Cedarville sinking and crew to be remembered
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
May 7, 1965 is a day that touched the lives of many as the Cedarville sank just east of the Mackinac Bridge, taking10 crew members with it. The ship was loaded with 14,411 tons of limestone from the Rogers City port of Calcite and was en route to Gary, Indiana when in heavy fog about a mile east of the Mighty Mac the ship collided with the S.S. Topdalsfjord a Norwegian ship. Due to a miscommunication between the two ships in the heavy, dense fog the ships collided with the Topdalsfjord?s bow leaving a large hole in the Cedarville?s hull below the waterline.
Within minutes of the collision a slight list to the port had developed. Captain Martin Joppich then took precautions to try to counteract the listing and intended to run the ship aground to prevent it from sinking. The ship took off towards the land; however, the weight of the water coming in the hole in hull forced the bow down and caused the ship to roll and then sink around 10 a.m. that morning.
Of the 35 crew members 10 were lost leaving 10 widowed women and 31 children left without a father. Nine of the crew that passed on the ship called Rogers City home. Lost on that fateful tragic day were William B. Asam, Wilbert W. Bredow, Arthur J. Fuhrman, Charles H. Cook, Stanley Haske, Eugene F. Jones, Frank Donald Lamp, Reinhold Frederick Radtke and Hugh Wingo all of Rogers City, and Edmund H. Jungman of Frederick.
THIS YEAR marking the 46th Anniversary of the sinking the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum, will hold a bell-tolling service for the crew on May 7 at 2 p.m. at the museum located on Third Street in Rogers City. President of the museum and Cedarville survivor Dave Erickson will give a brief account of what happened that day before the bell is t
Bell ringers are needed for the ceremony, which is free of charge, the public is welcome. Following the ceremony the museum will be open for browsing including the memorial room dedicated to the Cedarville, Carl D. Bradley, Edmund Fitzgerald and Daniel J. Morrell. For more information on the event contact the museum at (989) 734-0706. IN ADDITION to the ceremony to be held in Rogers City a memorial service for the Cedarville will also be held as part of the Mackinaw Maritime Festival on Saturday, June 11.
At 9:30 a.m. on June 11 on the fantail deck of the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum a Coast Guard helicopter fly over will begin the events before a memorial service is held for the crew of the Cedarville, which will include bell tolling and presentations as well as a song from Dan Hall before the blessing of the fleet service. At 12:30 p.m. a Shepler?s Mackinac Island Ferry will offer a trip to the site of the wreck of the Cedarville with a service and commemorative wreath laying ceremony. For more information on the events as a part of the Mackinaw Maritime Festival contact the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association at (231) 436-5580 or e-mail at info@gllka.com.