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Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck: Tragedy, legacy & life on the Great Lakes

UpNorthLive | January 20, 2026



Monday, November 10, 2025, will mark 50 years since 29 mariners lost their lives aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald in what would become one of the most famous American wrecks of all time.

From its early days making headlines as a ship unlike any other, to the fateful night it sank on Lake Superior, the Fitzgerald’s story continues to resonate.

Hear first-hand accounts from Coast Guard members who watched the waves rise, and families anxiously awaiting news.

In Detroit, the church bell tolled 29 times to mark the loss.

Even 50 years later, the tragedy shaped Great Lakes shipping safety — and its legacy lives on.

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Written by UpNorthLive

Comments

This post currently has 38 comments.

  2. @Stereostupid

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    I've heard so many say she was made with really shotty Chinese and Russian steel and she scared many many sailors and great captains because she flexed and twisted more than any other ship besides the sister ship of the Edmund retired and scrapped in 1980 by the company and they wouldn't allow it to be investigated by coast guard or ntsb beforehand …they knew it was brittle steel and very dangerous 😮 im not disrespectful of the Fitzgerald she was beautiful and Rip to everyone who has passed away on the Mighty ship however its the truth…she was made with pride but with shady materials no doubt! I hear some say she was the greatest of her time however others say the opposite especially about the steel used

  3. @craigpelley

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    Rick mixter says they examined the overturned stern and found no scrape marks etc. but what if she struck the shoal in the midsection of the ship that got disintegrated ?? Of course you wouldn’t find any markings cause that’s not the section of the vessel that bottomed out, just my opinion 🙏🏾

  5. @jamesallore2562

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    In1995 august i almost got eaten buy a storm in Georgian bay I holed up in the westerns islands north group I saw 12 footers out there and 2 inches of snow I was on a 20 foot weekender day sailer u need a forty plus footer to be safe a good blue water design I thank god I didn't lose my life but a certainly learned a valuable lesson I feel shit for cap mcsorley and his 29 men crew

  9. @merc340sr

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    Just shows how powerful Lake Superior is. An ocean for all intents and purposes. Edmund Fitzgerald was so close to making Whitefish Bay and getting out of danger…sad.

  11. @brucehenkelman9852

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    Not all the Clamp's were functional.
    Blame deferred maintenance, not the Captain. Additional, they had to reduce power to 55 rpm due to excessive Shaft vibration.
    Her Keel was knocked lose during her launch. She had a cracked propeller blade and carried 2 spare blades on her deck. They could have done serious damage if they slid across her decks. She was a very tender ship in rough weather.
    But you most definitely do not blame the Captain. They weren't sailing for fun. The big Fitz was a working ship, working.
    McSorely was a rough weather Skipper as were them all.
    Had she not been running under Summer freeboard she likely would still be sailing today. The 3 Sisters that struck the Arthur A were the biggest Seas Captain Cooper had ever seen and the Seas were following that fateful evening.
    They hit the Fitz on her way down a wave troff and pushed her Bow under and she took the plunge.
    It was not the fault of the Captain. 😊

  13. @lucyhallis9814

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    I was 13 years old in 1975 when the ship sank. I don't remember hearing about it as I lived in Florida. Remember when Gordon Lightfoot's song the Edmund Fitzgerald came out but I thought it was a story about a ship that sank long ago. Wasn't until 3 years later when I went on a family vacation to Wisconsin that I saw a book about the Edmund Fitzgerald at a gift shop. I had no idea that this had happened so recently (My family went to Wisconsin in 1978). My thoughts and prayers are with those family who lost friend and relatives on November 10, 1975.

  14. @JimmyLaxton

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    I grew up in River Rouge and I remember how Sad a lot of People were. City Full of Steel n Iron Workers along with Ship Builders. It's easier now to understand why They took it Very Personal.💪💪🙏🇺🇲

  16. @RighteousReverendDynamite

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    It’s nice that the Family of Mrs. Anderson donated funds for such a nice humble but stately Church. The Lord had calmed the tempest on the Sea of Galilee as the Apostles were afright in terror. The Lord is shelter for all storms. The great Deep is the one place that humbles all when winds howl and the rollers bear down on your bow. Imagine being an ancient Chippewah in a canoe paddling out further than any of you kin when the waves start to spray over the sides. God Bless all who toil on the Sea.

  18. @858Bill

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    My father worked on the boats as a cook for many years…..including the Fitz….

    I've been aboard her a few times myself….

    We knew many of the men personally……

    Rest in Peace….

