Edmund Fitzgerald

[mhunter123]

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald (11/10/75). I was 5 years old and admittedly don't remember much but for those of us who grew up in the Great Lakes Region, it was a big deal. Would love to hear shared stories if anybody has any.

 

[NormND_44]

 

[SportsingHard]

I was an infant at the time, but I spent 95% of my childhood and about 35 years overall in the state of Michigan. The truth is, in my presence, it was extremely rare for anybody to bring up the song, and no one ever once mentioned the sinking independent of Lightfoot.

There are good reasons why the event is deemed sad/remarkable and has grown over time in the popular consciousness, but it was also an event with a fairly small death toll (29) that didn't really "belong" to any one state/people.

 

[mhunter123]

Love it!

 

[IRISHDODGER]

IIRC, there was a Seinfeld episode that referenced it

 

[ab2cmiller]

IIRC, there was a Seinfeld episode that referenced it

The Andrea Doria

 

[ulukinatme]

When I saw this in the football thread, I thought for a second "Wait, so is Pat Fitzgerald's first name actually Edmund?!"

Before anyone says anything, I know about the damn boat, my parents made me grow up listening to Oldies like Gordon Lightfoot!

 

[IrishBoognish]

Alright, nerds

If we wanna talk about Billy Strings
... Im youre guy!

Hahhahaa

 

[zelezo vlk]

The popularity I’m seeing seems to be driven by being an internet meme. Never cared much for the song or the meme, but that has to be one scary way to go.

 

[IrishInFl]

My dad saw the Fitz when it left harbor. The weather conditions were bad enough that he was surprised any ships left harbor, and the weather only got worse from there.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald (11/10/75). I was 5 years old and admittedly don't remember much but for those of us who grew up in the Great Lakes Region, it was a big deal. Would love to hear shared stories if anybody has any.

I have a Great Lakes freighter, the (Arthur A Anderson) going under the lift bridge in Duluth MN tattooed on my arm. That's how big of a nerd I am. I have read quite a few books on the subject, watched all the documentaries. I also have my opinions on the matter lol.

My family (in laws) do a run at the yearly family reunion/gathering. Its called the Fitz 5K. The run was started in Silver Bay MN a well known Iron Ore town, frequented by Old Fitz and her rock and roll captain.

 

[ozzman]

Went and saw the bell at the shipwreck museum at whitefish point a few years ago. Very cool experience.

 

[GATTACA!]

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald (11/10/75). I was 5 years old and admittedly don't remember much but for those of us who grew up in the Great Lakes Region, it was a big deal. Would love to hear shared stories if anybody has any.

Found Shane’s account….

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

My great, great grandfather, Edwin Fitzgerald was a barber. He was known all around town as the best at his craft but he never outgrew the shadow cast by his twin brother, Edmund. Edmund was a very successful lawyer in Chicago and was a "local celebrity" in that he was smart enough to move to the big city and be successful.

No relation to whatever this thread is about. Also patently false.

 

[IrishInFl]

On a side note, James Cameron was in Duluth scouting locations for an upcoming Avatar film a couple years ago, but EVERYONE thought he was there to scout locations for a movie about Edmund Fitzgerald. I mean, come the fuck on, he's the boat sinking movie guy!