One hundred years ago. thousands of employees of Western Electric were preparing for a rare day off of work. taking a boat ride across Lake Michigan to enjoy an annual picnic. Tragically. for 844 passengers and crew on the Eastland. their vessel listed and tipped over. and they soon drowned in the Chicago River. Many were immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe. living in Berwyn. Cicero. and the surrounding Chicagoland area. and their loss left an enduring mark on these communities22 families were completely wiped out. and 19 families were left without parents. I will always remember my grandmother talking about the tragedy and the mark it left on her.
Keywords matched
immigrants