Community Chat

[drizzellla]

I did not realize that we just past the 50th Anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking on November 10th..

My Aunt was saddened by the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. She lived in Michigan and spent summers in their cabin on Lake Superior with her kids. And when she came to visit us in PA, Gorden Lightfoot had just released his song about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

It wasn't until after her visit I started to read about the sinking of the 700 foot ship. And that there were 25 foot waves that took out the ships radar. And the only thing they found was an oil slick, life jackets and one empty life boat.

So hard to believe when you stand on the shore of Lake Superior that the entire event was possible. 

[drizzellla]

In its 18 years of service, the Edmund Fitzgerald moved enough iron to build over 5 million cars. It made 50 trips a year. The sheer size of the ship and its cargo capabilities is a lot to wrap your head around.

[monicakm]

@drizzellla

That is one of my all time favorite songs

[Snowpuppy]

I was just a kid when it went down but I do remember it.

I've made the drive from Whitefish Point west. We usually stay on the shores of Lake Superior. If you've been on Lake Superior, it's beautiful but unnerving. It's 1 mile deep in places. 

Storms kick up quickly. Mariners call it The Witch of November. We were up there once in November. Never again for this girl.

[geezerette]

[wagirl]

I listened to Coast to Coast AM --believe me, not  for the content🙄--I turn it down very low so all I hear is murmuring--kind of a white noise effect---anyway I tuned in on the day of this sinking and actually there was an maritime expert on these types of sea disasters and it was very interesting--had no idea what it was all about, just that I am a fan of Gordon Lightfoot and his song. Did you know that the family of the captain made Gordon change some of the lyrics so it wouldn't sound  like their family member did something out of the ordinary so as to blame him for anything? and I didn't realize this happen when it did--thought it was way earlier in the last century.

[Oznell]

Superior does have that reputation of being able to turn treacherous-- it's an awe-inspiring lake, almost like an inland sea...

Thanks for posting about the anniversary, @drizzellla .  Gordon Lightfoot's rendering of the song is timeless and haunting.

[Oznell]

[Oznell]

[songbird]

Lake Superior is the big one of all lakes.  More like an inland sea.  She's sunk a few ships.  The Edmund Fitzgerald lost 29 men. It's mostly freshwater.  The Indian name is Gitchi Goomee   It means big water