Capsized Chaos to Epic Courage: An Eastland Disaster Survival Story
Show notes for Episode 30 of Flower in the River Podcast
Ready for a story of someone who SURVIVED The Eastland Disaster?
Pack your bags as we take a journey filled with courage, resilience, and the unyielding human spirit. We are happy to welcome our guest, Barb Decker Wachholz, who shares her family’s tragic yet inspirational tale of survival during the Eastland Disaster. She paints a vivid picture of her spirited “Grandma Bobbie,” a survivor of the disaster. She shares her family’s migration from Norway to Chicago, and the life that awaited them after the catastrophe.
As Barb unravels her family’s past, we delve into the lives of her great-grandparents and their occupations, paving the way for an intimate understanding of the life and times they lived in. We learn of Barb’s Uncle Olav’s daring rescue efforts during the disaster. A Western Electric employee, Olav rescued 27 people!
A tale of strength, disaster, and survival, the story of Barb’s grandmother Bobbie—treading water and looking for the sky through the portholes—will leave you with chills.
In the disaster's aftermath, it’s crucial to remember the lives affected. We close the episode discussing the importance of the Eastland Disaster Historical Society and their mission to keep the memories of the 844 lives lost alive. Join us for an episode brimming with family lore, courage, and a poignant reminder of the past. Prepare to be moved, enlightened, and humbly aware of the power of human spirit and resilience.
Additional Thoughts
Interviewing Barb was a heartwarming experience. As I skimmed through the cherished photos of her grandmother, Bobbie, waves of nostalgia hit me. I couldn’t help but be reminded of my Great-Aunt, Martha Pfeiffer. The stark contrast between Bobbie's long life and Martha's tragic, untimely death in The Eastland Disaster weighed heavily on my heart.
I found myself lost in a maze of “what-ifs.”
What if Martha had survived that fateful day? How would the fabric of our family stories have changed with her tales of survival woven in? The echoes of her laughter, her joys, and her experiences - oh, how they would've enriched our family lore! But while Bobbie's memories stretched over nine decades, painting a canvas full of life, Martha remains forever captured in the tender age of 19. A poignant reminder that while some stories are told in volumes, others are just whispers in the wind.
Images of Eastland Survivor, Borghild (Bobbie) Aanstad and her family.
a special gift from Barb Wachholz: Bobbie’s Oatmeal Cookie recipe.
