Eastland 24 July 1915

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Evenhouse
- in Chicago

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Surnames: Evenhouse
Places: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Year range: 1915

From: Robert Swierenga: Dutch Chicago (page 521-522):

"The Eastland was Chicago's Titanic, and the loss of life was horrendous. This Lake Michigan steamer capsized in the Chicago River July 24, 1915, at the cost of 844 lives, including several Hollanders. The vessel had an unknown design flaw that made it top heavy, and when a capacity load of 1600 passengers boarded on that Saturday morning, it listed badly and after 20 minutes capsized while still moored to the dock at La Salle Street. The Western Electric Company of Cicero's Hawthorne Plant had chartered the boat for a day excursion on the lake, and all of the fatalities were company employees or their families. Most were Czech and Bohemian Catholics, but some Hollanders also worked at the plant, which made switching equipment for the Bell Telephone Company. Two of the victims were West Side Groningers

Jennie and Anna B. Evenhouse, unmarried sisters twenty-five and twenty-one years old.

A brother, who was also on board, was rescued. All were children of the D. Evenhouse (Evenhuis) family, who belonged to the Christian Reformed Church."

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