A Switchboard Operator and a Nurse Walk Into a Shipwreck: Unraveling the Eastland Disaster

Jan 28

Podcast Episode Highlights

Welcome to Episode 46 of Flower in the River Podcast -- "A Switchboard Operator and a Nurse Walk Into a Shipwreck: Unraveling the Eastland Disaster."

I want to say that “it’s been a quiet week here in Lake Wobegon” (with apologies to Garrison Keillor) but it’s been anything but. Here are some highlights.

News from the Newberry!

Photographs, postcards, death records and other materials related to the 1915 tragedy were donated by the Eastland Disaster Historical Society to the Newberry Library (Chicago). The info is available online or at the Newberry.

What happens in Versailles Doesn't Stay in Versailles.

If you enjoyed Episode 44 ("Shadows of the Past: Premonitions from the Titanic to the Eastland") and want to learn more about two English school teachers' unintended time-travel adventure, check out the Astonishing Legends podcast - THE GHOSTS OF VERSAILLES PART 1

Look for the Helpers.

Imagine the bravery of ordinary individuals like Western Electric employees, Margaret Condon (Switchboard Operator) and Helen Repa (Nurse) who demonstrated exceptional courage amid chaos when the Eastland capsized. Their stories, woven through this week's episode, are poignant reminders of the human spirit's resilience, and we're honored to bring them to light for you.

This episode's rich narrative intertwines the advancements in communication, the evolution of nursing, and the personal sacrifices of those who stepped up when disaster struck. Immersing yourself in their experiences promises both a humbling and enlightening encounter with history.

Podcast Now Available in German and Polish

Thanks to feedback from friends and family in Germany, Austria, and Poland, I’ve begun dubbing the podcast into German and Polish and posting it to YouTube.

I’m doing the translations through ElevenLabs, which makes a voiceprint of your voice and then uses machine learning to translate your audio into other languages. This is still new technology, and they keep adding new languages. My Polish relative says I sound like “a real Polish woman!” LOL! Here are the links:

The Western Electric News, August 1915

The story of Helen Repa. Click on the icons below the first image to scroll through.

To Learn More:

Nurse Helen Repa Takes Charge in a Disaster

Personal News: Another week, another Genealogy Course

In personal news, I've finished another course taught by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Finding Fathers: Tracking Males Who "Disappeared" or "Just Showed Up" by Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL), and this has upped by game considerably when it's come to research and have been able to apply her methods to my weekly podcast research.

When she says you must conduct exhaustive research, I think I'm doing that. Why? Because by the time I'm done researching (per her methods), I'm exhausted (I don't think that's quite what she means). However, these methods have helped me considerably as I do research for the weekly Eastland Chronicles series.

Who is ESM? Elizabeth Shown Mills is a titan in the world of genealogy, revered for her unparalleled expertise in the field. She has set high standards for genealogical research as a historical researcher, especially in sourcing and evidence analysis.

Elizabeth Shown Mills' work offers the compass and map to navigate with precision and scholarly rigor for anyone researching the complex labyrinth of family history.

Class Takeaways

Here are the takeaways from this class. She was talking about male ancestors but these can apply to any person whose trail has gone cold.

Realistically appraise the problem ancestor
Identify & study their associates and society
Thoroughly use all extant, relevant records
Learn how to evaluate evidence
Carefully identify sources & track all sources back to the original
Study case studies for new techniques

natalie zett

I've been a writer, actor, photographer, and musician and have worked as a freelance journalist for magazines and papers since I was in my late teens.

My favorite writing job was working for an award-winning community newspaper in Saint Paul, the Park Bugle.

I’ve also taught others how to write for community newspapers at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, MN. And, during the last few years, I became a family historian.

https://www.flowerintheriver.com