MONEY.

THERE'S ALSO A MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM AND RECORDING STUDIO.

TWICE A YEAR, AREA MUSICIANS COVER THE AME ARTIST IN AN EVENT CALLED DULUTH DOES TO HELP RAISE FUNDS.

THE LAST SHOW WAS ALL ABOUT DAVID BOWY AND IT PACKED THE HOUSE.

♪ WALKS BESIDE ME ♪ WALKS ON BY ♪ GETS ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME ♪ ♪ CLOSE TO MY LOVE ♪ LALALALALA ♪♪ >> BACK ERE, THEY DON'T KNOW OUT THERE, WE HAVE A PARTY IN HERE AND WE GET TO CATCH UP WITH EACH OTHER.

>> Kaomi: BACK STAGE IT FEELS LIKE A FAMILY REUNION.

NONE OF THE ARTISTS ARE PAID AND MANY SAY IT'S ALSO WHAT MAKES IT A SPECIAL NIGHT.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THESE THINGS, HELP KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.

>> I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT DULUTH DOES AS A COMMUNITY THAT IS VERY BUILDING -- IT'S VERY COMMUNITY CENTRIC.