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Ironically, the loss of the carl D. Bradley, which occurred 50 years ago next week had an even greater loss of life, but no one ever recorded a popular song about it, so it slips into oblivion.
There may be some truth to this, however it has been my experience that for folks who in coastal towns: Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Cheboygan, Alpena, East Tawas, Port Huron, Petosky, Traverse City, Grand Havan, etc., there is a greater awareness and more likely the long time residents will remember. A case in point: the other day I mentioned to my 90 year-old mother, who has only a passing interest in maritime history about a couple of monuments being erected in the Rogers City area to commemorate the loss of two ships from there. She grew up in Alpena and had no family members involved in shipping, and yet she knew the names of both ships before I had them out of my mouth and went on to tell me all about them.
And while The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald speaks specifically to the events of November 10, I like to think it actually honors all the brave lads who sail the Great Lakes, all the way back to the 1600's and the first shipwreck in the Great Lakes.
I agree with you MICoastieMom. You never hear of the Daniel J. Morrell either that sank 9 years before the Fitz with the loss of 28 of her 29 crewmen, but those of us who live by the water know of it. Or the Armistice Day Storm of 1940 when we lost 66 sailors on the Great Lakes from the wrecks of the: SS Anna C. Minch - 28 lost, SS William B. Davock - 32 lost (Both broke apart and sank with all hands), as well as the SS Novadoc which ran aground and broke apart just south of where I am now. They lost 6 when it broke apart. What about November of 1913 when we around the Lakes lost 273 sailors in a 4 day stretch due to numerous sinkings.
There are many, many shipwrecks under the waters of the Great Lakes, many of them with the anniversary of their sinking in November. It isn't that people have forgotten the others, it is just the the Fitz was the most recent big shipping loss on the Lakes. It was the loss of a flagship of the lakes. No longer the biggest, but one off the best know around the lakes. Same as the Bradley whom lost it's place as the largest to the Fitz when it was launched in 1958.
[SIZE=2][SIZE=4]November 10 - Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service[/SIZE]
. A memorial service for the men lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald will be held on November 10 at Dr. Henri Belanger Park in River Rouge, Mi. The service will be held near the Mariners Memorial Lighthouse beginning at 6:00 p.m. The tug boat will be on hand to take out a wreath to be placed on the river. The service will feature a plaque presentation, bell ringing, lantern lighting, and refreshments will be served. For more information call Roscoe Clark at 810-519-2148 or Dolores Swekel 313-842-7822.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]The service will be at River Rouge Michigan on the Detroit River next to where the ship was built at the slips and on the other side is where Zug Island is located. MAP[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=4]A special Edmund Fitzgerald open house[/SIZE]
will be open to the pubic from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the River Rouge Historical Museum[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]River Rouge Historical Museum 10750 W. Jefferson Ave.
River Rouge, Michigan 48218
(Formerly Gallagher Funeral Home)[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]MAP [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Meet Daughter of ROBERT C. RAFFERTY[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]I am honored and excited to be invited to attend the upcoming service held this
November 10th in River Rouge.I will be coming from Kansas to honor my dad and the other
28 crewmen.My father was the " Old Cook" referred to in the Gordon Lightfoot song.
There will be so many events having to do with the FITZ I hope to be able to fit it all in.
I think it's great to include the school kids learning about the Great Lakes and the ships
that have sailed on them.
I grew up in Toledo Ohio and watched from many ports my dads ship sail off with a load
of iron ore or coal. Those good memories never go away. Hope to see you there.
All are welcome to honor and remember that fateful night.
My dad sailed on Lake Michigan for what used to be the Ann Arbor Carferry out of Frankfort. He sailed on the Viking. I remember him telling me that on one occasion the lake was so rough the men didn't think they would make it across.
I've been reading about the Fitz lately. I feel very compelled to go up to the UP and just sit on the shores of Superior. It's almost like a calling at this point in my life, and it's at such odds with how much I hate cold weather. I should be thinking about going down south, but it's the north that's on my mind.
Another tragic story I came across is the storm of '67 in which Superior took the lives of three brothers. This was in Duluth. The boys were out jumping waves on the pier during what is known now as "black Sunday." A wave took the one boy and then when his brothers tried to help they too were taken by Superior. A rescue team tried to save them, and one of the men also drown when a big wave swept him off the pier. The brother's name were Halverson and the other man's name was Culbertson. The latter was found, but the boys to this day are in the possession of the big lake. Anyone who thinks all Michigan has is a couple of "ponds" doesn't know their geography. My brother who lives in Hawaii always says the sunsets on the ocean pale in comparison to the ones we have here over the Great Lakes. That always shocked me as I would think it would be beautiful over the ocean, but my brother says they aren't as colorful as here.
I watched a program on the History Channel not long ago about rogue waves , almost all were on oceans and sea's . They did a piece on the Fitz and went on to say how bad Lake Superior can get this time of year and Superior has rogue waves . I'm sorry for your loss . Will you be able to make it to Mariners Church on the anniversary ? Far as I know they ring the church bells 29 times still during a church service on that day . I remember Jacques Cousteau offered to bring the Calypso to the site because he had the equipment to go down and see how the Fitz sank .
As far as I know he's the only one to do this so far .
My dad sailed on Lake Michigan for what used to be the Ann Arbor Carferry out of Frankfort. He sailed on the Viking. I remember him telling me that on one occasion the lake was so rough the men didn't think they would make it across.
I've been reading about the Fitz lately. I feel very compelled to go up to the UP and just sit on the shores of Superior. It's almost like a calling at this point in my life, and it's at such odds with how much I hate cold weather. I should be thinking about going down south, but it's the north that's on my mind.
Another tragic story I came across is the storm of '67 in which Superior took the lives of three brothers. This was in Duluth. The boys were out jumping waves on the pier during what is known now as "black Sunday." A wave took the one boy and then when his brothers tried to help they too were taken by Superior. A rescue team tried to save them, and one of the men also drown when a big wave swept him off the pier. The brother's name were Halverson and the other man's name was Culbertson. The latter was found, but the boys to this day are in the possession of the big lake. Anyone who thinks all Michigan has is a couple of "ponds" doesn't know their geography. My brother who lives in Hawaii always says the sunsets on the ocean pale in comparison to the ones we have here over the Great Lakes. That always shocked me as I would think it would be beautiful over the ocean, but my brother says they aren't as colorful as here.
You should go sit on the shore of lake Superior, especially Whitefish Point. There is a small memorial there on the beach with a few pictures and names and its just an amazing feeling. Ever since I visited a few years ago, that great lake has been calling me back, and I cant wait till the next time. Not just because of the EF, but just because its an awesome lake!
There has been a couple explorations of the Fitz over the years. I believe the last was when a diver went down in a "newt" suit and recovered the bell.
You should go sit on the shore of lake Superior, especially Whitefish Point. There is a small memorial there on the beach with a few pictures and names and its just an amazing feeling. Ever since I visited a few years ago, that great lake has been calling me back, and I cant wait till the next time. Not just because of the EF, but just because its an awesome lake!
Yep.
And on the way home stop in the Soo and check out the Mariner's Museum.
Cool place.
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Edmund Fitzgerald Service 2009
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