About this episode
Send us Fan MailA 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 approach to uncovering and preserving stories of the people of the Eastland Disaster. This episode includes:The story of Mr. Schmidt, a German immigrant who tended church graves because, "I lost everyone over there."Continuing connections with Eastland disaster descendants seeking stories beyond names and datesUnexpected discovery of two Santa Fe Railway employees who perished on the EastlandDetails about Charles Stehlik, a 24-year-old machinist who died two weeks before his weddingInformation about Joe Hutchinson, a 20-year-old railway clerk whose brother, William, survived the disasterThe importance of fraternal organizations like the Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Columbus in providing supportHow individuals rather than institutions often preserve the most meaningful historical detailsThe parallel between tending physical graves and preserving historical memoryResources:The Santa Fe Magazine (Google Books)Chicago Tribune, April 16, 1909The Inter Ocean, April 22, 1909 Chicago Tribune, July 31, 1915Book 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
