19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, November 23, 1914: <<no entry>>
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
I always find it interesting to see what national news made headlines in central Pennsylvania. This article was the top center headline on the front page of Grandma’s local newspaper, the Milton Evening Standard, a hundred years ago today.
What a sad story—So many lives were lost due to the extreme weather. .
It makes me think about another, more recent, November maritime disaster on Lake Superior—the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975 which was memorialized in the song by Gordon Lightfoot.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early
A Hundred Years Ago 
It certainly is very sad. High winds can be very frightening.
Storms can be so dangerous.
Such a sad history for the storms on the Great Lakes. It’s bad enough being on land in November gales!
So many ships have been lost over the years those lakes. It’s hard to imagine what it must be like on the water during a fierce gale.
The tune from that song sticks in my head. Especially appropriate given the huge storm that blew in so much snow in Buffalo. I can’t even imagine the devastation.
I also thought about the terrible storm in Buffalo when I wrote this post. The weather on and near the Great Lakes can be so extreme.
That sinking and song also came to mind for me. It is a dangerous place during storms.
Whenever I’ve seen the Great Lakes they’ve been fairly calm. It’s hard to imagine how incredibly violent the gales are.
True. One brief storm is bad enough. But a system that blows for two or three days at 30-40 mph will really cause havoc.
Here is an example of how rough it can be. http://youtu.be/c8FaotwbMdw
Whew, I won’t have wanted to have been on that ship. Thanks for sharing the link.
I remember and love that song so much! A true songwriter.
I’ve also always liked The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It so vividly describes the tragedy.
One of my favorite songs by my absolutely favorite singer, Gordon Lightfoot.
He’s a wonderful singer!
“More than half a hundred” … made me stop and calculate. 🙂 An interesting way to put it.
Yes, it is an unusual way of phrasing it. I had to read the article title a couple of times to make sure that I understood what the number meant.
Great post. I love the song and the story. Jane
I’m glad you liked this post. I’ve always really liked the song, too.
How sad.
I agree–The storm caused so much devastation and so many lives were lost.
Another blogger i follow has written alot about various maritime accidents and they are indeed tragic
There have so many really horrific maritime accidents over the years.
There’s another song, by Canadian Stan Rogers, that talks about the weather on the Great Lakes–“don’t take the lakes for granted. It can go from calm to 100 knots so fast it seems enchanted.” Another beautiful song about the force of nature.
Thanks for telling me about this song. I’d never heard of it until I read your comment, but I googled it and found White Squall on YouTube. It is another sad, beautiful song about the Great Lakes.
Stan Rogers was an amazing writer and singer of folksongs–if you like that kind of music, look for his songs “Mary Ellen Carter” and “Make and Break Harbour,” among others.
I’ve just spent the last 5 or 10 minutes listening to Stan Rogers songs. His songs are wonderful!
Those were my thoughts exaclty. Until I saw Lake Erie, I had no idea how large those lakes are and how in an instant a ship can be lost. I also enjoy you posting the articles, thanks!
And, Lake Erie is one of the smaller great lakes. It’s nice to hear that you enjoy these article.
I know I still have trouble believing how much larger the ones are. I am learning alot about our little area.