MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) — This year marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the largest and most famous of the estimated 6,500 ships that have gone down in the Great Lakes. Remembered largely due to Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting song, the Fitzgerald tragically sank on November 10, 1975, claiming the lives of all 29 men aboard.
The Fitzgerald was a 730-foot freighter launched in 1958, initially holding the title of the largest vessel on the Great Lakes until 1971. On its final journey, the ship was carrying 26,000 tons of iron ore to Detroit.
Oliver “Buck” Champeau, the ship's chief engineer, was on board for the first time, lured by the promise of higher pay. His daughter, Debbie Gomez-Felder, recalls recognizing her father's absence and the turmoil that followed the news of the ship's disappearance.
As conditions worsened on November 10, with gale warnings escalating, Captain Ernest M. McSorley reported to another vessel that the Fitzgerald was damaged but holding its own. This would be the last communication heard from the ship.
In the wake of the tragedy, safety improvements were enforced as a direct result. Frederick Stonehouse, author of 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,' noted that no vessels of similar size have been lost in the Great Lakes since.
The wreck, sitting at 535 feet deep in Lake Superior, is treated as a grave site, protected by Canadian law. Family members advocate for the preservation of the site, ensuring it remains undisturbed.
With various memorials planned for the anniversary, including a public event at the Great Lakes Historical Museum and a ceremony for the families of the crew, interest in the Fitzgerald's story is seeing an resurgence. The tolling of the ship's bell, a tribute originating from the time of the sinking, will continue as a poignant reminder of those lost at sea.
This anniversary brings Gomez-Felder and many others together, commemorating the lives lost and the lasting impact of the Fitzgerald. It took me a while to recognize he’s not coming back... that’s the soul of the ship, she reflects.
