SS Eastland Disaster

Today is the 100th anniversary of the disaster. At the time, the Lithuanian newspaper, "Draugas," "speculated that there were few Lithuanian casualties, because 'Lithuanians always run late' and many did not make it to the ship on time."

Neither Mr. Irene nor I learned about this incident until recently.

"It has been decided that knitting needles are not musical instruments."

1915 "Tea Table Gossip:" New York Philharmonic bans knitting at performances—even if the knitters are making pieces for the war effort.

Another View of the Cadet

Here is my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas, while he still was a cadet in the Russian Imperial Army:

Imperial Russia, about 1914 or 1915. The year of this identification photo falls somewhere between the dates of the two photos posted here.

This photo is new to me. Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making it available to me.

Related by Marriage: The Extended Family

Mr. Irene's Maternal Grandmother, Anna, and her Sister, Petra, emigrated to the United States as young women. They left behind Parents Agnes and Jacob, and Sisters Emily and Marta.

Contact with the family back in Lithuania was sporadic because of the expense of sending letters and the slow delivery of mail. A holiday greeting, like an Easter card, occasionally arrived. Anna and Petra, for example, also got word when Emily became engaged to Adam J.

The family back home also sent wedding photos and snapshots of the extended family, when they got together. Here is one such image:

 
Near Tauragė, Lithuania, about 1915. This may be the wedding celebration of Anna's sister, Emily. She stands, in the light dress, on the far left, next to Adam J., who, like the other men, wears a boutonniere. Emily's sister Marta is next to Adam J. Agnes, the mother of the young women—and the mother of immigrants Anna and Petra—sits in the center of the babushka group, smiling gently.
 
The other folks are Adam J.'s relatives. Agnes's husband, Jacob, does not appear in this photo.

Related by Marriage: Will you hold my hand ...

... even if you're wearing gloves?

Bridgeport, Chicago, 1915. This is the wedding portrait of Domicele and Charles. Domicele was the Aunt of Mr. Irene's maternal Grandfather, Stanley. This couple is important to Mr. Irene's family because Agnes, the daughter of Domicele and Charles, financed the house that Mr. Irene's parents bought, and in which Mr. Irene grew up.

Engagement

Mariampolis, Lithuania, around 1915 or 1916. My maternal Grandmother, Jadzė, sat for this portrait on the occasion of her engagement to Jake.

Army Cadet

Tsarist Russia, 1915 or 1916. My maternal Grandfather, Jake, while he was a cadet-student at the prestigious military college of the Russian Imperial Army. Mom refers to the military college as "Russia's West Point."

Why did a Lithuanian graduate from a Russian military college? During this time, Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire. Young men in the non-Russian provinces could wait to be drafted or enroll in one of the colleges. Enrollment would ensure a career as an officer upon graduation.

Jake's career in the Russian Imperial Army did not unfold as he anticipated. Shortly after he graduated, the Russian Revolution erupted. He served for a short time in the "White Russian Army," the forces the combated the Bolsheviks. When the Bolshevik victory appeared imminent, Jake fled to his native Lithuania.

In Lithuania, Jake continued his military career. Between 1918 and 1940, he served in the Army of an independent Lithuania. He would wear a Russian uniform once more later in life, when the Soviets occupied Lithuania in 1940, and drafted Jake into service.

We often use the uniform that Jake wears in particular photos to identify from about what year the photo dates.

I think Jake is extraordinarily handsome here. He has descendants who have the same eyes.