The headline from the Monday Wichita Eagle, February 26, 1968, resulted from a common mistake. Most people saw the console and assumed it was the organ.
As added information was published, it was explained the console and the few other articles destroyed in the fire was not the total instrument (less than ~5% of the total). The organ had been purchased in late 1967 using $40,000 donated by local community leaders. Weighing 66,000 pounds, the remaining organ components were waiting for restoration and installation by a crew of volunteers.
Restoration consumed more than 12,000 volunteer hours and occurred in parallel with the design and construction of a replacement console. Insurance funds paid for the replacement console. With everything completed, the concert "Wurlitzer Pops Preview" happened with more than 2,000 in attendance on Saturday, December 9, 1972.