Beyond the Titanic: The Eastland Love Story of George and Theresa

Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

Send us a Text Message.

What if you could step back in time and breathe life into the pages of forgotten newspapers, unearthing fascinating tales interwoven with personal stories, tragedy, love, and family connections? That's exactly what happens in Episode 39 of Flower in the River Podcast. We’ll traverse the path of George Dobek and Theresa Danda’s tragic love story, cut short by the Eastland Disaster. We’ll investigate the irreplaceable role multi-language newspapers played in connecting immigrants to their roots. These multi-language newspapers played an irreplaceable role in the lives of immigrants, serving as a powerful tool for connecting them to their roots. In a time when communication options were limited, these newspapers provided a lifeline for immigrants who yearned to stay connected to their homeland and culture.

Join me as we trace the Dobek family’s journey from Eastern Europe to New York and finally to Chicago for a better life. We also delve into the mystery of George’s burial in the Bohemian National Cemetery and the heartwarming tale of how the Danda family embraced him as their own. Along the way, we will uncover a surprising link to my Great-Aunt, Martha Pfeiffer, who tragically died on the Eastland. This tale will paint a poignant picture and reveal precious stories that even tragedies cannot erase.

Key Highlights:

• Star-Crossed Lovers: The true story of George Dobek and Theresa Danda, a young couple who perished together in the Eastland Disaster.
• Research Adventures: My journey through historical newspapers at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Library.
• Library Love: A shoutout to the incredible staff at the library and the importance of such resources in research.
• Eastland Chronicles: Insights into the ongoing series and the significance of connecting with history.
• A German Newspaper Clue: Discovery of a 1920 memorial for George in the German newspaper Vorbote
• Cultural Connections: Exploration of the ethnic and political contexts of early 20th-century Chicago through newspapers.
• Genealogical Context: The importance of context in genealogy, revealing more than just names and dates.
• The Dobek and Danda Families: Uncovering the origins and connections of George and Teresa's families.

Links:

• Germany Handwriting • FamilySearch
• Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections
• Chicago Public Library (chipublib.org)
• Bohemian National Cemetery - Chicago
• Eastland Disaster Victims Virtual Cemetery (Find A Grave)

Music (Artlist)
Roie Shpigler - Phantom Pain
IamDayLight - Believer
Mischa Elman - Thais - Meditation

• 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. Beyond the Titanic: The Eastland Love Story of George and Theresa (00:00:00)

2. Before Jack and Rose there was George and Theresa (00:00:50)

3. Hidden Treasures in Old Newspapers (00:02:39)

4. A Tribute Five Years after the Eastland Disaster (00:04:30)

5. Memorial to George Dobek from his Family (00:06:22)

6. Ethnic Newspapers in early 20th Century Chicago (00:08:10)

7. Personals Ads throughout the Ages (00:12:08)

8. Context is King (in Genealogy) (00:14:25)