The Chronicler and the Rescuer: Unveiling Overlooked Narratives
Collage for Flower in the River Podcast Ep. 63 titled “The Chronicler and the Rescuer: Unveiling Overlooked Narratives.” Top left is Harry Birch who witnessed the Eastland Disaster through his camera’s lens. Bottom right is Frederic W. Willard, who deftly used a rope to rescue himself and 25 others after the Eastland capsized.
Key Quotes:
“In genealogy, we always have receipts.” - Jennifer Mendelsohn
Why do I podcast each week about a century-old tragedy where over 800 people perished in downtown Chicago—a disaster that few remember? I suppose I’ve answered my own question. It all began about 25 years ago when I uncovered shocking and crazy secrets within my seemingly dull and ordinary working-class family.
To quote Cyndi Lauper, “We’re not the fortunate ones!” And yet, hidden in our history was a connection to an event that few of us knew about, yet many of us seemed to carry its downstream effects in our bodies.
As a child, I feared nothing — except boarding large ships. My five-year-old self, who believed she could fly and frequently tested this theory by leaping off roofs and treetops, was paralyzed with fear at the thought of stepping onto a ship.
I distinctly remember a day’s outing at Lake Erie (downtown Cleveland) when my dad and I tried to ascend the gangplank of a moored ship. He thought it would be fun to explore a massive freighter. I did too, except my legs froze, and I began screaming, “We’ll die if we get on that ship!”
We drove home in silence, my dad perplexed, hoping my mom could shed light on my sudden terror. They kept saying, “This isn’t like her! She’s not afraid of anything.”
I totally forgot about that memory until about a year after my dad died. At that time, my mother’s much older half-sister, by then in her eighties and a former Chicago reporter, sent me a 38-page genealogy of my maternal grandmother’s family. I knew very little about them. But there was one detail that popped off of page three — the mention of my grandmother’s teenage sister being killed when a ship called the Eastland capsized in the Chicago River, killing over 800 people.
What??? This can’t be right! How could I have never heard of this?
I grew up in Cleveland but always had a “thing” for Chicago and thought I knew its history well. At least, I thought I did. And that’s how all this began. And this is why it continues:
“With over 800 people killed, you would think by now there would be at least 800 stories to go along with them!" - Natalie Zett
In this episode of Flower in the River podcast, The Chronicler and the Rescuer: Unveiling Overlooked Narratives, we witness the Eastland tragedy through the lens of pioneering cameraman Harry Birch & heroism of F. W. Willard.
Highlights:
New Listener Inquiries:
Address common questions from new listeners, clarifying my independent approach to the podcast and sharing how it evolved from my audiobook project.
Personal Reflections:
Reflect on the significance of fulfilling family promises, particularly the emotional journey of discovering and sharing my mother's lost family history.
Revisiting Key Literature:
Revisit George Hilton's definitive book, "Eastland: Legacy of the Titanic," discussing its impact on my understanding of the disaster and its role in my research.
Introducing Harry Birch:
Meet Harry Birch, a pioneering newsreel cameraman who filmed the Eastland disaster. I recount his fascinating career and the rediscovery of his footage.
Heroic Acts of Frederic W. Willard:
Introducing Frederic W. Willard, a hero who saved numerous lives during the Eastland disaster. Through historical newspapers, I bring his bravery to life.
The Importance of Preservation:
Say Hello to "Burt," the creator of the virtual Eastland Memorial on Find a Grave.
Podcast & YouTube Links
Podcast Link: The Chronicler and the Rescuer: Unveiling Overlooked Narratives
YouTube Link: The Chronicler and the Rescuer: Unveiling Overlooked Narratives
