Edmund Fitzgerald sank 35 years ago today

November 10, 2010Andrew Norton

The Edmund Fitzgerald sank November 10, 1975 taking the lives of all 29 crew members on board. It's hard to believe that 35 years have passed since this tragedy and I'm sure it's even hard for the friends and family of the 29 men who died. Here is a roundup of Edmund Fitzgerald posts I have made over the years -

Remembering the 29 men who perished when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank on Nov. 10, 1975

Lyrics to Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’

Beautiful video tribute to the 29 crewmen of the Edmund Fitzgerald

SS Edmund Fitzgerald – LEGO model

Perfect Storm Caused Fitzgerald to Sink

categories Michigan History
tags edmund-fitzgerald, gordon-lightfoot, great-lakes, lake-superior-shipwrecks

SS Edmund Fitzgerald - LEGO model

May 03, 2010Andrew Norton

Out of curiosity and a love of LEGO®, I ran a search on Flickr for anything that was built out of LEGO® and connected to Michigan. This was one of the models that stood out, and for good reason.

At 8 feet 6 inches long it is a huge LEGO® rendition of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Talk about details - this model even has the clamps (often mentioned as the cause of the Fitzgerald's demise) that hold down the hatch covers.

Beautiful video tribute to the 29 crewmen of the Edmund Fitzgerald

November 10, 2009Andrew Norton

34 years ago today during the evening of November 10, 1975 the Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a storm on Lake Superior taking the lives of all 29 crewmen. This video tribute is hauntingly beautiful. I feel so bad for the families that lost loved ones 34 years ago today. The music featured in the video is, of course, Gordon Lightfoot's The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Don't forget that you can watch the annual service from River Rouge online tonight from 6pm until 8pm. There is a school program online from 1:30 until 3pm as well.

categories Michigan History
tags edmund-fitzgerald, great-lakes-shipwrecks, lake-superior, the-wreck-of-the-edmund-fitzgerald

November 10th is the 34th Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service

November 03, 2009Andrew Norton

On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank to the bottom of Lake Superior taking the lives of all 29 crewmen. One week from today, the 34th service honoring the crew will be held at River Rouge. From SSEdmundFitzgerald.com:

. 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.

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.

The service will also be broadcast online via a free stream at SSEdmundFitzgerald.com. You can find all the details at their site.

The daughter of the "Old Cook" from the Gordon Lightfoot song left this comment on my tribute page for the Edmund Fitzgerald:

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.

Pam Johnson Daughter of ROBERT C. RAFFERTY