35 years ago today.......Nov 10th

CamaroScotty · 11-09-2010, 03:55 PM

Marks the 35th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. One of the worst storms in the great lakes to the ship and crew of 29 to the bottom of Lake Superior.

At 729 feet long, the Fitz was a giant among lakes freighters. It lies in only about 550 feet of water, a testament to the forces of nature on the Great Lakes.

That may be some of the allure of the Fitzgerald story here in the Great Lakes State, where you grow up being warned "don't argue with the lakes" and get quickly to shore when skies darken.

People from elsewhere who have no concept of the scope of the lakes -- or the fury they can unleash -- may wonder how such a mighty vessel could be destroyed in waters not nearly as deep as the boat was long. But those who have seen the lakes angry, those who know that the loss of the Fitz was, in fact, far from the worst of many such Great Lakes tragedies, understand the power that comes with the beauty around us.

And each year, around now, they remember. They think about those 29 men and their mighty ship. And they wonder, as Gordon Lightfoot did, "does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours

Read more: Ron Dzwonkowski: Fitzgerald legend and mystery live on 35 years after ship's sinking | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/2010110...#ixzz14mxY1Z2n

Jay_LHD3 · 11-09-2010, 04:18 PM

I watched a documentary on this ship on the History Channel, very interesting. I went to boot camp at Great Lakes and now know I like my 70 degree winters!

Zabo · 11-09-2010, 05:57 PM

A good chunk of the crew was from Ohio (Toledo specifically), including McSorley. I have no idea why, but ever since I did a pair of projects on the ship it's just captivated me. The whole story, the crew, the ship..

The 'Big Fitz' crew. May they all RIP with her.

Armagost Michael E. Third Mate 37 Iron River, Wisconsin

Beetcher Fred J. Porter 56 Superior, Wisconsin

Bentsen Thomas D. Oiler 23 St. Joseph, Michigan

Bindon Edward F. First Assistant Engineer 47 Fairport Harbor, Ohio

Borgeson Thomas D. Maintenance Man 41 Duluth, Minnesota

Champeau Oliver J. Third Assistant Engineer 41 Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Church Nolan S. Porter 55 Silver Bay, Minnesota

Cundy Ransom E. Watchman 53 Superior, Wisconsin

Edwards Thomas E. Second Assistant Engineer 50 Oregon, Ohio

Haskell Russell G. Second Assistant Engineer 40 Millbury, Ohio

Holl George J. Chief Engineer 60 Cabot, Pennsylvania

Hudson Bruce L. Deck Hand 22 North Olmsted, Ohio

Kalmon Allen G. Second Cook 43 Washburn, Wisconsin

MacLellan Gordon F. Wiper 30 Clearwater, Florida

Mazes Joseph W. Special Maintenance Man 59 Ashland, Wisconsin

McCarthy John H. First Mate 62 Bay Village, Ohio

McSorley Ernest M. Captain 63 Toledo, Ohio

O'Brien Eugene W. Wheelsman 50 Toledo, Ohio

Peckol Karl A. Watchman 20 Ashtabula, Ohio

Poviach John J. Wheelsman 59 Bradenton, Florida

Pratt James A. Second Mate 44 Lakewood, Ohio

Rafferty Robert C. Steward 62 Toledo, Ohio

Riippa Paul M. Deck Hand 22 Ashtabula, Ohio

Simmons John D. Wheelsman 62 Ashland, Wisconsin

Spengler William J. Watchman 59 Toledo, Ohio

Thomas Mark A. Deck Hand 21 Richmond Heights, Ohio

Walton Ralph G. Oiler 58 Fremont, Ohio

Weiss David E. Cadet 22 Agoura, California

Wilhelm Blaine H. Oiler 52 Moquah, Wisconsin

CamaroScotty · 11-10-2010, 09:19 PM

Prayers to the families - 35 years later, and still one of the largest tragedies on the Great Lakes.

