• Sunday-What'sUP November 30 - 02:33 am

Yesterday's Pasty Central Day in History told of a storm in 1905 that ravaged the Great Lakes, causing damage to 29 vessels and the loss of 36 lives. It became known as The Mataafa Storm after this steamship. The photos are near the pier at Duluth, where the Mataafa was split by the waves as it tried to tie up.

One interesting historical footnote: the ship was eventually recovered and repaired, and served another 60 years before being scrapped in 1965.

This morning as I look out over Lake Superior, it's a beautiful sunny day, and I see several boats out there on the horizon, shuttling their cargo in these remaining weeks of the shipping season. By the way, Edie suggested we include the bit of music from Celtic Thunder (under the last photo above). Superior - known as an 'Inland Sea' - has certainly seen its share of lifeboat rescues.

Have a good week :o)

These men were true heroes ~ just like the people who ran into the towers on 9/11/2001.

Interesting piece of history. Mother Superior wears faces from serene to mean and all in between. I like the song also.

Interesting pix and story! I can only imagine the sense of relief when the surviving seamen set foot on land. It's ironic that I just watched the move "The Perfect Storm" on Friday.

Good comparison, Jbuck.

I read this whole story online in the Duluth paper
last night. What devastation this storm cost.
It's what brought about the need for the Split
Rock Lighthouse up on Minnesota's North Shore.
Such a story that you couldn't stop reading it.

I couldn't post the link here, but if anybody is
interested, you can just go to the
duluthnewstribune.com. It goes a little more in
depth.

Incredible story!

Deb: Thanks for the heads up. That was a very interesting article.

No problem, Duane. I was captivated by it!

Loved the "Inland Sea" by Celtic Thunder. Thanks for suggesting it
to Charlie, Edie.

Does anyone remember singing the State of Michigan song in
school? It is sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum."

A song to thee fair state of mine,
Michigan my Michigan.

No fairer state than this is mine,
Michigan my Michigan.

The whisper of the forest trees,
the thunder of the inland seas.

Unite in one fair symphony,
to Michigan, my Michigan.

Never sang that song in school. We used to sing this one though about the old home town to the same tune. (Not in school)
Oh National Mine, My National Mine
Home of the Finns and the porky pines.

From Annala's store to New England Hill
There is no place you won't find a still

Oh National Mine, My National Mine.
The home of the Finns and the porky pines.

Not sure who originated it or when, not even sure they would admit it:)

Kosk and Duane, you have beautiful voices.;>

I enjoyed their singing also. And I do not
remember ever singing that song in school, but I
have heard it before.

Kosk...I remember singing that song in elementary school some 50-55 years ago. Long-term memory :-), short-term memory :-( and the 70s are a blur, man. :-0

LOL.....you too? :>

I believe William Ratigan's book, "Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals" has a chapter on this one.

Where did you go to school Alex?

Love your version Duane. I have family and friends in National
Mine. I'll have to check out whether or not they know their
"anthem."

Greenfield Park Elementary, Detroit, MI.
It was a great school and a fine neighborhood back then, but this is what has become of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBczUO7tUnE

...copy and paste the above address to Google

That is a painful video to watch. Here's a direct link to Greenfield Park Elementary

How very, very sad. I went to Gabriel Richard between 7 and 8 Mile
Roads in Detroit in the mid 50s and early 60s. I wonder what that
looks like now.

My friend Bob Abrahamson wrote a book on this!! He's on
Facebook for any of you interested in this story :)

Danielle, Bob was the person who the
Duluth paper got moat of their information
from. So interesting.