Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told
"Flower in the River" podcast, inspired by my book of the same name, explores the 1915 Eastland Disaster in Chicago and its enduring impact, particularly on my family's history. We'll explore the intertwining narratives of others impacted by this tragedy as well, and we'll dive into writing and genealogy and uncover the surprising supernatural elements that surface in family history research. Come along with me on this journey of discovery.
Episodes
112 episodes
Good-Bye, Everybody: A City, A Ship, A Song
🛳️🎶 “Goodbye, Everybody…” That was the jaunty tune Benton Harbor residents remembered the Eastland playing from its calliope — long before the disaster.🎙️ In Episode 112 of Flower in the River, we travel t...
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Season 3
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Episode 112
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40:25
From Valhalla Halls to River Graves — The Danish Heartbreak of 1915
Grief knows no borders. When Chicago's SS Eastland capsized in 1915, the tragedy didn't just devastate local families—it sent shockwaves all the way to Denmark, where anxious relatives waited for news that would forever change their lives.<...
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Season 3
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Episode 111
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32:10
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The Red Socks Historian: Peter Alter and the Chicago History Museum
Peter Alter—Chief Historian and Director of the Studs Terkel Center for Oral History at the Chicago History Museum—joins me for this episode, and what a conversation it turned out to be.We nearly had to cancel. A mas...
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Season 3
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Episode 110
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46:35
History Doesn’t Speak One Language—Neither Did the Eastland Story
When history speaks, it rarely does so in just one language.In this episode of Flower in the River, I take you on a journey I never expected—deep into international newspaper archives that covered the 1915 Eastland disaster in C...
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Season 3
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Episode 109
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37:14
Blood Across the Ocean: When Chicago's Disaster Shook Poland
A breakthrough discovery reveals how news of the 1915 Eastland disaster reached across the Atlantic to Poland, unearthing voices unheard for over a century. While exploring the Silesian Digital Library—an extraordinary archive of Polish publica...
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Season 3
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Episode 108
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32:04
The "I Don't Know" Man: From Eastland Disaster to Salvage Czar
The untold stories of Chicago's deadliest disaster continue to emerge from dusty archives and forgotten legal documents. In episode 107, "The 'I Don't Know' Man: From Eastland Disaster to Salvage Czar," we dive deeper into the coroner's inquest...
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Season 3
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Episode 107
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35:25
The Coroner, The Catastrophe, and the Inquest
A long-overlooked document adds a vital missing piece to the Eastland Disaster story.For over a century, the full account of what happened when the SS Eastland capsized in downtown Chicago has remained incomplete—not because we di...
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Season 3
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Episode 106
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34:11
Eastland 1905: Burning Water, Missed Warnings
In this episode, I explore a seldom documented incident involving the Eastland steamship from August 1905—ten years before the infamous Eastland Disaster of 1915. This forgotten event reveals important patterns in the ship's troubled history an...
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Season 3
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Episode 105
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33:47
Receipts from the River—What the Departed Left Behind
Ever wonder what secrets lie buried in forgotten newspapers and dusty archives? For the victims and survivors of Chicago's deadliest disaster, their stories waited patiently for over a century to be rediscovered.Genealogy isn't just abo...
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Season 3
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Episode 104
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30:48
Disaster Dodger – One Woman’s Escape Artistry
Death came knocking three times—but Bertha Behrend Healy wasn't home.In this episode, I uncover the jaw-dropping story of a woman who narrowly escaped not one, not two, but THREE of America's deadliest disasters:
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Season 3
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Episode 103
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32:17
Final Claim: Insurance Records Speak from Beyond the Grave
In this episode, we explore newly discovered insurance records of Eastland disaster victims through the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA). These records provide unprecedented insight into the aftermath of the tragedy and its impact...
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Season 3
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Episode 102
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40:50
Roll Up Your Sleeves—A Lesson in Preserving History
History isn’t just about what’s remembered—it’s about who makes sure it’s remembered. In this episode, I take you to Fall Creek, Wisconsin—a small village with a deep familial connection. It’s also where I first saw
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Season 3
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Episode 101
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41:40
Episode 100: A Milestone, A Synchronicity & A Heartfelt Thank You
100 Episodes of Flower in the River! 🎉 Can't believe we made it to 100! Let's look back at how this whole thing started, how Flower in the River has grown, and our mission to keep the stories of all of the people w...
