The Business History and Science Division at Harold Washington Library Center hosted two events in July to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Eastland Disaster. The events drew a capacity crowd to the Chicago Authors Room on the 7th floor of HWLC.
Ursula Bielski, local author and owner of Chicago Hauntings, spoke to a crowd of loyal followers and Eastland enthusiasts. She discussed the strange and unusual happenings that persist to this day at the site of the sinking and in buildings used for hospitals and morgues during the tragedy. Participants asked many questions about the tragedy and Chicago hauntings. Bielski will be back at CPL in October to give another hauntingly good program on Chicago cemeteries.
Author and former New York Times reporter Michael McCarthy spoke about his book Ashes Under Water: The SS Eastland and the Shipwreck That Shook America. This account of the disaster and subsequent trial offers new insight into the cause of the sinking and the trial proceedings. McCarthy read passages from his book and had an engaging question and answer session with participants.
Find out what's next at Harold Washington Library Center with our events calendar. Be sure to check out our upcoming author events and history and genealogy events.
