“The Ship was the pride of the American side” – 36th Anniversary of Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

THUNDER BAY – November 10 marks the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The sinking of the big ship has lived on in the song by Gordon Lightfoot. “The Ship was the pride of the American side”. Today marks the thirty-sixth anniversary of the day that the “Fitz” sank in a major storm on Lake Superior.

The Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Canadian waters approximately 17 miles (15 nautical miles; 27 kilometers) from the entrance to Whitefish Bay, at a depth of 530 feet (160 m). Although the Fitzgerald had reported being in difficulty earlier, no distress signals were sent before she sank. Her crew of 29 perished and no bodies were recovered.

There is an excellent page on the University of Wisconsin website outlining the events of that day along with information on the Edmund Fitzgerald. (University of Wisconsin.

Today on Lake Superior, there is a Strong Wind Warning in effect. Perhaps the Big Lake is remembering the Fitzgerald in her own way too.