Old Number Three Lutheran Church Ba-Ba's

[galsal]

I've never seen a picture of my gr. grandfather. He married Anna Lukach. As far as I know, they were affiliated with St. Stephens Church, but did belong to the Slovak society. Anna was an orphan who was brought to America at age 8 to work as a house maid. Andrew was a miner, and a shoemaker. There is another Fedor family in Streator, so this may be a relative of theirs, I don't know.

[dlynn]

Some photo's to enjoy with names added...

[dlynn]

I just saw an old post card this weekend and was told they thought it was of the old Number 3 Lutheran Church in its earliest days. You can see there appears to be no houses around the area, the old electrical poles out front, weeds and brush out front, and what appears to be perhaps a very early photo, before paved roads. This photo had been tucked away in a scrape book from an early member of the congregation who has since passed away, with other information about the church. What confuses me about the photo are the windows. They appear to have changed sometime from oblong to its early dedication photo with all the members around it.
I wonder if the post card photo although it appears to be the same church, if indeed it is. Has anyone ever seen this postcard of the church?
Below is a photo of the post card. (there wasn't any information on the post card.)



Below is a photo in comparison to the postcard of the church when it was dedicated in 1884. Notice the difference in the windows.

[dlynn]

The Lutheran Church split with its congregation around 1940 and some stayed at the Old Number Three and others went to the newly built Lutheran Church they called the "town Church" on 223 South Illinois Street. The main reason for this move, was to allow many Slovaks out in Painters Addition to be able to attend the Church of their faith. The Old Number Three was just too far away to travel to from painters Addition. The new town Church started about 1940. It was built by the Rev. Charles Horack who left the present church at the Old Number three and continued as pastor until his resignation in 1900 when he retired to private life and remained a resident of Streator. Rev. Daniels continued to be pastor of the church, and remained pastor until his passing away at the thrid final move for the congregation on East Main Street.

[dlynn]

This photo was taken at the "Town Church" as it was called on Illinois Street of the Old Slovak Lutheran Ba-Ba's. The names of those known are on the second photo.

[John]

Feb 1, 2011 5:00:55 GMT -6 dlynn said:

In this photo you have Louise Kerestes listed twice. Louise Kerestes is the 6th one from the right in the back row standing. The other Louise Kerestes that you have marked is not Louise, but Elsie Kerestes. The other woman that you have marked as Elsie Kerestes is not Elsie.
Also, Louise Kerestes married Tom Yednock who is also in this photo.
Louise and Elsie are my aunts and Tom is my uncle by marriage.

[dlynn]

Here is the updated Illinois Street Lutheran Church photo.


A second photo of individuals at the Illinois Street of the Lutheran Church.



This is another photo that was found, and individuals are named.
Please correct if wrong. The Old Number Three Slavic Church was built and dedicated in 1884. During that year the church was officially instituted and communion was given. Solemn promise was given to uphold and support whole heartedly this congregation and its pastor, Cyril Droppa.

Signing of this agreement were...
Jan Katuschak
Jan marko
Juraj Rubiscek
Jan Marinak
Jan Palya
Jan Kosley
Jan Bakalar
Juraj Havira
and Thomas Cizmar.

I think Jan is the same as John. And Juraj is George. In those early years only the Slovak language was used by these immigrants of the Lutheran Faith. Has any one heard of the individuals above mentioned? Was Juraj Rubiscek the same for "Rubis" surname?

[dlynn]

More mines opened up in Streator in the northern and eastern parts of the city and many of the members of the Lutheran church who lived near them found it difficult to walk the long distance from Painters Addition to the church at Old #3 on the south end of town. Friction arose over the idea to move the church to a more central location. Many left Old #3 the parent Church to organize a new congregation on Oct. 9, 1890. And this group built the church at 221 South Illinois Street. During this time many with held their offerings and did not attend worship services. Both church groups used the name as Holy Trinity. Pastor Horak served the "town church" on Illinois St. This group had to struggle to establish itself because times were hard. The Old #3 Church was served for a while by Rev. Micatek. Services were held for two Sundays at the town church and then at Old #3 on the third Sunday. The Rev. John Daniel accepted the call to serve the congregation from 1922 until 1965 when he retied. In Feb. of 1951 a third Church site was purchased by the congregation on East Main Street (the present location). The town church was sold, but the Old #3 Church was kept and preserved by the congregation. Today the Old #3 is 127 years old! Special Services are still held at the Church. It certainly is a historical building here in Streator. One needs not to forget how the Slovak immigrants settled here in Streator, many very poor and owned nothing more than the clothes they wore when they arrived. They were young and industrious and accustomed to hard work. As a result they found immediate work in the coal mines. Each year more and more arrived in Streator and in 1881 there were at least forty families. When they arrived there was no Slovak Lutheran Church or minister to serve their needs. Many of these immigrants are our ancestors here in Streator.
Never to be forgotten for their accomplishments of faith and the good lord looking over them.

[dlynn]

This is an early photo of the Rev. John Danials and his wife, recently found.

[danielbunton]

I LOVE this picture and wonder how you got ahold of it...
These are my grandparents and I was too little to remember them.

[dlynn]

The photo of Rev. Danial's and his wife had been found at a residence here in Streator. Not a relative. I don't know who took the photo.

[danielbunton]

Does anyone know if an Easter service is held each year in Church #3?