Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

Natalie Zett
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"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. 

  1. One Survivor. Two Surnames. A 1940 Eastland Time Capsule

    6D AGO

    One Survivor. Two Surnames. A 1940 Eastland Time Capsule

    Send us Fan Mail One surname search can reshape the entire landscape of history, and this week, it did just that. While tracing the path of Eastland disaster survivor Charles Borvansky (sometimes spelled Borovansky), I uncovered a 1940 Cicero Life newspaper article marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1915 tragedy. This is the sort of local reporting that rarely finds its way into the most retold versions, yet it brims with vivid, unforgettable details that bring the past startlingly close. I dove into the article’s retelling of how a joyful Western Electric Hawthorne Plant outing became a catastrophe on the Chicago River, and how the sorrow lingered in Cicero and Berwyn long after. What stands out most are the preserved voices of survivors. Charles Borvansky recalls the instant the Eastland began to tip and his scramble onto a raft. Frank Terdina offers his own account, including a moment of hesitation that seems surreal until you remember how shock can freeze time. From there, I step back to reflect on the responsibility of this work: sharing transcripts, marking timestamps, and keeping citations front and center so the Eastland disaster story stays rooted in its original sources. I trace the early threads of Charles’s biography, piecing together draft cards, naturalization forms, and death records, as well as insights from the obituaries of his wife, Margaret, and their daughter, Violet. Just as the story seems to settle, a late-breaking discovery swings open a new door into Charles’s world, along with a surprising slice of Chicago history that I’ll explore in depth next week. Subscribe or follow for more Eastland disaster research, share this episode with someone who enjoys family history, and if you’re liking the podcast, please leave a review and let me know which detail you'd like to dig into next. Resource: “25th Anniversary of Eastland Disaster,” Cicero Life (Cicero, Illinois), 24 July 1940, p. 1.Natalie Zett, “Eight Eastland Survivors—On the Record, Off the Radar,” Flower in the River Podcast, season 4, episode 162, released 15 April 2026.Additional Music: Additional transition music and sound effects sourced from Kevin MacLeod via Incompetech  (licensed under CC BY 4.0) and from PixabayBook website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    27 min
  2. The "Elephant," the Eastland, and the Catholic Columbian Discovery

    MAY 7

    The "Elephant," the Eastland, and the Catholic Columbian Discovery

    Send us Fan Mail Just one missing name can change how people understand the Eastland disaster—a reminder that the story’s true impact lies in the details we can recover and connect. And we’ll get to that… After two descendants reached out to me searching for relatives lost in the 1915 Chicago River tragedy, I saw an opportunity to highlight a core problem: when people search for an Eastland person and find only a name on a list, the significance and humanity of the loss are diminished twice—first by the disaster and again by incomplete research. This is why I keep my work independent and push beyond the lists to piece together the full story. As a researcher, I continually confront the same issues: biographies lacking citations, photos out of context, and simplified retellings that ignore vital voices—from victims to witnesses. These gaps don’t just limit our understanding; they perpetuate inaccuracies like the death toll number. The discovery of Thomas Marren (Eastland Disaster Victim #845) exemplifies why challenging the repeated narrative is essential. You’ll hear how I traced Marren through unexpected sources, including U.S. District Court legal claims connected to the steamship company’s attempt to limit liability, and how a tip from Lisa Louise Cooke led me to Elephind, a search engine for digitized historic newspapers. That path uncovered an obscure 1915 article from the Catholic Columbian that not only mentioned Marren but also pointed to overlooked clergy who assisted at the scene, community grief, and young rescuers whose names all but vanished once a narrow, controlled version of the story took hold.  Resources: “Sidelights of Eastland Tragedy in Chicago.” The Catholic Columbian (Columbus, Ohio), vol. 40, no. 31, July 30, 1915Lisa Louise Cooke. “Find Thousands of Newspaper Records with Elephind.” Genealogy Gems Podcast, November 3, 2025.Elephind. Historical newspaper search engine. Elephind. Accessed May 7.Additional Music: Additional music provided by Pixabay creators via Pixabay Music.Title Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    34 min
  3. Louella Parsons: Ink, Influence, and the Eastland

    APR 29

    Louella Parsons: Ink, Influence, and the Eastland

    Send us Fan Mail Celebrity culture was born not in Hollywood, but in the inky columns of newspapers, each inch building a new kind of fame. Society pages gave way to syndicated gossip that could rewrite a person’s fate before noon. I trace the rise of gossip columnists as they transformed into entertainment kingmakers, focusing on the trailblazer who set the standard: Louella Parsons. At her height, her name was as powerful as a studio head’s, and her blessing could make or break a career. We journey with Parsons from small-town Illinois to the bustling streets of Chicago and New York, where she is swept into William Randolph Hearst’s world, a place where publicity, privilege, and allegiance quickly intertwine. I unravel the infamous “yacht incident” and explore why its ripples endure—not just for the drama, but for what it reveals about which stories see daylight, which are hidden, and who ultimately bears the cost. For anyone fascinated by film history, old Hollywood, media ethics, or the origins of celebrity journalism, this is where the threads come together. Louella and the Eastland Disaster. Then the thread returns to the 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago and the way its stories keep slipping out of view. A 1926 trade journal reveals Parsons once covered Eastland families directly, visiting small homes and collecting grief-filled personal histories, a side of her that complicates the “queen of gossip” persona. I added Louella’s connection to the Eastland Disaster to her bio on Wikipedia—a platform that also reminds us that citing sources is essential to preserving history. If this sparked something for you, subscribe or follow, share the episode with a friend who loves old Hollywood or Chicago history, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Resources: "The History of Gossip Columns "Shondaland “Louella Parsons.” WikipediaLouella Parsons Show, November 9, 1947. Internet Archive. Accessed April 29, 2026Women in Advertising and Journalism,” Editor & Publisher, August 14, 1926, page 34. Additional Music: Title Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    32 min
  4. Beyond the Capsizing: Following Four Eastland Survivors