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Season 3
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Episode 100
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28:42
The Big Apple Meets Chicago’s Biggest Disaster
Step back to 1915 and witness how the Eastland disaster shook not just Chicago but the entire nation—thanks in part to New York’s relentless reporters.Meet H. Percye Millar, a Chicago-based New York Times correspon...
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Season 3
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Episode 99
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41:42
The Pulp Scribbler meets the Capsized Ship
In this episode, I open with a poignant story about my mother’s friend Donna—a moment of compassion that left an indelible mark on my life. It’s a small, tender memory, but one that unlocks a much bigger story—one of the most compelling and ove...
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Season 3
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Episode 98
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41:39
Caverns of Memory: Erin McBrien’s Archival Journey
In today's episode, I speak with Erin McBrien, Interim Curator at the Upper Midwest Literary Archives (University of Minnesota), to explore the fascinating world behind preserving our collective stories.Highlights:Step inside...
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Season 3
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Episode 97
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47:58
Margaret Dreier Robins - Voice of Thunder
It’s time to explore the remarkable life of Margaret Dreier Robins, a powerful yet often overlooked voice in the Eastland disaster narrative. Born into privilege in 1868, Margaret chose to dedicate her life to labor reform and women's rights, b...
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Season 3
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Episode 96
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34:38
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The Diver and the Janitor: Heroes, Loss, and the Price of Tragedy
*Content warning: This episode contains a brief mention of suicide* In this episode of Season 3, I explore two powerful stories from the 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago that showcase both heroism and devastating loss....
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Season 3
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Episode 95
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39:21
TWICE BURIED & THE MYSTERY OF EASTLAND VICTIM #571
Content Note: This episode deals with themes of death and misidentification. Please listen with care.In episode 94 of Flower in the River, I’m diving into one of the most puzzling mysteries of the Eastland Disaster: the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 94
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40:15
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Lane Tech: Triumph Through Tragedy
This week, I’m diving into the touching story of Lane Technical High School students who tragically lost their lives in the Eastland disaster of 1915. These weren’t just names on a list—they were vibrant young men with big futures ahead of them...
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Season 2
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Episode 93
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32:28
From Factory Floor to Fighting Ring: Another Eastland Story
This episode opens with my reflection on our podcast's year-end Buzzsprout statistics, which revealed some surprising reach - listeners in 17 countries, 49 episodes (soon to be 52--I hope!), and 1,910 downloads. I share my special appreciation ...
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Season 2
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Episode 92
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39:53
When the River Took Over: Stories Nearly Left Behind
Episode Description:Welcome to Episode 91 of Flower in the River! This week, we’re diving into two extraordinary stories from the Eastland disaster, showcasing why history is about people—not just numbers. We’...
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Season 2
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Episode 91
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41:04
The Machinist, the Merchant, and the Sweetheart: Stories from the Chicago River
The 1915 Eastland disaster cast a long shadow over Chicago, and many stories from that day remain hidden—often in plain sight! This week, we’re uncovering more overlooked narratives to ensure they are remembered. What You’ll Lear...
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Season 2
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Episode 90
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30:14
The Tomato Smuggler Who Survived a Disaster
In today’s episode, I uncovered an extraordinary tale that intertwines the 1915 Eastland disaster, an heirloom tomato, and a present-day artist in Maine. This story, unearthed in the Franklin Journal and Farmington Chronicle from Augus...
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Season 2
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Episode 89
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41:33
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Front Page Gold, Footnote Dilemma: The Eastland’s Mixed Legacy
Hey everyone! I'm excited to share some fascinating discoveries about how Chicago newspapers covered the Eastland disaster in 1915. This episode takes us behind the scenes at the Chicago Evening Post through the eyes of a publication called "Th...
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Season 2
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Episode 88
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41:47
