Eastland Disaster Historical Society - Newsletter Vol. II No. 3

The Call To Remember

Newsletter - Vol. II No. 3

EASTLAND DISASTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

3rd Quarter 2000

Commemorative Family Night 2000

What do you get when over 300 people with personal connections to the Eastland Disaster gather together in Chicago? Answer: An incredible evening, better known as the Eastland Disaster Commemorative Family Night 2000. This special event, hosted by EDHS, was sponsored by Lucent Technologies. Guests enjoyed a fantastic dinner, a spectacular one-hour long program, and a private showing of TITANIC: The Exhibition (including the Eastland Disaster exhibit). Our very special guests for the evening included: survivors Libby (Klucina) Hruby and Marie (Homola) Hrabacka; Bill Braden, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago; and Bob Jerich, Midwest Director of Media and Philanthropy, Lucent Technologies. Because of Lucent’s generosity in sponsoring this event, the evening raised nearly $10,000. Here are comments from just a few of those who attended:

“Thank you once again for a truly special evening. It was an experience we'll never forget!”
“The food was great; the program was professionally done. I was moved to tears on several occasions.”
“I don't have the words to describe Saturday's event -- life-transforming comes to mind.”

To find out more about the evening, and to review dozens of photos from the evening, visit our web site at www.eastlanddisaster.org/edcfn2000commemorativefamilynight.htm.

Commemorative Keepsakes, Just In Time For The Holidays

Regardless of whether you were able to attend the Eastland Disaster Commemorative Family Night 2000, you may wish to obtain one of the keepsakes that are available. Commemorative mugs, shirts, and caps are available. A video of the entire evening is available. A photo album with over 250 digital pictures on CD is available. Copies of the commemorative brochure may be purchased. Each of these items can be seen at www.eastlanddisaster.org/merchandise.htm. Each of these items makes a great keepsake, they make unique Christmas gifts, and they help to support the operations of EDHS.

All In The Family

Most people know that EDHS is a family-run organization (mom Jean, daughters Susan and Barbara, and son-in-law Ted). Recently, however, Ted’s side of the family pitched in. While reading the classified ads in her newspaper (as is her daily routine), Ted’s mom, Louise, noticed an ad for someone selling a collection of maritime books. Louise and Ted drove twenty miles to review the items. And while they did not purchase the books, the owner of the books donated an original issue of the July 25, 1915 Chicago Tribune!

Historical Marker Missing

The commemorative plaque that has marked the site of the Eastland Disaster for more than ten years has been missing for over six months. While it seemed that it might have been removed temporarily to repaint its pole and the wrought iron fence behind, efforts to locate it within the city of Chicago have proven fruitless. More news regarding the marker will follow in our next newsletter.

Great News/Grant News

EDHS recently received a $5,000 grant from the John W. Anderson Foundation¹, Valparaiso, Indiana. The approved use of the grant was for the purchase of a computer projector, for the establishment of one or more scholarships, and for membership dues to several societies with which EDHS maintains a working relationship (e.g., the Chicago Historical Society and the Historical Society of Cicero). The computer projector was acquired and has already been used several times to greatly enhance the public presentations given by EDHS. Money was set aside to fund two scholarships - the Ken Rabe and Grace Rabe Nilsen Eastland Disaster Scholarship Awards (see last month’s newsletter for complete details).

¹John W. Anderson was the founder of the Anderson Company, manufacturer of ANCO windshield wiper blades in Northwest Indiana. He founded the John W. Anderson Foundation shortly before his death in 1967.

PO Box 2013, Arlington Heights, IL, 60006-2013 1-877-865-6295 1-877-865-6295 (fax)
www.eastlanddisaster.org info@eastlanddisaster.org