MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) — This year marks the 50th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a freighter that famously went down in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975. This devastating maritime disaster resulted in the loss of all 29 crew members aboard and has since been memorialized largely due to Gordon Lightfoot's haunting folk ballad released in 1976, which brought a national spotlight to the event.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes at its launch in 1958. On its final journey, it departed from Superior, Wisconsin, carrying a heavy load of 26,000 tons of iron ore to Zug Island in Detroit. Notably, this journey saw 41-year-old Oliver “Buck” Champeau aboard for his first experience on “The Mighty Fitz.” His daughter, Debbie Gomez-Felder, recalls that he was enticed by the higher wages offered during this risky time of year as the weather began to turn.
The captain on board, 63-year-old Ernest M. McSorley, was recognized for his extensive experience navigating storms in the Great Lakes, but the brutal conditions of November 10 were unprecedented. After receiving gale warnings the night before, the situation escalated to storm warnings early the next morning. Reports from the nearby ship Arthur Anderson indicated waves reaching as high as 25 feet. In his last communication, McSorley stated that the Fitzgerald had sustained damage but reassured that they were managing the situation. This would be the last word from anyone aboard the Fitzgerald.
Gomez-Felder described the moment she learned of her father's disappearance: she was pulled from class and sent home, where her mother revealed the news of the Fitzgerald's vanishing. The trauma and suddenness of the incident left her reeling, as she sought answers from her community on how something so catastrophic could occur.
Various theories have emerged regarding the reasons behind the Fitzgerald’s rapid sinking without any distress calls, but definitive answers remain elusive. Frederick Stonehouse, author of the landmark book “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” contends that significant safety improvements in shipping arose from the tragedy. Before the Fitzgerald incident, a similarly sized vessel would typically sink every six to seven years, yet since then, no ships of that size have been lost on the Great Lakes.
The wreck of the Fitzgerald remains submerged in 535 feet of water, located approximately 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. It is designated as a protected site under Canadian law, recognizing it as a grave marker where no unauthorized exploration or artifact retrieval is allowed. Gomez-Felder advocates for the wreck to stay undisturbed as a memorial to those lost.
Annual commemorations around the Great Lakes honor the lives lost in this disaster, with this 50th anniversary heightening public interest. The Great Lakes Historical Museum, located at Whitefish Point, is set to host a significant public event on November 10, while a private ceremony for the crew's families will also be streamed online. Among the memorials is the Fitzgerald's bell, which was salvaged in 1995 and has since become a permanent symbol at the museum.
Bruce Lynn, the executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, noted that attendance at the museum is expected to reach record levels this year due to the 50th anniversary observances. The remembrance of the Fitzgerald is often accompanied by recognition of all who have perished at sea, with ceremonies including the tolling of bells at Mariners’ Church in Detroit to honor the lost sailors.
As the anniversary approaches, Gomez-Felder reflects on her father and the lasting void his absence has created in her life. She emphasizes the importance of remembering not only the Fitzgerald but the family members left behind. Each year, she takes comfort in joining other families during memorials and believes that ringing the ship’s bell is a essential way to honor the memories of her father and the other sailors who tragically lost their lives.
