In the late 1800s, Streator, Illinois, was a booming city. Its foundation was literally dug out of the earth, thanks to over twenty coal mines employing thousands of workers. This industry drew waves of working-class immigrants from Europe, making Streator a bustling, diverse, and prime target for a unique group of preachers: the Pentecost Bands.

These evangelists, often traveling in same-sex groups, were part of a holiness movement that emphasized a deeply personal and energetic faith. They specifically focused their efforts on working-class communities, making mining towns like Streator a central focus of their Illinois campaign.

A Warm Welcome from the Working Man

When Band No. 9, led by Lillie Hammond and Rose Myers, first arrived in 1886, they weren’t met with resistance—they were met with open arms. The local Streator Miner’s Association Hall invited the women to use their building for services. This warm welcome from the miners themselves clearly illustrates the Bands’ strong connection to the working class. The women even regularly preached inside local saloons, going directly to where the people were.

The local newspapers were quick to notice, regularly publishing accounts of the Bands’ activities and noting the large crowds their services attracted.

Tragedy and Transformation

The ground for the revival had been dramatically prepared by a tragic event. Just before the Band’s arrival, a powder house belonging to the CW&V Mining Company exploded after being struck by lightning. The blast was immense. Over forty home were destroyed and debris was found eight blocks from the site of the explosion. Countless were injured and flying bricks killed one man. Th

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The mining company denied illegally storing dynamite too close to residential homes, and a local investigation ultimately ruled in their favor. However, many residents were shaken. One Band supporter, Nelson, credited the disaster with rousing residents from a “sleep of carnal security.” It was in this atmosphere of post-disaster questioning that the Bands found their early success. One of the first converts was a woman who had been injured in the explosion.

The Hub of the Movement

By 1888, Streator had become the primary hub for the entire Band work in Southern Illinois. The effort intensified with the arrival of Band No. 11, led by Rena Brown, and visits from prominent leaders like Free Methodist General Superintendent Benjamin Titus Roberts.

The Bands’ multi-year efforts paid off in a big way. They secured a hall in the business district that could hold up to 400 people for their evening services. The campaign was so successful that it resulted in the establishment of a strong Free Methodist Society in Streator, which eventually built its own church by 1891—a lasting legacy of the loud, joyful, and disruptive arrival of the Pentecost Bands.

Further Reading:

Angle, Paula, Biography in Black: A History of Streator, Illinois (1962), 45.

Thomas, Nelson, Life and Labors of Vivan Dake (1894 ), pp.150-163.