『Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told』のカバーアート

Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

著者： 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.

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  • Rinse, Lather, Repeat the Evidence: When Lists Overtake the History

    Rinse, Lather, Repeat the Evidence: When Lists Overtake the History
    2026/08/27
    Send us Fan MailWhen someone survives the 1915 Eastland disaster, gives a firsthand newspaper account just days later, and, years later, both she and her story disappear from later retellings, a big disconnect emerges. And the disconnect may be because the research didn't go deep enough before the broader Eastland story was repackaged and repeated.In this episode, I go back to the July 28, 1915 Hudson Observer and use newspaper accounts published at the time to show what happens when documented evidence collides with later lists.First, I return to Martha Willig’s remarkable survivor account and the frustrating fact that her family’s documented connection to the Eastland still isn’t widely represented online. Her story was well documented and is one of the more complete survivor accounts. And yet it was never carried forward.Then I turn to the Remy family, who came to Chicago from New Jersey through their connection to Western Electric. The 1915 newspaper reports clearly establish their relationships, addresses, ages, and community ties. Later compilations manage to separate the family, muddle the facts, and—just for good measure—lose the source citations.I also share tips for researching your own family’s history, including how MyHeritage’s Scribe AI can help with translation and historical context. It can be a very useful starting point, but it still needs to be checked against the records.And I share a current experiment of mine: creating research field notes in Vellum, a Mac program designed for formatting books (including eBooks), or Atticus, a similar publishing tool. I’m using them to keep records, commentary, and citations together in one clean, shareable document that can be updated as the research reveals additional information.This episode is for anyone working with Eastland history, Chicago history, genealogy, or the larger question of how historical claims are built and supported. Share it with a fellow researcher, follow the sources, and keep the evidence moving forward.Resources:Digital Public Library of AmericaFind a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/270549532/ella_florence-remy: accessed 27 Aug 2026), memorial page for Ella Florence Goelz Remy (Apr 1874–24 Jul 1915), Find a Grave Memorial ID 270549532, citing Grove Church Cemetery, North Bergen, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA; Maintained by Burt (contributor 46867609).Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/270549537/florence_a-remy: accessed 27 Aug 2026), memorial page for Florence A. Remy (1896–24 Jul 1915), Find a Grave Memorial ID 270549537, citing Grove Church Cemetery, North Bergen, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA; Maintained by Burt (contributor 46867609).Atticus — Writing and book formatting softwareVellum — Writing and book formatting softwareMyHeritage Scribe AI — AI-assisted tool for reading, translating, and interpreting historical records.Natalie Zett. “From Hoboken to Hawthorne: Martha Willig’s Untold Story.” Flower in the River Podcast, Episode 64, June 1, 2024.Reclaiming My Story website. "Cultural Empowerment & Storytelling."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
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    40 分
  • An Eastland Story Comes Full Circle: Martha Willig’s Eastland Survival

    An Eastland Story Comes Full Circle: Martha Willig’s Eastland Survival
    2026/08/20

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    Picture it. A survivor, Martha Willig, wrote down what happened on the Eastland the very next day. Then, on July 28, 1915, her gripping account ran on the front page of a New Jersey newspaper. Yet her name, the names of her fellow survivors, and their story are missing from modern versions of Eastland Disaster history — despite that article and later corroboration from descendants of the family.

    That contradiction is where this story starts, and it's why I'm bringing Martha Willig and Otto Larsen back to the center of it. She's in many records. She's just absent from the story that got passed down.

    Vet Twice, Keep the Originals

    That gap is why I discuss heritage and historical organizations. The majority do exemplary work, but they’re not all created equal. Vet the organization, not the label.

    Along those lines, I also revisit my own 1998 experience of sharing an article and photo with a venue that seemed very enthusiastic at the time. And then: crickets. Fortunately, I kept the originals. As a result, I finally learned how to curate my own family's history instead of waiting for permission.

    That experience turned into a life lesson. When you've done the research, located the records, and confirmed the facts, you don't need to wait for anyone else to acknowledge your family's story. The evidence gives you everything you need to tell it yourself. Run with it!

    Martha Willig's Survival Story

    Which brings us back to Martha, and to her own words: the crush of the crowd, the moment the ship tips, Otto's efforts to save her, and the loss of her brother-in-law, Louis Kruse. From there, we look at what came after the headlines, including Martha’s sister, Rose Kruse, and her life as a widow and single mother. Some families didn't just lose people on July 24, 1915 — they lost years of stability afterward.

    That's the thread running through this episode: the story doesn't end at the waterline, and neither does the responsibility to tell it. If you're interested in the Eastland disaster of 1915, Chicago history, genealogy, or preserving family stories with solid documentation and attribution, pull up a chair. We're doing that here every week.

    Resources:

    • “Survivor’s Tale of Eastland Disaster,” Hudson Observer (Hoboken, New Jersey), 28 July 1915, 1; reproducing a letter from Martha Willig to her sister, written 25 July 1915.
    • Natalie Zett, “From Hoboken to Hawthorne: Martha Willig’s Untold Story,” Flower in the River Podcast, episode 64, published 1 June 2024, audio podcast.
    • 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 - YouTube
    • Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
    • The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
    • Other music. Artlist
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    31 分
  • A Pitiable Sight: A Postmaster Remembers the Eastland

    A Pitiable Sight: A Postmaster Remembers the Eastland
    2026/08/12

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    What happens when a dramatic story is repeated often enough that people stop asking where it came from?

    We begin with the curious case of Arthur Loeb, the self-proclaimed "King of the Bell Divers," who spent years promoting himself as an Eastland disaster hero (not true) and claiming honors that he never received.

    His story illustrates what can happen when assertions are repeated without documentation and gradually take on the appearance of fact. When preserving a familiar narrative becomes more important than continuing the research, sources stop being questioned, old claims stop being tested, and the received narrative begins to substitute for history.

    From there, I share a personal experience that reminds us why evidence is critical. A DNA relative in Poland sent records proving that I had a major branch of my family tree wrong. I mean, really wrong! Correcting it meant letting go of a story I had believed for years and rebuilding from original records instead.

    Finally, we restore another overlooked voice: Chicago Postmaster Frederick E. Coyne. His memoir places us near the Clark Street Bridge in the immediate aftermath of the Eastland disaster and provides another eyewitness perspective on the rescue effort and its human cost. Although some of the statistics in his recollection are inaccurate, his firsthand observations add an important piece to the historical record and remind us that every contemporary account deserves to be examined alongside the evidence.

    If you enjoyed this episode, follow Flower in the River, share it with someone who loves Chicago history or genealogy, and come back next week for another piece of the Eastland story.

    Resources:

    Coyne, F. E. In Reminiscence: Highlights of Men and Events in the Life of Chicago. Chicago: Privately printed, 1941.

    Watch the extended video: Eastland “Hero,” Vaudeville Star, Octopus Wrangler: Meet Arthur Loeb — a companion video with additional documents, newspaper clippings, and visuals that expand on this episode.

    • 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 - YouTube
    • Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
    • The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
    • Other music. Artlist
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    28 分
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