by Denny » April 25, 2017, 11:03 am
Not sure where to put this topic so sorry if it is in the wrong place. Okay boatnerds many have asked me to do stories on how I got to the point of where I am today as far as a boatnerd and so without further adieu I will give you one to start with today. I just ask all of you though to be patient as I may go awhile without doing some of these stories and No I don't plan to write any books or have these posted but, perhaps if we all ask the moderators at boatnerd then maybe they could possibly make a seperate area somewhere to have them along with Captain Metz stories as well. Taking nothing away from the great Captain Metz of course but I will call and name my stories "Bluewater Memories although some may be from the Soo but for the most part they will be Blue Water Memories by Denny!" So sit back grab a snack and favorite beverage as off we go on my first story for all of you.
My family and I first took me to the Soo when I was about 9 years old I would say and guess? At that time I didn't know anything about the freighters or ships or legends like the late Tom Manse and our current captain Roger Le Lievre of today's Know Your Ships book. Well it just so happened that one day up at the Soo, my family and I rode the Soo Locks Tour Boat and I overheard this song being played. It was warm and heartfelting and it really got to me. As we got done with our tour and pulled back into port at the Soo, I then asked the crew of our boat "What was that song that was being played over the P.A. system?" They then told me it was the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot and from that moment on, I was hooked on the Fitzgerald's legacy and the legend as well!" Later on, they took me into the Soo Locks Boat Tours offices where I then later met the Mayor of the Soo and I explained to him about the Wreck of the Fitzgerald song and who wrote it. He then told me more about it and then he invited me into his office where he then gave me a black and white photo of the Edmund Fitzgerald sort of like a sketch drawing of her if you know what I mean? Unfortunately I no longer have that drawing but will always have the memories of that day for as long as I live. The Mayor also gave me believe it or not "The Key to the City that day as well!" Later on sometime in the early 1980's I then went to my record shop and purchased a copy of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald on 45 RPM and still have it today in my record collection and will never ever get rid of it period! Once though in the early 2000's I took the record with my Dad on our vacation to the Soo as I wanted to give it to Whitefish Point as part of their Fitz exhibit up there. Later they told me "We cannot except your generous gift as we already have more than enough for our Fitzgerald exhibit now!" I am glad that they didn't take the record as it might have gotten tossed around put in a box or worse thrown in a back room or into the trash somewhere. At that time at least, I just felt that they needed more to the Fitz exhibit and I thought the record would be perfect for them. But, at least they play it on their PA system so I am happy about that. And that is how I started out at the Soo and how I became hooked on the Fitzgerald legacy. Each year now I play the song and ring a bell to remember her lost crew and pray for them and their families and also turn on my lighthouses as well. Hope that you all like this story as I will have more to come soon.
Not sure where to put this topic so sorry if it is in the wrong place. Okay boatnerds many have asked me to do stories on how I got to the point of where I am today as far as a boatnerd and so without further adieu I will give you one to start with today. I just ask all of you though to be patient as I may go awhile without doing some of these stories and No I don't plan to write any books or have these posted but, perhaps if we all ask the moderators at boatnerd then maybe they could possibly make a seperate area somewhere to have them along with Captain Metz stories as well. Taking nothing away from the great Captain Metz of course but I will call and name my stories "Bluewater Memories although some may be from the Soo but for the most part they will be Blue Water Memories by Denny!" So sit back grab a snack and favorite beverage as off we go on my first story for all of you.
My family and I first took me to the Soo when I was about 9 years old I would say and guess? At that time I didn't know anything about the freighters or ships or legends like the late Tom Manse and our current captain Roger Le Lievre of today's Know Your Ships book. Well it just so happened that one day up at the Soo, my family and I rode the Soo Locks Tour Boat and I overheard this song being played. It was warm and heartfelting and it really got to me. As we got done with our tour and pulled back into port at the Soo, I then asked the crew of our boat "What was that song that was being played over the P.A. system?" They then told me it was the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot and from that moment on, I was hooked on the Fitzgerald's legacy and the legend as well!" Later on, they took me into the Soo Locks Boat Tours offices where I then later met the Mayor of the Soo and I explained to him about the Wreck of the Fitzgerald song and who wrote it. He then told me more about it and then he invited me into his office where he then gave me a black and white photo of the Edmund Fitzgerald sort of like a sketch drawing of her if you know what I mean? Unfortunately I no longer have that drawing but will always have the memories of that day for as long as I live. The Mayor also gave me believe it or not "The Key to the City that day as well!" Later on sometime in the early 1980's I then went to my record shop and purchased a copy of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald on 45 RPM and still have it today in my record collection and will never ever get rid of it period! Once though in the early 2000's I took the record with my Dad on our vacation to the Soo as I wanted to give it to Whitefish Point as part of their Fitz exhibit up there. Later they told me "We cannot except your generous gift as we already have more than enough for our Fitzgerald exhibit now!" I am glad that they didn't take the record as it might have gotten tossed around put in a box or worse thrown in a back room or into the trash somewhere. At that time at least, I just felt that they needed more to the Fitz exhibit and I thought the record would be perfect for them. But, at least they play it on their PA system so I am happy about that. And that is how I started out at the Soo and how I became hooked on the Fitzgerald legacy. Each year now I play the song and ring a bell to remember her lost crew and pray for them and their families and also turn on my lighthouses as well. Hope that you all like this story as I will have more to come soon.