Each October, Polish American Heritage Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the strength, faith, and resilience of Polish immigrants who helped shape Chicago and the nation. For the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, it is also a time to remember and honor the many Polish American families who were forever changed by one of Chicago’s darkest days — July 24, 1915.
That morning, 2,500 Western Electric employees and their families gathered along the Chicago River for a picnic to Michigan City, Indiana. Many were first- and second-generation Polish immigrants who lived and worked in Cicero and the close-knit neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village. They were part of the vibrant Polish American community that built churches, opened small businesses, and found new hope and belonging in the city’s West Side.
When the SS Eastland rolled onto its side at the wharf, trapping hundreds of passengers below deck, tragedy struck countless Polish families. In the aftermath, the Eastland Disaster Relief Committee of the Chicago Chapter of the American Red Cross identified 80 victims of Polish descent in their 1918 final report. Today, the Eastland Disaster Historical Society’s People Database includes 80 individuals of Polish heritage — victims, survivors, and responders — whose stories continue to be chronicled and preserved.
One of the most powerful reminders of this community’s loss is an iconic photograph taken at St. Mary of Częstochowa Church in Cicero, Illinois, where the caskets of victims were lined up before the altar. The image captures both the collective grief and the unbreakable faith of a people who came together in mourning, prayer, and solidarity. St. Mary of Częstochowa — a cornerstone of the Polish Catholic community — became a sacred place of remembrance in those sorrowful days of July 1915.
Behind each name on the Red Cross list was a story — of a mother sewing for her children’s school clothes, a young couple saving for their first home, a teenager excited for her first trip across Lake Michigan. These were everyday Polish Americans whose hopes and hard work reflected the larger immigrant story of Chicago in the early 20th century.
As we reflect during Polish American Heritage Month, we honor their memory not only as part of the Eastland’s history, but as part of the enduring story of Polish American perseverance. Their legacy reminds us that even in tragedy, the bonds of community and faith can carry generations forward.
Learn more:
Visit the People Database on the Eastland Disaster Historical Society website to explore the stories of Polish victims, survivors, and responders who shaped this powerful chapter in history.