About 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.
Ludington's Eastland Connection: A Sailor, an Engineer, and a Professor
Send us Fan Mail What connects a Great Lakes sailor, a ship's engineer, and a mathematics professor to the 1915 Eastland disaster? The answer begins in Ludington, Michigan, with a remarkable letter to the editor published 82 years after the tragedy. In July 1997, retired sailor and maritime historian Raymond Short wrote to the Ludington Daily News, naming several people whose lives intersected with the Eastland disaster. That letter opened the door to stories rarely told in modern accounts o...
7 Oct 2026
A Flower for the Little Feller: Anastasia's Goodbye
Send us Fan Mail In the days after the Eastland disaster, a little girl in Waukegan read about a boy she had never met—and could not stop thinking about him. Her name was Anastasia Holmes. The boy was Willie Novotny, the “little feller” whose story appeared in the newspaper after his death. Anastasia was so deeply affected by what she read that she could not sleep. Finally, her mother agreed to take her by train from Waukegan to Chicago so Anastasia could attend Willie’s funeral and place a f...
1 Oct 2026
Saloons, Scandals, and Survival: The Biehl Family and the Eastland
Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re heading back to Waukegan, Illinois, where the newspapers once again lead us into a much bigger Eastland story than expected. At the center is Frederick Biehl, a 26-year-old former Waukegan resident who died in the disaster. But as I began reconstructing his family, the story quickly expanded into a complicated network of relatives, survivors, conflicting newspaper accounts, and identities that needed a closer look. And then there is Frederick’s mother, Annie ...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
3 ratings
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