After the Eastland: Shadow over Polish Chicago

Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

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Sparkling Start with a Star-Studded Tale: We kick off with a dazzling story! I share how a simple email of gratitude opened doors to an incredible opportunity - being a guest on “Love’s a Secret Weapon” podcast. The host? None other than the iconic Donna Loren, a gem from the 60s! We’re talking a whirlwind of memories from her shining moments in “Playhouse 90,” her groovy times with “The Monkees,” to her splash in the “Beach” movies. Get ready for tales from “Dr. Kildare,” “Batman,” and her rocking beats on “Shindig.” This episode (release date, TBD) Will be a trip down memory lane, where Donna drops pearls of wisdom while I dive into discussions about my book.

🚢 Unearthing the Eastland Disaster: Our historical odyssey continues as we explore deeper into the mysteries of the 1915 Eastland Disaster. It’s a century-old story, but new revelations keep surfacing! Highlights of this episode’s exploration promise to be enlightening.

📖 Literary Interlude - Sketching an Unlived Life: Get ready for an emotional journey with a short reading from Chapter 6 of “Flower in the River.” The excerpt features Zara, a character deeply intertwined with her ancestors’ connection to the Eastland disaster. Here, she struggles with how to understand 1915 Chicago. This narrative goes perfectly with the theme of this episode.

🔍 Genealogical Gems and Puzzles: We’ll navigate the intricate maze of tracing family histories, with a spotlight on immigrant communities of mixed ethnic backgrounds. I’ll share intriguing aspects of my family saga, highlighting the unique challenges and fascinating discoveries in genealogy.

🇵🇱 Chicago’s Polish Heart in 1915: Step into the past as we uncover the impact of the Eastland Disaster on Chicago’s Polish communities. We’ll sift through Polish language newspapers from 1915, seeking insights into the community’s response to this tragic event. Plus, poignant obituaries from the Polish community add a personal touch to our historical journey.

⚙️ Western Electric’s Controversial Connection: The episode wouldn’t be complete without touching on Western Electric’s controversial role in the Eastland disaster. We’ll discuss the nuances, including the debate over forced ticket sales for the fateful excursion.

🪦 Virtual Memorial - A Find a Grave Discovery: We share a remarkable find - a Virtual Cemetery on Find a Grave dedicated to Eastland Disaster Victims.

Links

• Zgoda - Unity — Browse by title — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections
• Dziennik Chicagoski 26 July 1915 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections
• Chicago's Historic Polish Language Newspapers

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus

Chapters

1. Legacy of Eastland Disaster and Family History (00:00:00)

2. Chicago's Polish Communities in the 1900s (00:13:36)

3. Zgoda and the Eastland Disaster (00:23:58)

4. Find A Grave -Eastland Disaster Victims (00:42:43)