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The life ring and a piece of a lifeboat from the legendary Edmund Fitzgerald fetched a staggering $150,000 at auction in Detroit on Friday, far exceeding expectations and coming just weeks after the 50th anniversary of the ship’s tragic sinking in Lake Superior.
Larry Orr, the 77-year-old longtime owner of the artifacts, expressed disbelief at the final sale price. “I’m dumbfounded,” said Orr, who now lives in Yulee, Florida. “I never believed in a million years it would go for that much money. Shocked.”
The historic items were discovered by Orr, who was working as a carpenter in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 1975. Eight days after the ore carrier sank with 29 crew members aboard, Orr found the life ring and a wooden piece from a lifeboat while taking a break from his job. The discovery came during a period of intense public interest in the maritime disaster that had occurred during a ferocious November storm on Lake Superior.
DuMouchelles, a Detroit auction house and art gallery, handled the sale. The auction house, located just a block from Mariners’ Church—where a bell is solemnly tolled each year to commemorate the sinking—did not disclose the buyer’s identity.
The Edmund Fitzgerald, often referred to simply as the “Fitz,” has maintained a powerful hold on public imagination for half a century. The 729-foot vessel was one of the largest ships on the Great Lakes, capable of carrying more than 26,000 tons of iron ore between Midwest ports. When it sank on November 10, 1975, in a storm with winds exceeding 60 mph and waves reported at up to 35 feet, it represented one of the most significant maritime disasters in Great Lakes history.
Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot immortalized the tragedy in his 1976 ballad “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” which became a hit single and cemented the ship’s place in popular culture. The haunting lyrics and melody helped transform the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald from a regional tragedy to an enduring piece of North American folklore.
For decades after his discovery, Orr had allowed a Michigan museum to display the artifacts, preserving these tangible connections to the infamous shipwreck for public viewing. His decision to sell the items came from financial necessity, he said.
In an unusual twist to the story, Orr had recently agreed to give the artifacts to the state of Michigan as part of a $600,000 settlement in an unrelated misconduct lawsuit against state police. However, after The Associated Press reported on this peculiar arrangement, the state agreed to return the items to Orr. Importantly, the financial terms of Orr’s settlement remained unchanged despite this reversal.
Maritime historians consider the Edmund Fitzgerald artifacts particularly valuable because so little was recovered from the shipwreck. The vessel lies at a depth of 535 feet in Lake Superior, making salvage operations extremely difficult. Additionally, the site is now protected as a maritime grave, further limiting access to items from the ship.
The significant auction price reflects both the rarity of Edmund Fitzgerald artifacts and the enduring public fascination with the disaster. The ship’s legacy continues to resonate through museums, books, documentaries, and annual remembrance ceremonies throughout the Great Lakes region.
The sale marks one of the highest prices ever paid at auction for artifacts from a Great Lakes shipwreck, underscoring the Edmund Fitzgerald’s unique place in maritime history and American cultural memory as one of the most famous shipwrecks of the modern era.
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13 Comments
It’s remarkable that these simple objects – a life ring and lifeboat fragment – from the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck could fetch $150,000 at auction. This speaks to the enduring legacy and cultural significance of this legendary maritime disaster.
Wow, $150,000 for a life ring and lifeboat piece from the Edmund Fitzgerald – that’s an astounding price. It really speaks to the enduring fascination with this legendary shipwreck and the lives lost that day on Lake Superior.
The discovery of these artifacts 8 days after the sinking must have been an eerie and poignant moment. It’s incredible that they’ve now been auctioned off for $150,000, underscoring the lasting impact of this tragic event.
Absolutely. The powerful folk song ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ has ensured this disaster remains part of our cultural memory. These relics have taken on an almost sacred significance.
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is seared into the public consciousness, and these artifacts from the wreck have taken on an almost mythic significance. The high auction price reflects the profound and lasting impact of this tragedy.
Absolutely. These simple objects have become sacred relics, tangible connections to a disaster that has left an indelible mark on our collective memory. Their value transcends the material.
The high sale price for these artifacts underscores the profound and lasting impact of the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy. Even decades later, this disaster continues to captivate the public imagination and command respect.
Agreed. These relics have become almost sacred objects, imbued with the tragic history and symbolism of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Their value goes far beyond the material.
Fascinating that these tragic artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck fetched such an astronomical price at auction. It speaks to the enduring fascination and reverence people have for this iconic maritime disaster.
Indeed, the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is seared into the public consciousness. The high sale price reflects the historical significance and emotional resonance of these relics from the ill-fated ship.
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 was a watershed moment in Great Lakes maritime history. The high auction price for these artifacts reflects the profound impact this tragedy continues to have on the public imagination.
Absolutely. The Edmund Fitzgerald has become an almost mythic symbol of the power and danger of the Great Lakes. These relics serve as poignant reminders of the human cost of that fateful November storm.
Wow, $150,000 for a life ring and lifeboat piece from the Edmund Fitzgerald – that’s an astonishing price. This speaks to the enduring fascination and reverence people have for this legendary maritime disaster and the lives lost.