On Nov. 4, St. George Serbian Orthodox Church celebrated its 90th anniversary.

With information provided from St. George, here is a look back on its most significant events during its nine decades in the Joliet community.

1898: The first known Serbian family settled in Joliet in 1898.

1905: The St. George Society was founded. This was affiliated to the Serbian Orthodox Federation, Srbobran, that had headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1913: A new lodge, the Rozdestvo Hristovo (Nativity of Christ) was chartered. These two merged in 1921 under the name of St. George Lodge. Just before World War I, the Serbian population reached its peak of over 1,000. But 252 Serbians left as volunteers to join the Serbian army. After the liberation of Serbia, they remained in their fatherland.

1919: A strike caused unemployment and all but Serbs left.

1927: A youth club was founded.

1928: St. George Serbian Orthodox Church was consecrated on Nov. 2, 1928 with His Grace Bishop Mardarije Uskokovich. Kumovi were Nikola Pavlica and Mary Tesla, later Mary Bjekich. The Kumovi of the church bells were George and Mary Jovanovich and George Novakovich. Tom and Mary Laketa were Kumovi for the chandeliers.

1930: The Circle of Serbian Sisters was founded in 1930 with 70 charter members.

1935: The S.S.S. Mita Topalovich Choir was organized in 1935.

1947: The St. George hall was consecrated on May 11. The hall served the parish until 1973.

1948: The Tamburitza Orchestra “Lika” founded in 1948 and later Orchestra “Mladi Sviraci."

1928 to 1949: Eleven priests and five priest-administrators served the parish. The priests that served were: Father Danilo Kozomara, Father Mirko Vuisich, Father Pavle Markovich, Father Antonije Dragovich, Father George Popovich, Father Damjan Tomich, Father George Milosavljevich, Father Dusan Milakov, Father Firmilian Ocokoljich (later Bishop of Midwestern Diocese), Father Nikolaj Dazgich, and Father Milan Mrvicin.

1949: Very Reverend Proto Stevan Prostran, skilled in English, administration and as a teacher of liturgical music became pastor.

1952: The Sunday School was organized with 45 pupils. A Sunday School Mother's Club was founded to fundraise for the school.

1956: The St. George Memorial Garden was dedicated in 1956. Kumovi were Milos and Martha Konjevich. A stone memorial with the image of St. George was erected in Woodlawn Cemetery.

1958: The Serbian Orthodox Youth Club was organized and produced a monthly publication, The Serb.

1964: The school had eight teachers and 60 pupils. Mildred Dejanovich served as first superintendent of the Sunday School. Prostan suffers a fatal accident. Rev. Uros Ocokoljich serves as pastor for the next five years.

1965: Land is purchased on Midland Avenue, which Bishop Firmilian blessed. The Kumovi were Tom and Mary Laketa. Proto Milan Brkich succeeded as pastor. His pastorship included the sale of the church hall, remodeling of the new parish home and major renovation of the interior of the church.

1974: Brkich retires. Rev. Nedeljko Lunich was appointed in September. Bishop Firmilian blessed the completed church interior in November 1974. The Kumovi were Donald and Juanita Bosnich of DePue.

1975: Brkich dies. Sixty children attend Sunday School and 22 boys are on the altar boy staff. A folklore dance group was established under the direction of Kathy Petkovich who had two assistants. A junior choir was reorganized as well as new interest in the S.S.S. Mita Topalovich Choir. The St. George Cultural Association was created. Cornerstone blessing for the hall was Nov. 16. The Kumovi for this event were Sam and Tanya Starcevich.

1976: Hall blessing takes place May 16. Kumovi were Daniel and Rose Petrich. Dan Petrich was architect and general contractor for the hall. Donald “Dusi” Bosnich of DePue contributed. The Kolo started a catering system that led to a catering business. The Kolo was led by Mildred Marinkovich for many years and followed by Delores Malinovich.

1978: The St. George Church School Congregation celebrated 50 years in November.The Kumovi were George and Ann Malinovich.

1980: The building of the new St. George Church began in March under Nick Malinovich, executive board president. Project coordinators were Dan Petrich, architect and designer, and Sam Starcevich, general contractor. Cornerstone blessing took place in May. Donald “Dusi” Bosnich contributed materials and labor. The Kumovi were Steve and Mildred Marinkovich.

1982: St. George Church was consecrated. The Kumovi were Joseph and Stella Enich. Twenty clergy assisted. The old church was sold to Pentecostals.

1988: New parish residence on Stryker Avenue was dedicated May 1. Project chairman Kimball Mancke received an Episcopal Gramata for coordinating the work. Kumovi for the day were Joseph and Millie Orlovich, also receiving Gramatas for years of service to the parish. For their labors in the parish home, Mimi Dejanovich and Gen Ostoich received certificates of appreciation.

2014 to 2019: Lunich retires. Rev. Nikolaj Kostur becomes pastor in 2015 and leaves in 2017. Lunich serves as interim pastor. Rev. Aleksander Bugarin becomes pastor in 2018.