Special Christmas Eve service set in historic Streator church

Streator’s historic Old No. 3 church will open for a special Christmas Eve service.

The service is planned for 1 p.m. at the church located on the corner of Franklin and Church streets in South Streator.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church was established by Slovak immigrants in 1884 and is considered the first Slovak Lutheran church in America. Worship services were in Slovak, at that time. Old No. 3 was completed in 1894. The church was built near the Chicago, Wilmington & Vermilion Coal Co. mine No. 3. The mine operated from 1884 through 1896.