    APR 23

    Beyond the Capsizing: Following Four Eastland Survivors

    Send us Fan Mail The Eastland disaster struck Chicago in 1915, but the real tragedy unfolded in silence as the stories of its people faded, uncited and forgotten. I am gathering the scattered threads from 1935 newspaper interviews and tracing the digital footprints of four survivors. While today’s online summaries barely scratch the surface, a wealth of details lies hidden: firsthand quotes, obituaries, work records, and the subtle hints that let genealogy work its quiet magic, transforming names into living stories. We begin with Rose Smoller, whose journey after the Eastland emerges in decades of dedication at Western Electric and her leadership with the Telephone Pioneers of America. Next comes Ethel Stephenson, who recalls the disaster through the sharp lens of childhood, and whose later role as a business methods investigator at Western Electric reveals unexpected glimpses into the dawn of scientific management and the origins of modern systems work. These details breathe life into the past, reminding us that context is what keeps history from dissolving into a mere list of names. Frank Terdina’s story pulls us into the moment of survival, then propels us through a lifetime devoted to safety and civic duty, his obituary curiously silent about the Eastland. Jennie Turbov’s path, tangled with mismatched immigration records, shifting names, and a puzzling marriage timeline, proves that research thrives even when certainty slips away. The lesson is clear: Question Everything! If you feel drawn to Chicago history, the Eastland disaster, Western Electric, or the detective work of genealogy and archives, let this be your reminder: the records are still waiting, ready to be brought back into the light. Subscribe or follow. What’s the last family story you discovered that the official record almost missed? Resources: “The Eastland Disaster—20 Years Ago Next Wednesday: Survivors Recall the Deeds of Heroism,” by Joseph J. Dugan, Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), July 21, 1935, p. 3.“Recount Harrowing Scenes: Twenty Years Ago Today-Horror of Eastland Disaster,” Berwyn Life (Berwyn, Illinois), July 24, 1935, p. 1Additional Music: License: Title Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    31 min
  5. Eight Eastland Survivors—On the Record, Off the Radar

    APR 15

    Eight Eastland Survivors—On the Record, Off the Radar

    Send us Fan Mail A faded, barely readable newspaper scan kept the Eastland Disaster survivor stories tucked away for decades, hiding them in plain sight. When a clearer copy finally surfaced, it was like prying open a sealed time capsule. We dive into two interviews from 1935, marking twenty years since the SS Eastland tragedy in Chicago. What leaps from the page is vivid and unfiltered: a heated argument at the gangplank, the sharpest screams, the moment the deck lurches, and the heart-stopping decisions that separate survival from loss. We immerse ourselves in the voices of Western Electric workers and passengers—Rose Smoller, Walter H. Flinn, Lisle (Lysle) Goyette, Ethel Stephenson, Jennie Turbov, William Kaunt, Frank Terdina, and Charles Borovansky. Their memories shrink the disaster to the scale of white-knuckled hands clutching rails, bodies squeezing through cabin windows, and floating debris that transforms into lifelines. The trauma lingers, echoing for decades as nightmares and a lasting fear of water. The Berwyn Life account adds unforgettable color: Terdina pausing at the edge, reluctant to ruin his new suit, only to be ensnared by ropes underwater as the Eastland crashes down. Then we pause to face a sobering truth about the Eastland Disaster’s history: so many names have faded from the digital record, or appear without stories or sources, making them nearly impossible to trace. We share what we’ve uncovered, what still slips through our fingers, and how this podcast is becoming a living archive for the Eastland’s forgotten voices. If the Eastland Disaster, Chicago history, survivor stories, or the craft of family storytelling resonate with you, subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review to help keep these memories alive. Resources: “The Eastland Disaster—20 Years Ago Next Wednesday: Survivors Recall the Deeds of Heroism,” by Joseph J. Dugan, Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), July 21, 1935, p. 3.“Recount Harrowing Scenes: Twenty Years Ago Today-Horror of Eastland Disaster,” Berwyn Life (Berwyn, Illinois), July 24, 1935, p. 1Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    30 min
  6. The Ship That Rolled, the Stories That Didn't: More Voices from the Eastland