    Michael Armagost- 37- Third Mate- Iron River, Wisconsin

    Fred Beetcher- 56- Porter- Superior, Wisconsin

    Thomas Bentsen- 23- Oiler- St. Joseph, Michigan

    Edward Bindon -47- First Asst. Engineer- Fairport Harbor, Ohio

    Thomas Borgeson -41- Maintenance Man- Duluth, Minnesota

    Oliver Champeau- 41-Third Asst. Engineer- Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

    Nolan Church -55 -Porter -Silver Bay, Minnesota

    Ransom Cundy- 53- Watchman- Superior, Wisconsin

    Thomas Edwards-50- Second Asst. Engineer- Oregon, Ohio

    Russell Haskell -40- Second Asst. Engineer- Millbury, Ohio

    George Holl -60- Chief Engineer- Cabot, Pennsylvania

    Bruce Hudson- 22- Deck Hand -North Olmsted, Ohio

    Allen Kalmon -43- Second Cook- Washburn, Wisconsin

    Gordon MacLellan- 30- Wiper- Clearwater, Florida

    Joseph Mazes- 59- Special Maintenance Man -Ashland, Wisconsin

    John McCarthy -62-First Mate -Bay Village, Ohio

    Ernest McSorley -63 -Captain -Toledo, Ohio

    Eugene O'Brien- 50- Wheelsman -Toledo, Ohio

    Karl Peckol -20- Watchman -Ashtabula, Ohio

    John Poviach -59- Wheelsman- Bradenton, Florida

    James Pratt -44- Second Mate- Lakewood, Ohio

    Robert Rafferty -62 -Steward -Toledo, Ohio

    Paul Riippa -22 -Deck Hand -Ashtabula, Ohio

    John Simmons -63 -Wheelsman -Ashland, Wisconsin

    William Spengler -59- Watchman- Toledo, Ohio

    Mark Thomas -21- Deck Hand- Richmond Heights, Ohio

    Ralph Walton -58- Oiler- Fremont, Ohio

    David Weiss -22 -Cadet -Agoura, California

    Blaine Wilhelm -52- Oiler- Moquah, Wisconsin

  19. @asylumlover

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    UP NORTH LIVE, WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FROM A DISTRESSED SOUL HOPING TO RETURN TO THE GREAT LAKES BEFORE TOO LONG, A NATIVE MICHIGANDER WHO IS CURRENTLY LIVING IN READING PENNSYLVANIA, AND I AM COMMEMORATING MY OWN 50TH ANNIVERSARIES OF DEEPLY PERSONAL MICHIGAN EVENTS AS WELL, HAVING BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN THE GREATER OAKLAND COUNTY AREA, AND HAVING SPENT MUCH TIME AS A YOUNG ADULT IN THE HOMETOWN OF THOSE COAST GUARD HELOS, TRAVERSE CITY, AND I SAY, FOR THE 29 LOST THAT NIGHT, IN MEMORIAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  20. @tomroy7332

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    And yesterday, 50 years later there was a large storm on the Great Lakes. A little disappointed the younger generations in Ohio didn’t mark this date with a few memorials services to this event. Most of the crew were from Ohio including one from the county I reside in. I guess at the end of the day it made for a cool song.

  22. @Dan-KM8DAD

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    Excellent documentary! Doesn't seem like 50 years has passed. I would recommend anyone with the opportunity make the trip to the Paradise and visit the Shipwreck Museum. They have the original ship's bell recovered from the wreck of the Fitzgerald restored and engraved with the names of the 29 men who went down with their ship that fateful night. The emotion that envelops from gazing at that bell is hard to describe, but you'll know it when you see it. You may want to bring some Kleenex.

    Prayers for those lost to the gales of Superior and the loved ones they left behind. May they reunite someday. 🙏

  24. @thereissomecoolstuff

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    We need to dive on her again. Modern investigation and survey should be done as there are still vessels of her era working. The answers are just below the surface. That is an amazing rescue story. I had never heard that before as well.

  29. @ks2de

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    I camped at two hearted last year in October on Lake Superior. The lake was roaring so loud and the waves so big I could not go to sleep. The sound was so loud, and not like ocean roaring. This was BAMBAMBAM all night long. I can't imagine what those poor men went through, because this was probably tame compared to what they went through. Superior can really be a monster. I was 12 yrs old when I saw the Detroit News headline the next day the EF sank. It was so very sad. Prayers for all the families and friends. I offered Holy Mass this past Sunday for those souls. God bless you.

  31. @lucmarchand617

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    When this thing happen was big news in 🇨🇦. My brothers work for CSL&PATERSON on great lakes.Then one day stop at oglebay northern in Cleveland at office lots peoples left after sinking of fritz was too much bear due some knew crew he said.The captain was on last trips&load!Sad but now lots learning on this.CSL rt.hon Paul martin was stuck in detroit mich got lots help 👍 big change.

  34. @LauraHuerta_dogmom

    January 20, 2026 at 6:36 pm

    Excellent presentation of the tragic event. I wish the story would have covered the subsequent search for and discovery of the wreck and recovery of the ship’s bell. Thank you for sharing Edmund Fitzgerald’s legend.

Comments are closed.

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