"..of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee"

[rdln]

31 years ago tonight the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald was last seen off of Whitefish Pt. in Lake Superior. Twentynine men were lost in the frigid waters during the worst storm seen in many years.

This is always a goose bumpy day for me especially when Gordon Lightfoot's song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" is played on local stations. I was 5yo when the Fitz sank and would like to say I remember broadcasts the next day but dont. Do any of you out there remember?

I have read one of a handful of books written about the infamous event and recommend it Amazon.com: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald: Books: Frederick Stonehouse


Some sites regarding the ship and its fate

Edmund Fitzgerald Shipwreck Information and Memorabilia

The Edmund Fitzgerald And Other Shipwreck And Lighthouse DVD - Videos

S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Online

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Yeah, I remember it pretty well, although I don't think it hit me right away what exactly had happened. I also remember the howling wind we had here that day - what a bad way for those men to go. I hope when my time comes that I go more peacefully, but that's one thing we don't have much control over.

Gordon Lightfoot's song is always an eery reminder. I wonder if it is as well known around the country as it is here in Great Lakes territory.

Tom

 

[Piedmont3]

I remember my Grandfather seemed to really take it hard and talked about it all the time. I was just a youngster (11) when it happened. It seemed to really hit him hard when it happened. He never really explained why he was so interested in it and hurt by the loss of the men. I always thought it had something to do with his time in the Navy.
I think the story spread outside the Great Lakes area, maybe only because I remember how it affected my Grandfather.

 

[RobS]

We visited the shipwreck museum on Whitefish Point this summer. Truly a moving experience. They recovered the bell from Fitz and replaced it with an exact replica inscribed with all of the sailors' names. A video in the museum covers that ceremony and the orginal bell is on display inside.

Have you been there Steve?

 

[dmccarty]

I remember when it down. The national news covered the story. I was in Louisanna at the time so the news made it out of the Great Lakes region.

I still watch the documentaries on the ship. Not sure we will ever know why she sank. Hitting bottom in the trough of a wave. Large wave taking her. Hatch failure.

Later,
Dan

 

[goaliedad]

I was rooming with a guy from "the Soo"- he got the local newspaper, which had fantastic coverage. Truly a sad day. The display at Whitefish Point is very moving. There is an old frieghter turned muesum at the Soo- they have the remains of a lifeboat from the Fitzgerald. It certainly made an impact on me.

If you are not familiar with Northern Michigan I highly recommend you spend some time at the locks and at Whitefish Point. It is amazing to see the freighters up close.

 

[RobS]

If you are not familiar with Northern Michigan I highly recommend you spend some time at the locks and at Whitefish Point. It is amazing to see the freighters up close.

I couldn't agree more! We finished up at Whitefish point and I gave the family a choice. We could head west to Taquamenon Falls or East to the Soo. Even though we've seen the locks before, that's what they chose. I enjoy it everytime I see it. The coming years should be interesting as they are replacing one or two of the older locks with a bigger one. Impressive seat time for those working on it!

If I think about it this weekend, I'll post some pics.

 

[Tig]

The day she sank our school bus driver detoured a couple miles by the shore of Lake Ontario to show us the size of the waves during a November storm. Wave peaks could even be seen on the horizon. Next day we heard the news on the radio. I can't imagine what the waves would have been like in the middle of Superior.

 

[pekabu]

Wow. Thanks for the post. I have about 20 songs on iTunes I listen to daily, the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald happens to be one of them.

 

[MossRoad]

We visited the shipwreck museum on Whitefish Point this summer. Truly a moving experience. They recovered the bell from Fitz and replaced it with an exact replica inscribed with all of the sailors' names. A video in the museum covers that ceremony and the orginal bell is on display inside.

Have you been there Steve?

We took the girls up there last summer. Very nice museum. Nice folks, too. Great area to camp in as well.

Here's a link to their website....
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, A maritime museum in upper peninsula Michigan on Whitefish Point