One of the perks of traveling is the unexpected gems one runs across. Sometimes it’s a special location, sometimes it’s an experience, and often times it is an individual. As I traveled the U.S., and I’ve been to all 50 states, I have learned that every state has something unique, something special to offer.
As much as I make fun of Iowa, and trust me, I have an entire book of jokes, I have always known that Iowa is loaded with gems, and Andy Clark stood out in the very best way.
I was in Knoxville, Iowa for eight months, spending a good amount of my time at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum. Andy often called me “his bouncer”, as we prowled the Second Floor during races and special events, and I was happy to play the role. We shared a love of music-particularly Jazz & Blues, cars, and humor. I learned a lot from Andy, and I hope I took in just a bit of his quiet dignity. From double duty during Nationals to purgatory in the Rotary Tent and quiet moments after the dirt stopped flying, Andy was just a joy to be around.
An evening with Andy on the Second Floor was always entertaining and educational. Looking back, I enjoyed our time touring Barnhouse Music and quiet lunches at Smokey Row, solving the problems of the world, just as much.
I have returned to my space Between the Circles tonight, because Andy followed this blog regularly when I was active. It is only fitting that I return in his honor. I thought the absolute world of Andy Clark, and even though communication wasn’t possible in recent years, he has often been in my thoughts.
Rest in peace Partner. I have no doubt you will find a band to join in the next chapter. It was an honor and a privilege.
John Denver was in Alaska to film a television special in 1975, and someone thought: “Hey! Let’s have John run around a derelict mine!” In 1975, Kennecott Mines had not yet been listed as a National Historic Landmark, so I’m guessing Denver was not the only individual to run across the rooftops. One more item on the lists of things not allowed today.
The music added to the video was from a 1981 John Denver concert. Song credit, of course, goes to Hall of Famer Chuck Berry.
After a year hiatus, Salmonfest is back this weekend in Ninilchik. Three days, 65 acts on four stages. It’s quite the event, and a true celebration of all things salmon.
The great freighter sank 45 years ago today, taking all 29 crew members to the bottom of Lake Superior with her.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald
Growing up in Minnesota, and spending a fair amount of time along the shores of Lake Superior, the story of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is one that I had heard from early childhood.
Construction on The Fitz started in August of 1957. The Great Lakes Engineering Works was tasked with building a freighter that would come within one foot of the Saint Lawrence Seaway’s maximum length. The customer was the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The ship was launched in June 1958, bearing the name of the president of Northwestern Mutual Life. The cost for the 729′ long freighter with a 26,000 long ton capacity, was $7 million.
For 17 years, The Fitz hauled iron ore from Duluth and Superior to cities like Detroit and Toledo. It took five days to make the run between Toledo, Ohio and Superior, Wisconsin.
The Fitzgerald set several cargo records during its time on the Great Lakes, often breaking her own previous record. In 1969, the ship hauled 27,402 long tons in a single run.
The Fitz quickly became popular with the public. Captain Peter Pulcer would play music over the ship’s intercom, whenever they went through the St Clair and Detroit Rivers. Near the Soo Locks, Pulcer would often talk to the public over a bullhorn, explaining details of the ship.
The Fitzgerald’s final run
A storm was building over Oklahoma’s panhandle on 9 November 1975. Weather forecasters predicted that it would stay south of Lake Superior. At 2:15pm, on the same day, the Edmund Fitzgerald left the port of Superior, WI.
The storm moved fast, and by 1am on the morning of the 10th, The Fitz was reporting waves at ten feet. By 2am, the National Weather Service had upgraded its warnings from gale to storm.
The SS Arthur M. Anderson, which had been traveling with The Fitz, started to fall behind the faster Fitzgerald at 3am. The Anderson recorded winds of 58mph at 1:50pm. It started to snow heavy at 2:45pm, and the crew of the Anderson lost sight of the Fitzgerald at that time. The Fitz was approximately 16 miles ahead at this point.
At 3:30pm, Captain McSorley of the Fitzgerald, radioed the Anderson that they were taking on water and had lost two vent covers. The United States Coast Guard had closed the Soo Locks, and told ships to seek safe anchorage.
By late afternoon, waves had increased to 25 feet and wind gusts hit 67mph. The Anderson recorded gusts of 86mph and waves of 35 feet. The Edmund Fitzgerald tried to make Whitefish Bay, where the Whitefish Point light was working, but not the radio beacon. By now the Fitzgerald was blind, having lost both its radar.
At 7:10pm, Captain McSorley radioed the Anderson, that they were “holding their own”. The Edmund Fitzgerald sank within minutes of that final message. There was no distress signal.
The Edmund Fitzgerald on the bottom of Lake Superior
The fully loaded Edmund Fitzgerald went down 15 nautical miles from Whitefish Bay. All 29 crew members perished; no bodies were recovered. The Fitz now lies 530 feet below the surface of Lake Superior.
A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion, equipped with technology usually associated with finding submarines, found the wreck on 14 November 1975. The ship was in two pieces on the lake floor.
Positioning of the Fitzgerald wreck
Every year on November 10, the Minnesota Historical Society hosts the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting Ceremony at the Split Rock Lighthouse in Two Harbors, MN. This year’s ceremony will be virtual, hosted on the Historical Society’s facebook page. The ceremony starts at 4:30 CST, with the beacon lighting at approximately 7:30pm.
