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Archiver > ILLASALL > 2001-05 > 0988784492


From: Joan Johnson <>
Subject: ...from Streator's history
Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 01:23:04 -0500


pages 17 - 18
FIRST 'GENERATION' OF CHURCH BUILDINGS
Several of the earlier churches were in North Streator. The
Episcopals first built at the corner of Park and Morrell Streets; a
block north was the old United Brethren structure; the primitive
Methodists built on Bronson near Monroe Street; the Catholics on La Rue
Street near the Burlington tracks. The Welsh Cumberland congregation
purchased the first Park Presbyterian structure and moved it to
Vermillion Street, just north of Morrell Street, and the Presbyterians
then put up their fist brick church on the present site. The Methodists
built early, downtown, on the present church lot, a large frame
structure; the Baptists early established their church--the present
brick building--across the street from the Methodists; and the
Congregationalists occupied the present site of the Public Library with
their original wooden edifice. Most of these structure were erected in
the seventies--the original Presbyterian (formerly Galloway) church in
1870, and the first Catholic Church in 1871. Both congregations held
services here even earlier--Rev.. High for the Presbyterians, and Father
Clark, of Wenona, for the Catholics. The Evangelical Church organized
here in 1874 on La Rue Street and moved to present site in 1881.
Services were held in 1872 and 1873 in rented space. The Lutheran
Church organized about 1880.
The Christian Church had their first building, wood, in an early day
on Kent Street, where later was the Walter Reeves home.
The original Catholic Church still stands on Shabbona Street, south
of Lundy Street. Sections of the first Episcopal Church and of others
of the pioneer church edifices of North Streator also still stand, near
or on their former sites.
Two frame structures owned by St. Anthony's parish were destroyed by
fire before the present stone veneered brick structure was erected.

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