H. H. Peters, secretary for the Illinois Christian Missionary Society, wrote numerous articles and news items for Christian Standard for three decades up until his death in 1935.
This short news item is notable mainly for describing the lengths to which the congregation in Streator, Ill., went to heat their church building during the Great Depression. It likely will give you an appreciation for the many comforts we enjoy today.
Peters likely is describing the Central Church of Christ in Streator, which is more than 150 years old.
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Men of Church Dig Coal
By H. H. Peters
January 28, 1933; p. 16
I heard that the Streator (Ill.) Church dug its coal. I wrote the minister of the church, A. Delaney Votaw, for the story in its entirety, and here it is:
“I have your card this morning, and in reply will state that I am happy to give publicity to the story of the coal digging. It may inspire others, similarly situated, to solve their problem of church heat.
“The city of Streator has long been noted for its coal mines; it has been said that the entire city is over coal. Most of the mines are easily accessible, being known as strip mines. Last fall saw a great number of the pasture lands being converted into coal mines. . . .
“The brotherhood of the church met many defeats before they finally succeeded. One time they dug four days, and then found that the coal had run out when it got to where they were digging. This isn’t unusual for coal to do.
“The most popular places seemed to be in the bed of the Vermilion River; the entire river seems to be over coal. The right of digging was given free of any charge, with the stipulation that it was not to be dug for profit. It was rather a unique performance, pushing back the bank of the river, by means of dams, and pumps to keep the water back. It was here that we dug our coal.
“It necessitated also a long track that ran from the river bank to the river bed, a coal car, a wire cable and a truck on the bank with which to hoist it. With the aid of artificial lights, we were able to work two shifts—one day shift and another after supper until midnight. For the most part, the day shift was worked by the unemployed men of the church, some of whom worked both shifts, and the employed men worked at night. Doctors, barbers, electricians, truck drivers, filling-station proprietors, [and] mechanics, helped.
“The different organizations and Sunday-school classes prepared dinner at the church each day, and different members and friends of the church furnished the meat, which was the big item. We had a delightful fellowship, and learned to have a better understanding of each other. This is the story of how we got sixty-three tons of coal for digging it.”
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