St. Mary's Hospital has a rich history of commitment to the community it serves and a long list of "firsts" in offering the most advanced procedures and technology to its patients.

Click a specific year on the timeline below or scroll down to view our entire list of firsts.

In 1886, Col. Ralph Plumb and Father Henry O'Kelly (who died in 1923 after serving as pastor of St. Mary's Parish for 40 years) approached the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. The following year, Father O'Kelly submitted his plan of a Streator Hospital to the authorities in Springfield. The field was declared favorable, and Sisters Crispina Topp, Bonaventura Speckhart and Methodia Overmann were dispatched to help realize the undertaking. This was July 26, 1887.

They opened a temporary hospital after renting and later purchasing the A.R. Van Skiver residence on the northwest corner of Bloomington and Sixth Streets. This was a two-story dwelling, and mining accidents were frequent—thus the need to expand was necessary.

The present site for the hospital was selected, and the first lot was purchased from Fawcett Plumb, nephew of Colonel Ralph Plumb and a prominent real estate dealer in Streator, for the sum of $4,750. The cornerstone was laid, and work began. It was designed after the original St. John's Hospital of Springfield and let to the firm of A. Laughlin and Sons on Oct. 22, 1887 at the cost of $75,000. Top

On October 7, 1888, the doors of the new three-story building were opened. The hospital had 12 private rooms and two wards accommodating 25 patients. According to hospital records, 34 patients were cared for during the first year, but a great deal of nursing was done by the Sisters in the homes of community members.

On June 24, 1904, the hospital opened a large addition to the east of the first building. It contained a modern operating room, dressing room, and 25 patient rooms. Top

1904: The first x-ray equipment was installed. Top

In 1914, another addition was added to the south of the old buildings. It contained an x-ray department, laboratory, laundry, modernized surgical suite, chapel, 28 patient rooms, and pharmacy. Top

In 1925, a fire-resistant south wing was completed and brought the bed capacity to 120. Top

1929: The physicians requested the addition of a dietician to the staff. Top

In 1937, St. Mary's Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary with an Open House and a Baby Homecoming. More than 150 people born at St. Mary's attended.

On that occasion, Bishop Schlarmann, Leader of the Diocese of Peoria, remarked to the Sisters "Fifty years ago when Bishop Spalding dedicated this house and your chapel, he said in the name of the Church: 'This day is salvation come to this house.' Fifty years ago Christ said, as He once said to Zaccheus 'I must remain in your house.' You accepted the honor, and during the 50 years, Christ has been the honored guest and the principal patient in your hospital. You treated Him well in the sick who came to your doors. And today, after 50 years sojourn with you He repeats, 'I must remain in your house.'" Top

1945 The Hospital purchased a superficial therapy unit for treatment of skin disease and cancer located close to the body surface. The device was similar to an x-ray machine that uses x-rays to kill cancerous cells. Top

1952 The superficial therapy unit was upgraded to treat deep-seated tumors with a higher energy of x-ray within the body.Top

1963 With the dedication of the new hospital, St. Mary's was one of the few hospitals in Illinois that offered a cobalt unit for radiation treatment of cancer. The unit was considered an essential feature of a modern hospital and reflected the hospital's philosophy of bringing the best of new advances in healthcare to the Streator community.

The machine emits gamma rays, a type of high energy radiation that can penetrate far into the body, striking deep-lying tumors while sparing the skin and adjacent tissue. The radiation can be concentrated on a small area by a built-in collimator of lead bars.Top

1966 The Hospital was the first in the area to install a cardiac monitor in order to observe a patient's heart rhythm.Top

1967 St. Mary's was the first area hospital to have an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for close observation of critical and potentially critical patients.Top

1970 St. Mary's took the lead among the area hospitals in education. A cardiac care course was required of all nurses working in the ICU. The class evolved into a semester course taught by one of St. Mary's ICU nurses in conjunction with Illinois Valley Community College and offered to area nurses.Top

1972 St. Mary's provided 24-hour Emergency Room services before other area hospitals offered the service. Top

1973 St. Mary's was the first hospital in the area to install a telemetry system on the cardiac monitoring system. This enabled the nurses and physicians to monitor patients on either the 4th or 5th floor of the hospital from the ICU.Top

1973 The Hospital was the first to open a Step Down Unit (Constant Care) among other area hospitals. This Unit was for intermediate care between the ICU and the General Patient Units.Top

1975 St. Mary's now welcomed a Vascular and non-cardiac Thoracic Surgeon. He performed a permanent pacemaker surgery...the first when compared to the area hospitals. He also performed thoracic surgeries (lung, esophagus) and vascular surgeries (aneurisms, bypass) that year—all firsts for the area.Top

1979 Home Health was formed, reviving a tradition started by the original three Sisters. The service took the nursing care from the hospital into the patient's home.Top

1979 The first CAT Scan (CT) prototype