Beyond the Titanic: The Eastland Love Story of George and Theresa
“The only voice that documents have is the voice we give them. With every document we find, and every story we tell, we have a choice:
We can take what we see at face value, report it devoid of context, and run the risk of misrepresenting the circumstances.
Or ...
We can seek the context we need to understand the record, the event, and the person.”
—Context, a Powerful Tool for Problem Solving. Elizabeth Shown Mills.
Seeking Untold and Undertold stories of the Eastland
I'm deeply passionate about uncovering and sharing the lesser-known, yet profoundly impactful stories of families, much like my own, whose lives were irrevocably altered by the Eastland Disaster. Diving into the research, I feel a strong connection as I unravel these hidden narratives, bringing to light the experiences and struggles of those who endured this historical event. It's not just about recounting facts; it's about honoring their memories and acknowledging the significant, often overlooked, ways in which this tragedy shaped their lives and the community around them.
Beyond the Titanic: The Eastland Love Story of George and Theresa
Here are the opening comments from Flower in the River Podcast, Episode 39.
Before Jack and Rose, there was George and Theresa, a tale of two star-crossed lovers. Long before the fictional romance of Jack and Rose, you know, the one that captured our hearts in the movie Titanic,?—there was the true and tragic story of George Dobek and Theresa Danda.
They fell in love, they got engaged and, since Teresa worked for Western Electric, they planned to go to the annual company picnic.
They boarded the Eastland and, well, as you can guess, the ending is not good. In this case, unlike Jack and Rose of the Titanic, George and Teresa both perished. But this is hardly the end.
Here’s the link to the podcast (YouTube): Beyond the Titanic: The Eastland Love Story of George and Theresa.
An image showcasing elements related to the Eastland Disaster. It includes a list featuring the names Eddie Danda and Theresa Danda among the deceased. The masthead of 'Vorbote' is visible, along with a 1920 tribute to George Danda from his family. Photos labeled 'Missing' depict George Dobek, Theresa Danda, Eddie Danda, and Martha Pfeiffer. The image concludes with a view of the Danda family plot, the final resting place of George Dobek as well.
Photo of Theresa Danda from The Chicago Examiner, July 26, 1915.
