Lost this day in 1975 with all hands aboard.
My father was friends with Edmund B. Fitzgerald, the son of Edmund Fitzgerald after whom the ship was named.
This seems almost required:
There appears to be a typo in the title. November 10, not November 19?
Fixed
My (now-elderly) mom was a volunteer at an old folks’ home. She came home one day and said “That poor Mr. Fitzgerald, just staring out the window. He sort of went down with his ship…”
Here’s a cover of the song I found quite compelling.
I’d planned to ring my old schoolbell last evening, which is out on the shore of Lake Michigan. In the past I’ve done that, 29 peals. But other events prevented that.
On November 18th, it will be the 64th anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley on Lake Michigan. 33 crewmen died there, but 2 miraculously survived, and that tale is quite amazing. I’ll be ringing the bell then, for the crew.
The Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial, on Whitefish Point on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is marked on my map as a place for me to visit next time I’m out that way.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/USxfsiNefUKsWqtA7
The Carl D. Bradley — thanks for that. I’ll want to read up on it.
Built in 1927, the Carl D. Bradley “retained the title of “Queen of the Lakes” for 22 years as the longest and largest freighter on the Great Lakes.”
Per wiki.
The first two queens regnant in Britain were Mary, Queen of Scots (reigned 1542 to 1567) and Mary I of England (reigned 1553 to 1558).
It’s an awesome place, I’ve visited it. But as long as you’re up in that vicinity, stop and tour the Valley Camp in Saulte Ste. Marie. It’s a retired ore boat, which is fascinating in itself to tour. Within it you will find housed a lifeboat from the Edmund Fitz that was recovered after the sinking.
I remember being shocked when I realized how recently this tragedy occurred. The song was popular not that long after the events - just a year - but the loss never hit my radar. I was in high school at the time, and did not regularly watch the TV news nor read the newspaper; it’s quite possible my parents heard of it at the time.
Uh, thanks?
Sorry. Thought I was in Trivia Dominoes.
Thanks. The Museum Ship Valley Camp. My map is marked for that.
Thanks!
Another memorial service held on November 10th is the Split Rock Lighthouse Beacon Lighting on the North Shore of Minnesota. It’s one of the few times they light the beacon; it’d be interesting to see it operating. You can tour the lighthouse on other days; the Fresnel lens system is really cool up close.
Very cool. I’ve marked my map for that too. And for the Mariners’ Church in Detroit.
Long story short I do a bicycle tour of the U.P. every August. This year I stayed at Andrus Lake (just north of Paradise). The first day biked up to Whitefish Point. Got there before stuff opened, but there is a nearby nature preserve. The museum was worth visiting. The diving apparatus they used to remove the bell was fascinating (basically a person shaped submarine). They show a short movie and yes Gordon Lightfoot is played.
The museum has information on a lot of other shipwrecks.
Brian
Great music! Thanks for introducing me to them.
Glad you like ‘em. I didn’t think I’d warm up to anyone covering Lightfoot’s song but I was quite wrong. I also like how the Headstones’ video has scenes from Lake Superior and northern WI and MI.