www.flowerintheriver.com
In today's episode, we explore the unique and tragic case of Chrissie McNeal Lauritzen who survived the Eastland disaster but succumbed to long-term health issues years later. We discuss how her story, and others like hers, have been overlooked in the broader narrative of the disaster. We also talk about the surprising discoveries from DNA testing that reshaped my understanding of my family's history, and the creative projects that have come from these revelations.
*Key Topics Covered:*
**DNA Discoveries**: How a commercial DNA test led to a surprising connection with a German relative from the Pfeiffer line.
**Creative Projects**: The creation of a family scrapbook and a video featuring my family's journey from Poland to Johnstown to Chicago, with photography by Chicago-based photographer Ervin Eliud.
**Honoring Forgotten Victims**: The story of Chrissie McNeal Lauritzen a survivor of the Eastland Disaster who suffered long-term health effects and eventually succumbed to them. Her story highlights the overlooked long-term impacts on survivors and the importance of remembering every life affected by this tragedy.
**Public Health Concerns**: Discussion on typhoid fever and other health risks faced by those who were in the Chicago River during the disaster.
*Creative Spark**: How I created a song and a video, "Eastland Hymn," to honor the upcoming disaster's anniversary.
Links:
Ervin Eliud
Eastland Hymn by Natalie Zett
Snapshots of a Legacy: Our Family's Chicago Story by Natalie Zett
Music:
Eastland Hymn by Natalie Zett