Bell-ringing Marks 60 Years Since Cedarville Sinking
ROGERS CITY, MI – A moving ceremony Saturday at the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum in Rogers City, MI, marked the 60th anniversary of the sinking of the Bradley Transportation Lines limestone carrier Cedarville.
The self-unloader sank May 7, 1965, after being rammed by the Norwegian bulk carrier Topdalsfjord in dense fog in the Straits of Mackinac. Ten crewmen from Rogers City died in the tragedy.
Descendants of the Cedarville ‘s crew, Great Lakes Lore volunteers and others, stepped up to sound a large brass bell one time for each member of the crew and place a carnation in a vase.
“Your loved ones are not forgotten. Their names are etched not only in stone but in our hearts and in the very soul of our city. Their courage on the Great Lakes and the quiet heroism of their daily lives lives on in us,” Mayor Scott McLennan told the audience.
“More than a maritime tragedy, it was a deeply personal loss for Rogers City,” he added. “Just a few years earlier our community had endured the heartbreak of losing 23 men from Rogers City aboard the Carl D. Bradley. Think of what that meant for a community of our size to experience such a devastating loss again in a single generation was unimaginable. These weren’t just sailors. They were our fathers, our brothers our neighbors, classmates and friends.”
The Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum differs from others because it not only pays tribute to ships and sailors that were lost on the lakes, it also honors ordinary sailors, unsung heroes who, day in and day in and day out, have done the important job of providing for their families and contributing to the vital role the shipping industry plays in the success of our country. Photographs line the walls of just such individuals, along with life rings, photos, ship models and other memorabilia.
“The spirit of standing together in times of tragedy is part of our identity here in Rogers City It’s what carried us through our darkest days and it’s what continues to define us as a community today,” McLellan added.
Director Mike Horn, past director Roger Hulett also spoke.
Those who survived the Cedarville collision were picked up by the German freighter Weissenburg and subsequently transferred to the US Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw.
A U.S. Coast Guard inquiry into the incident found that Capt. Martin Joppich of the Cedarville was at fault for the sinking and was charged with four counts of faulty seamanship. He initially pleaded innocent, but in August 1965 changed his plea to guilty. His license was suspended for a year as a result of the inquiry.
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Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!
- When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
- Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
- Limit: 100 passengers
- Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
- General Adult Admission:
-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)
-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)
-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)
- Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
- Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
- Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.
This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.
Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).
Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.
If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.
Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.
Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.
