The Wreck

[srodts-palenik]

Hey guys ....
just a couple of notes ....

During the first week of October, the Mrs. & I had the circumstance to spend several days on the U-per and the opportunity to spend a couple of days at Whitefish Point Light and Bird Sanctuary.

The Great Lakes ShipWreck Historical Society has refurbished and installed the latest ammenities to the 'Crews Quarters', a stately, yet unobtrusive home.

The Crews Quarters are open to all who may wish. The atmosphere is one of a Bed & Breakfast without the host. You have free reign, though courtesy is the order of the day. There are four rooms available for nightly lease. The Crews Quarter is well endowed with safety in mind and resplendent with nautical items of interest. The rooms are cozy, though a but cramped. Of course, please remember, these were the rooms of working folk and provided shelter.

We happened to enjoy the Captains Quarters, which, according to the attendants, one of the better rooms, as it has views of not only Superior but of the Light as well.

A side note...... I woke about 4 am and looked out the window to Superior with the Light splashing itself upon the compound in a very orderly fashion. The weather was such, for the first week of October, rather chill and locals exclaimed it was uncommon to get snow at this time of year. As i looked out the window, with Superior caressing the shore about 300 feet out and as the Light swung around, in it's particular sequence, a deer was dining on snow covered grass. Each pass of the Light caused the deer to start until finally, after four or five minutes, she was quite disturbed by the light and jumped off into a nearby thicket.

I will say, the stay at Whitefish Point has made a sincere impression on me. I will not forget this as long as I live. I highly recommend a night or two at Whitefish Point.

As well, during our time on the U-per, the weather was not conducive to camping. The weather was terse enough to cause sailors and tankers to find safe harbor. We witnessed several large tankers anchored in cove at St. Ignace near Mackinaw.

Another item to be aware of is the Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony, November 10, 2003. The Ceremony begins at 7Pm. I wish we could attend, however, duty calls elsewhere.

The most poignant moment will be the Ringing Of The Bell. She'll ring 29 times with revered attention to the Sailors who perished on November 10th under the flag of the Edmund and a 30th Chime for and in memory of all the Great Lakes Mariners lost at sea.

I might also mention Kathleen (Pulcer) Lyon, daughter of the Commander of the Edmund, has donated a set of flags the Edmond sailed under, to the Society.

If you are in the area, see to the Light and whisper to the North a prayer to those who found Davey Jones' hand.

best regards

ambrose


[This message has been edited by ambrose (edited October 28, 2003).]

[ambrose]

Hey guys ....
just a couple of notes ....

During the first week of October, the Mrs. & I had the circumstance to spend several days on the U-per and the opportunity to spend a couple of days at Whitefish Point Light and Bird Sanctuary.

The Great Lakes ShipWreck Historical Society has refurbished and installed the latest ammenities to the 'Crews Quarters', a stately, yet unobtrusive home.

The Crews Quarters are open to all who may wish. The atmosphere is one of a Bed & Breakfast without the host. You have free reign, though courtesy is the order of the day. There are four rooms available for nightly lease. The Crews Quarter is well endowed with safety in mind and resplendent with nautical items of interest. The rooms are cozy, though a but cramped. Of course, please remember, these were the rooms of working folk and provided shelter.

We happened to enjoy the Captains Quarters, which, according to the attendants, one of the better rooms, as it has views of not only Superior but of the Light as well.

A side note...... I woke about 4 am and looked out the window to Superior with the Light splashing itself upon the compound in a very orderly fashion. The weather was such, for the first week of October, rather chill and locals exclaimed it was uncommon to get snow at this time of year. As i looked out the window, with Superior caressing the shore about 300 feet out and as the Light swung around, in it's particular sequence, a deer was dining on snow covered grass. Each pass of the Light caused the deer to start until finally, after four or five minutes, she was quite disturbed by the light and jumped off into a nearby thicket.

I will say, the stay at Whitefish Point has made a sincere impression on me. I will not forget this as long as I live. I highly recommend a night or two at Whitefish Point.

As well, during our time on the U-per, the weather was not conducive to camping. The weather was terse enough to cause sailors and tankers to find safe harbor. We witnessed several large tankers anchored in cove at St. Ignace near Mackinaw.