    APR 9

    The Ship That Rolled, the Stories That Didn't: More Voices from the Eastland

    Send us Fan Mail We explore three gripping firsthand accounts from eyewitnesses to the Eastland disaster, shared with the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald on July 26, 1915 — just two days after the tragedy. These accounts appeared once in print and then vanished from public memory for over a century. One witness represented an early film company, another worked for a garment company, and the third was employed by a lumber, sash, and door dealer. Three people from very different worlds who happened to be in Chicago on that fateful morning. Their words paint scenes of frantic rescue, packed bridges, and tense moments on the riverbank — revealing how trauma ripples outward, touching even those who had "no friend or relative in the catastrophe." Some accounts are graphic, and we want to be upfront about that. Yet to truly preserve history, we share these raw, lived experiences. I also explore why the roster of names and stories continues to grow. Now at 176 and counting, these are voices that have slipped through the cracks of modern retellings — and restoring them matters for public memory, genealogy, and family history. When we welcome these forgotten witnesses back, the Eastland disaster transforms from a distant headline into a shared story of lives forever altered in a single Chicago morning. One witness's connection to the United Photo Plays Company opened an unexpected window into Chicago's thriving early film scene. We explore the city's remarkably active studios, the impact of World War I on American filmmaking, and a question that lingers: Could this connection mean there are hidden photos or footage of the Eastland disaster still waiting to be found? Resources: Encyclopedia of Chicago Encyclopedia Dubuque“Vivid Picture of Eastland Tragedy,” Dubuque Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, Iowa), 26 July 1915.Additional Music: License: Title Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    28 min
  7. The Return of the Omitted: History Strikes Back!

    APR 2

    The Return of the Omitted: History Strikes Back!

    Send us Fan Mail History sometimes fades not from lack of evidence, but because the path connecting the pieces is broken. The Eastland disaster records are overflowing with accessible online material, yet large parts of this story have drifted out of modern retellings. I’ll share a research discovery that changed my entire plan for this week. I’ll take you inside the system I improvised to untangle the patterns that kept repeating before my eyes. Together, we’ll confront the problem of “thin” profiles that reduce real lives to mere names, and the Franken-article phenomenon, where pieces of biographical details are stitched together without verifiable sources. I’ll show how citations are not just technicalities, but the lifeblood of trust in history and genealogy. When citations vanish, so do the original voices behind every record, making it nearly impossible to advance the research. Then there’s the photo problem: images of Eastland victims and survivors circulate without credit, breeding mislabels and confusion. Then comes the most startling revelation: the people left out. By digging through sources like Chronicling America, FamilySearch, Google Books, and HathiTrust, so far, I have uncovered 158 witnesses, survivors, victims, journalists, photographers, and others who appear in original accounts but are missing from online platforms. This discovery raises a thorny question: how do we count the victims of major disasters—especially when the event took place over 100 years ago? At the very least, it should be a multidisciplinary conversation that includes historians specializing in labor, immigration, and maritime history, credentialed genealogists who know how to follow an evidentiary trail, and medical historians who understand trauma and delayed mortality.  This responsibility should not rest with a single individual or organization.  To illustrate this, I end with the story of Hancock Harmon, a first responder whose bravery was once celebrated, whose later illness was tied to the disaster, and whose name faded from history—until now. If you are interested in Chicago history, storytelling, and genealogy, tune in to this episode.  Resources: Buried by Omission: The Eastland Victim Who DisappearedSurvived But Not Saved: The Lingering Legacy of the Eastland DisasterAdditional Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    34 min
  8. Still Black and Blue: Eastland Survivors Speak - A Lost Magazine Recovered

    MAR 26

    Still Black and Blue: Eastland Survivors Speak - A Lost Magazine Recovered

    Send us Fan Mail A single local magazine from over 100 years ago contains details of the Eastland disaster you can’t unhear—and yet, it is rarely referenced. The July 30, 1915 issue of Forest Leaves (Forest Park, Illinois) is a treasure trove.  It includes firsthand accounts from those who boarded the SS Eastland expecting a Western Electric picnic and instead found themselves trapped by a sudden roll, crushed by crowds, with broken railings and impossible rescue choices at the portholes. It left at least one woman black and blue all over.  From these pages, we begin the work of transforming nameless survivors and cold statistics into living, breathing individuals. We listen to the voices of Martha Bross, Emma Bohles, Mary Klemp, Minnie and Anna Clausen, and Gertrude Utescher. Their stories unfold as we follow the threads of census records, immigration hints, naturalization forms, workplace connections, and sprawling family trees. Along the way, we confront the frustrations that haunt genealogists and historians: photos and stories drifting through the internet without a single citation, blurring the line between truth and myth. We notice, too, how a life-altering event can vanish from an obituary, as if it never happened at all. We also share a practical research tip for anyone doing family history research: FamilySearch.org’s full-text search. Because it looks beyond indexed fields in digitized documents, it can surface records you’d never find with a standard search. Resources: Forest Home Cemetery Virtual TourForest Leaves (Forest Park, Illinois), 30 July 1915, Vol. IX, no. 31; digital images, Google Books (https://books.google.com : accessed 26 March 2026)Additional Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.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 - YouTubeMedium: Natalie Zett – MediumThe opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opusOther music. Artlist

    29 min
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About

"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. 

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