The 15th of April is now known as Titanic Remembrance Day. It is a day where we pause to remember the sinking of the HMS Titanic in the North Atlantic early of the morning on 15 April 1912. This is also a day where we remember those who died aboard the Titanic. Many of you are aware of the famous passengers that were on board the maiden voyage of the Titanic when it sank in the North Atlantic just after midnight on the 15th of April. Did you know there is also a connection between the Titanic and Northeast Wisconsin?
The first connection involves millionaire John Jacob Astor IV, died on board the Titanic in 1912. Astor was into real estate at the time of his death and owned land around the city of Green Bay although he reportedly never visited the city. There is a neighborhood and park that now holds his name.
Another connection involves Dr. William E. Minahan. Dr. Minahan was born in Chilton, Wisconsin in 1867. He was living in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin at the time when he, his wife Lillian and sister Daisy Minahan traveled to Europe in the spring of 1912. A health issue involving Daisy delayed their return home and the Minahan family just happened to book passage aboard the HMS Titanic. Although Lillian and Daisy survived that night on one of the life boats, Dr. Minahan was not so fortunate. His body was discovered a few days later. He is buried in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
For more information on the Titanic and on Dr. Minahan, you can search through the web site Encylopedia Titanica.
Source: (2019) William Edward Minahan Encylopedia Titanica (ref. #208 updated 16 April 2019, 16:36:46 PM)