Another item to be aware of is the Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony, November 10, 2003. The Ceremony begins at 7Pm. I wish we could attend, however, duty calls elsewhere.

The most poignant moment will be the Ringing Of The Bell. She'll ring 29 times with revered attention to the Sailors who perished on November 10th under the flag of the Edmund and a 30th Chime for and in memory of all the Great Lakes Mariners lost at sea.

I might also mention Kathleen (Pulcer) Lyon, daughter of the Commander of the Edmund, has donated a set of flags the Edmond sailed under, to the Society.

If you are in the area, see to the Light and whisper to the North a prayer to those who found Davey Jones' hand.

best regards

ambrose


[This message has been edited by ambrose (edited October 28, 2003).]

[Borderstone]

It sounds like a very dignified occaision. I would imagine that only direct relations to the Fitzgerald crew would be invited as well as Great Lakes Mariners.
The bed and breakfast at Whitefish Point sounds like it would be a very nice place to get away from mainstream society as well. A marvelous post from you Ambrose!

------------------
Borderstone (Hello! )

[Auburn Annie]

There's a one page article in the October 27th issue of Macleans magazine (page 85) on the Great Storm of 1913 in which a dozen ships sank and 250 people lost their lives on Lakes Superior, Huron and Erie, 62 years to the day earlier than the Fitz (night of November 9th into the 10th). There's an eyewitness description of
how two giant waves lifted one ship fore and aft; she split in two from the stress amidships, then sank with all hands lost.

[Auburn Annie]

There's a one page article in the October 27th issue of Macleans magazine (page 85) on the Great Storm of 1913 in which a dozen ships sank and 250 people lost their lives on Lakes Superior, Huron and Erie, 62 years to the day earlier than the Fitz (night of November 9th into the 10th). There's an eyewitness description of
how two giant waves lifted one ship fore and aft; she split in two from the stress amidships, then sank with all hands lost.

Ambrose
What a wonderful post!! I too was deeply moved by Whitefish Point. Wasn't it well
kept, clean and remarkably beautiful?
I especially enjoyed the shipwreck museum.

Your post was so well written I actually felt like I was there again!! Thanks for
such a desriptive post. Now I want to go back!!!!!!! My wife always watches the weather channel to see what the weather is doing up there. She says, "when can we go home?" She would like to live there someday.

Land is reasonable up there. Much of the shoreline around Whitefish Bay is for sale
and undeveloped. I may look into the idea
of buying a couple acres if I can turn some
things I'm working on, into some money.
It's fun to dream. It's fun to wish.
No harm in having a goal, I guess.

Ambrose
What a wonderful post!! I too was deeply moved by Whitefish Point. Wasn't it well
kept, clean and remarkably beautiful?
I especially enjoyed the shipwreck museum.

Your post was so well written I actually felt like I was there again!! Thanks for
such a desriptive post. Now I want to go back!!!!!!! My wife always watches the weather channel to see what the weather is doing up there. She says, "when can we go home?" She would like to live there someday.

Land is reasonable up there. Much of the shoreline around Whitefish Bay is for sale
and undeveloped. I may look into the idea
of buying a couple acres if I can turn some
things I'm working on, into some money.
It's fun to dream. It's fun to wish.
No harm in having a goal, I guess.

[Tyler]

Ambrose are you a writer by trade? What a wonderful post. My doctor is moving to Lansing and she had invited me up for a visit, I will take her up on that and go to Whitefish Bay. You have written a beautiful story about it, and it makes everyone wish to be there. Thanks.

[brink]

Ambrose are you a writer by trade? What a wonderful post. My doctor is moving to Lansing and she had invited me up for a visit, I will take her up on that and go to Whitefish Bay. You have written a beautiful story about it, and it makes everyone wish to be there. Thanks.

[Restless]

Whitefish Point is great. Lots of interesting nautical history in the area. Some great lighthouses too! Just an hour or so east in Sault Ste. Marie is a museum ship called the SS Valley Camp ( a 550 foot ore carrier now a museum) Its great to visit and walk around and get a feel for a large ore boat. They have 2 of the lifeboats from the Edmund Fitz onboard for you to look at. I highly recommned it. I have some photos of them as well as other Ftiz pics if someone would post them on here for me (send me an email).