50 Years Ago, Monday

gary_in_neenah

gary_in_neenah

Super Moderator
Staff member
It's been 50 years since the storm that sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald. I was rather young at the time, don't remember much about it, then the song by Gordon Lightfoot came out in 76 and everyone's curiosity was peeked. Since then, lots of books on the subject, a few TV Programs and a museum in the U.P. that is on my Bucket List. My wife came across the following story. Actually the Detroit Free Press this week has a lot of stories, and back-stories if you'd care to sharpen up on some local history. The following links will take you where you want to go.

 
M

matti

Active member
Thanks for posting. I was able to attend the ceremony at Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota a few years ago and it was very somber. My uncle worked on the Fitz when he was in college; not exactly sure what he did, however.
 
M

Magnumb

Active member
The Big Fitz....what a ship and how harrowing to take that thing into 35 footers!

At the time its radar dome had been removed for repairs, and they had relied on crew over on Anderson to provide navigation as the backup radar may not have been working reliability in the heavy storms. Anderson warned the Fitz of Caribou Island and its shoals as during heavy weather they become treacherous. Arthur had relayed "Fitz, you're coming up on Caribou Island and the Six Fathoms Shoals"

They may have not stuck those shoals, but it does provide some insight to what the Fitz was dealing with at the time...

"We're holding our own"
 
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