11-09-2010, 03:55 PM	#1
CamaroScotty Account Suspended Drives: Your new SLP Camaro! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cedarburg, WI Posts: 6,790	35 years ago today.......Nov 10th Marks the 35th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. One of the worst storms in the great lakes to the ship and crew of 29 to the bottom of Lake Superior. At 729 feet long, the Fitz was a giant among lakes freighters. It lies in only about 550 feet of water, a testament to the forces of nature on the Great Lakes. That may be some of the allure of the Fitzgerald story here in the Great Lakes State, where you grow up being warned "don't argue with the lakes" and get quickly to shore when skies darken. People from elsewhere who have no concept of the scope of the lakes -- or the fury they can unleash -- may wonder how such a mighty vessel could be destroyed in waters not nearly as deep as the boat was long. But those who have seen the lakes angry, those who know that the loss of the Fitz was, in fact, far from the worst of many such Great Lakes tragedies, understand the power that comes with the beauty around us. And each year, around now, they remember. They think about those 29 men and their mighty ship. And they wonder, as Gordon Lightfoot did, "does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours Read more: Ron Dzwonkowski: Fitzgerald legend and mystery live on 35 years after ship's sinking \| freep.com \| Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/2010110...#ixzz14mxY1Z2n Last edited by CamaroScotty; 11-10-2010 at 09:19 PM.

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11-09-2010, 04:18 PM	#2
Jay_LHD3 Drives: 2019 F150 RCSB Abyss FX4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,277	I watched a documentary on this ship on the History Channel, very interesting. I went to boot camp at Great Lakes and now know I like my 70 degree winters!

11-09-2010, 05:57 PM	#3
Zabo Gunning for Sixth Drives: '03 ZR2 Blazer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Woodhaven, Michigan Posts: 9,358 View My Garage	A good chunk of the crew was from Ohio (Toledo specifically), including McSorley. I have no idea why, but ever since I did a pair of projects on the ship it's just captivated me. The whole story, the crew, the ship.. The 'Big Fitz' crew. May they all RIP with her. Armagost Michael E. Third Mate 37 Iron River, Wisconsin Beetcher Fred J. Porter 56 Superior, Wisconsin Bentsen Thomas D. Oiler 23 St. Joseph, Michigan Bindon Edward F. First Assistant Engineer 47 Fairport Harbor, Ohio Borgeson Thomas D. Maintenance Man 41 Duluth, Minnesota Champeau Oliver J. Third Assistant Engineer 41 Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Church Nolan S. Porter 55 Silver Bay, Minnesota Cundy Ransom E. Watchman 53 Superior, Wisconsin Edwards Thomas E. Second Assistant Engineer 50 Oregon, Ohio Haskell Russell G. Second Assistant Engineer 40 Millbury, Ohio Holl George J. Chief Engineer 60 Cabot, Pennsylvania Hudson Bruce L. Deck Hand 22 North Olmsted, Ohio Kalmon Allen G. Second Cook 43 Washburn, Wisconsin MacLellan Gordon F. Wiper 30 Clearwater, Florida Mazes Joseph W. Special Maintenance Man 59 Ashland, Wisconsin McCarthy John H. First Mate 62 Bay Village, Ohio McSorley Ernest M. Captain 63 Toledo, Ohio O'Brien Eugene W. Wheelsman 50 Toledo, Ohio Peckol Karl A. Watchman 20 Ashtabula, Ohio Poviach John J. Wheelsman 59 Bradenton, Florida Pratt James A. Second Mate 44 Lakewood, Ohio Rafferty Robert C. Steward 62 Toledo, Ohio Riippa Paul M. Deck Hand 22 Ashtabula, Ohio Simmons John D. Wheelsman 62 Ashland, Wisconsin Spengler William J. Watchman 59 Toledo, Ohio Thomas Mark A. Deck Hand 21 Richmond Heights, Ohio Walton Ralph G. Oiler 58 Fremont, Ohio Weiss David E. Cadet 22 Agoura, California Wilhelm Blaine H. Oiler 52 Moquah, Wisconsin

11-10-2010, 09:19 PM	#4
CamaroScotty Account Suspended Drives: Your new SLP Camaro! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cedarburg, WI Posts: 6,790	Prayers to the families - 35 years later, and still one of the largest tragedies on the Great Lakes.