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.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 131
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Erased by a Typo — Meet the Man Who Saved Lives and Legacies
In this episode, I return to Dwight Boyer’s "True Tales of the Great Lakes" and discuss two forgotten heroes of the 1915 Eastland disaster—one remembered correctly, the other erased for…
Honeymoon Interrupted: The Groom Says "I Do" to Disaster
Hidden stories have a way of finding the light. In this fascinating deep dive, we uncover two previously unknown documents that reshape our understanding of the 1915 Eastland disaster t…
The Sleepyhead Who Dodged Death - Another Untold Eastland Story
Three young engineers fresh out of Cornell University were running late to the Western Electric company picnic on July 24, 1915. One had overslept, making the trio miss their train and …
Lost in Translation: How a Name Hid a Hero
One shout could have saved lives.
On the morning of the Eastland Disaster, a lone street peddler saw the danger before anyone else. His warning was met with laughter and scorn, and whil…
Who Speaks for Dwight Boyer? The Storyteller Who Remembered Them All
In this week’s episode, I continue reading from "Who Speaks for the Little Feller?"—Dwight Boyer’s unforgettable chapter in "True Tales of the Great Lakes" (1971), one of the earliest a…
Dwight Boyer: Forgotten Chronicler of the Eastland Disaster
What We’re Covering:
- Maritime journalist Dwight Boyer (1912–1977) published a detailed Eastland Disaster account in 1971—more than two decades before most major works on the subject
- His c…
Inside the Eastland Morgue - Where Death Wasn't Silent
Released on July 24, 2025 – the 110th anniversary of the Eastland Disaster
On this pivotal anniversary, I’m sharing one of the most haunting firsthand accounts ever recorded about July 2…
Late for Death: Stranger Things--Eastland Edition
What if being late saved your life?
In this episode of Flower in the River, we follow the eerie ripple of that question through time.
On the morning of July 24, 1915, Tom Milton and Willa…
Wired for Rescue: The Unsung Telephone Heroes of 1915
In this episode, we revisit the Bell Telephone News from August 1915 and the stories of extraordinary individuals who responded to the Eastland disaster with courage and quick thinking…
She Took the Call. He Dove for the Lost. She Wrote Their Story.
In this week’s episode of Flower in the River, we unearth a powerful 1952 article written by author Olive Carruthers—an overlooked piece of Eastland Disaster history that should be wide…
One Saved Lives. One Survived Twice. One Drew the Truth: Recovered Stories of the Eastland
In this episode, I’m circling back to three stories I’ve covered before—but they’re too important to leave behind.
First up: Floyd C. Smith, a hardworking Chicago salesman who was near t…
Three Stories. One Disaster. A Century of Silence
In this special retrospective, I’m circling back to some of the most powerful stories I’ve uncovered in my Eastland research—stories that have been entirely absent from the popular hist…
BONUS: The Night Nobody Came Knocking – A Father’s Day Story
This is a special bonus episode in honor of Father’s Day 2025.
On an ordinary evening in 1960s Cleveland, an unexpected knock at the door changed the way I saw my father forever.
This sho…
Remember the Eastland… and Sell More Insurance!
In this episode, I explore an aspect of the Eastland Disaster that’s rarely investigated: the insurance industry’s response. It’s not as dry as it sounds!
We take a deep look at The Ins…
From Gettysburg Grit to Eastland Survival
In this episode, I share the compelling story of the Wagaman brothers from Pennsylvania, not far from Gettysburg. In 1915, both were aboard the Eastland when it capsized in the Chicago …
Letters, Ledgers, and Lost Lives
It’s May 31st—an important date if, like me, you have roots in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. On this day in 1889, the South Fork Dam gave way, and a wall of water wiped out most of the city.…
A Jeweler, a Woman Diver, a Candy Butcher: Eastland’s Unlikely Trio
The untold stories of the 1915 Eastland disaster continue to surface over a century later through forgotten newspaper accounts and overlooked connections. These rediscovered narratives …
A Tsar, A Serial Killer (??), and a Cabinetmaker from Myjava
In today's episode, I take you on a journey through my unexpected DNA discoveries and how they've connected me to both famous and infamous historical figures. This discovery some new (b…
Santa Fe Railway's Eastland Victims
A cemetery caretaker's steady act of tending graves becomes a powerful lesson in historical preservation and honoring forgotten lives. I'll share how this unassuming influence shaped my…
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 th…