When I was a student at Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN), I was inspired to write this meditation. It was published by The Other Side Magazine (May 1984)

In this journey of piecing together sagas for my family and other families affected by the Eastland Disaster, I rekindled a cousin connection that profoundly shaped the narrative of this episode. This particular cousin is also a descendant of the Pfeiffer family and thus is also a descendant of the Eastland tragedy.

This connection is a testament to the power of familial bonds — the way they can illuminate our shared histories and enrich our present. But I must say, while this connection blossomed into something beautiful and insightful, not all such reunions are guaranteed to flourish.

The unseen invisible hands the guide this project sometimes make themselves known.

This YouTube short features some quotable moments from my interview with Barb Wachholz, co-founder of the Eastland Disaster Historical Society.

This snippet dives into the little-known but devastating Eastland Disaster of 1915 in Chicago. It's a teaser for "Flower in the River," both a book and podcast, which explores the ripple effect of this tragedy on one family's life.

People, like bridges, act as connectors. They link memories, places, and events, making gaps of understanding disappear.

Just take Jun Fujita and Bobbie Aanstad, for example. They’re my time machines, sending me straight back to Chicago’s haunting day of July 24, 1915, when the Eastland met its untimely fate—and my great-aunt and 843 others lost their lives. Through Jun’s pictures and Bobbie’s stories (as retold by her granddaughter, Barb Wachholz), the past becomes palpable. But maybe the Eastland’s murky depths wanted to keep its stories whispered, not shouted. For me, unearthing its tale felt like being a detective, diving deep into the pool of my family’s past. True, that often I felt as if I were drowning. It encompassed more than mere dates and facts; it was a personal saga..

But shouting about tragedies from the past isn’t universally welcomed. Why? Pain’s a tough pill to swallow. It makes us confront wounds, both personal and societal. Memory, whether shared or individual, is a tricky thing.

***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.

Ever thought about how a river's journey might mirror our own life's twists and turns? Dive into Episode 27 of Flower in the River podcast where we muse over life's adventures alongside the ever-meandering Chicago River. Like this legendary waterway, weaving its tales of highs and lows through the city, our lives dance to the rhythm of experiences both joyous and challenging.

Step into the past and peek behind the lens with legendary photographer Jun Fujita - join me as I continue my captivating conversation with Fujita's great-nephew, Graham Lee. We'll hear insider stories about Fujita's unique photographic style and his creative partnership with his wife Florence Carr Fujita.

History is not just facts and events. History is also a pain in the heart and its soul. If we tell that story with an open heart, we can leave an amazing legacy for future generations. - Ken Burns

Lots of Eastland Disaster news this week starting with an Eastland play in Dublin, a partnership with the Eastland Disaster Historical Society and Caitlin Doughty, the mortician behind the Ask a Mortician YouTube page, and caring for a fragile history.

Note: this is a special episode commemorating the 108th Anniversary of The Eastland Disaster (July 24, 1915).

Can you imagine the excitement of a 19-year-old embarking on what is supposed to be a fun-filled journey, only to have it end in one of the most disastrous maritime incidents in history? Episode 19 of Flower in the River podcast is the personal account of my family's experience with the Eastland Disaster of 1915, primarily through the death of Martha Pfeiffer, my ancestor and the young girl at the center of this tragic story. We take you back to that fateful day, the sheer horror and panic of learning about the ship's accident, and the desperate search of Annie Pfeiffer Donovan, Martha's sister, for her sibling amongst the chaos.

Nearly 25 years ago, I learned - for the first time - that the Eastland Disaster was part of our “inheritance.” My mother’s family was holding this tragic secret for decades. It was never spoken of because it was unknown. The older ones who did remember were unable to speak of it until 80+ years later…

Have you ever been seized by the uncanny sensation of déjà vu? That's today's topic on Flower in the River Podcast, Episode 17,  Deja Vu and Genetic Recollections.