Remembering the Fitzgerald

[norshorblufish]

Today is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald in a storm on Lake Superior 17 miles from Whitefish Point Michigan taking with it 29 crewmen . God bless them and their relatives.

I remember that night I drove home from vocational tech school. It was a hairy ride home in the storm. I can’t imagine what it was like out on the big lake.

 

[ProjectBazza]

In 1970, during our family summer vacation, we visited the locks at Sault St Marie. I was only 5 years old (picture my father took while we were on a launch of some sort):

While walking around the grounds at the actual locks I remember seeing the biggest damn "boat" I had ever seen in my life pass through:

In case you can't make it out, it's The Fitz.

I remember being so awestruck that my father said I could sign-on as an oiler when I got "older", as this was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life.

But then 5 years later my father woke me/got me out of bed on November 10th, 1975 to watch the news.......

The following summer, well....

That look on my face isn't because I was bored.

To the 29: RIP, and Godspeed, gentlemen. As long as I'm alive you will not be forgotten.

Jim

 

[4spdragtop]

Thanks guys! Great story and pics!
A Canadian legend to sing the story.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald in a storm on Lake Superior 17 miles from Whitefish Point Michigan taking with it 29 crewmen . God bless them and their relatives.

I remember that night I drove home from vocational tech school. It was a hairy ride home in the storm. I can’t imagine what it was like out on the big lake.

View attachment 1716477060View attachment 1716477061View attachment 1716477062

In 1970, during our family summer vacation, we visited the locks at Sault St Marie. I was only 5 years old (picture my father took while we were on a launch of some sort):

View attachment 1716477076

While walking around the grounds at the actual locks I remember seeing the biggest damn "boat" I had ever seen in my life pass through:

View attachment 1716477077

View attachment 1716477078

View attachment 1716477079

In case you can't make it out, it's The Fitz.

I remember being so awestruck that my father said I could sign-on as an oiler when I got "older", as this was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life.

But then 5 years later my father woke me/got me out of bed on November 10th, 1975 to watch the news.......

The following summer, well....

View attachment 1716477080

That look on my face isn't because I was bored.

To the 29: RIP, and Godspeed, gentlemen. As long as I'm alive you will not be forgotten.

Jim

 

[norshorblufish]

He had the voice for that song!

 

[ProjectBazza]

Thanks guys! Great story and pics!
A Canadian legend to sing the story.

Thanks, Steve. That song still hits me pretty hard.

 

[318willrun]

Approx. 7:10 pm, she surrendered her fight with the inland sea..

 

[SpeedThrills]

The story.

 

[FISHYPETE]

Was in Duluth yesterday and drove up to SplitRock Lighthouse. lake was fairly calm

 

[guy gadbois]

In 1970, during our family summer vacation, we visited the locks at Sault St Marie. I was only 5 years old (picture my father took while we were on a launch of some sort):

View attachment 1716477076

While walking around the grounds at the actual locks I remember seeing the biggest damn "boat" I had ever seen in my life pass through:

View attachment 1716477077

View attachment 1716477078

View attachment 1716477079

In case you can't make it out, it's The Fitz.

I remember being so awestruck that my father said I could sign-on as an oiler when I got "older", as this was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life.

But then 5 years later my father woke me/got me out of bed on November 10th, 1975 to watch the news.......

The following summer, well....

View attachment 1716477080

That look on my face isn't because I was bored.

To the 29: RIP, and Godspeed, gentlemen. As long as I'm alive you will not be forgotten.

Jim

THANK YOU for sharing those!

 

[RustyRatRod]

I remember when this happened. Our Social Studies (remember that subject?) teacher started the class out with a ... wait for it ... not a moment of silence ... not a moment of reflection ... but a PRAYER. And of course she would, because not only was she my social studies teacher, but she was also a Sunday school teacher at the church where I grew up.

 

[JDMopar]

There was a story in Mopar Collectors Guide years ago, telling the story of one of the young crew members who was a Mopar guy. Bruce Hudson was 22 years old and the youngest member of the crew. He had left his 74 Challenger at the dock in "I think?" Toledo, OH and was going on a trip to CA as soon as they docked. A guy in Michigan owns the Challenger now and has a tribute board he shows with the car, honoring The Fitz, crew and tells Bruce's story.

 

[RustyRatRod]

There was a story in Mopar Collectors Guide years ago, telling the story of one of the young crew members who was a Mopar guy. Bruce Hudson was 22 years old and the youngest member of the crew. He had left his 74 Challenger at the dock in "I think?" Toledo, OH and was going on a trip to CA as soon as they docked. A guy in Michigan owns the Challenger now and has a tribute board he shows with the car, honoring The Fitz, crew and tells Bruce's story.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing that.