A New Memorial For The Crew Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
This November will mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The massive Great Lakes freighter was carrying a load of iron ore when it was caught in a November gale and sank on November 10, 1975.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was 17 miles away from Whitefish Bay when it sank. All 29 crewmembers were lost, and no bodies were ever recovered. It's still a mystery as to how exactly the Edmund Fitzgerald sank. Theories include improperly latched hatch covers, structural failure, grounding on a shoal, or a combination of factors.
They found the shipwreck on the bottom of Lake Superior in 1975. Subsequent searches and dives show the freighter broke into two large sections. Some believe the Fitz broke apart on the surface before sinking.
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The Edmund Fitzgerald's final port of call was Superior, Wisconsin. The ship left the docks on the afternoon of November 9th.
A group called Friends of the Fitz started a fundraising campaign earlier this year to raise money for the Wisconsin Historical Society to place a marker in Superior to honor the crew.
The Superior Telegram reports that they raised more than $8,000 by April, but they wanted to have another marker for the names of the crew.
Michigan-based Stormy Kromer teamed up with the group to sell a special edition Edmund Fitzgerald cap.
The marker will be unveiled at a ceremony at Barker's Island in Superior on November 9th at 2 pm.
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Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF