Vince Mpls
@vincempls.bsky.social
Minneapolis urbanist, Saint Paul enthusiast, transit nerd, #localangle fan, called "an amateur historian" by Fox News.
🏳️🌈📍Twin Cities, Mni Sóta
🏳️🌈📍Twin Cities, Mni Sóta
#OnThisDay Nov 11, 1975 at dawn: Despite a massive overnight search with multiple ships and aircraft, by now it is clear the Fitzgerald has been lost with all 29 souls. Only debris and her lifeboats are found, drifting empty.
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 11, 1975 at dawn: Despite a massive overnight search with multiple ships and aircraft, by now it is clear the Fitzgerald has been lost with all 29 souls. Only debris and her lifeboats are found, drifting empty.
Nov 10, 1975 9:03pm: Reaching safe harbor at Whitefish Bay after many attempts to contact Fitzgerald, the Anderson reports Fitzgerald missing. The Coast Guard, with no available ships, asks Captain Cooper to go back into the storm and search for her. He agrees and is joined by SS William Clay Ford.
November 11, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Nov 10, 1975 9:03pm: Reaching safe harbor at Whitefish Bay after many attempts to contact Fitzgerald, the Anderson reports Fitzgerald missing. The Coast Guard, with no available ships, asks Captain Cooper to go back into the storm and search for her. He agrees and is joined by SS William Clay Ford.
November 10, 1975 7:20pm: Edmund Fitzgerald enters a particularly heavy squall line and disappears from the Arthur M. Anderson's radar. She is never seen or heard from again.
November 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
November 10, 1975 7:20pm: Edmund Fitzgerald enters a particularly heavy squall line and disappears from the Arthur M. Anderson's radar. She is never seen or heard from again.
November 10, 1975 7:10pm: The last radio communication.
Anderson: "Fitzgerald, we are about 10 miles behind you, and gaining about 1 1/2 miles per hour. How are you making out with your problem?"
Fitzgerald: "We are holding our own."
Anderson: "Fitzgerald, we are about 10 miles behind you, and gaining about 1 1/2 miles per hour. How are you making out with your problem?"
Fitzgerald: "We are holding our own."
November 11, 2025 at 1:10 AM
November 10, 1975 7:10pm: The last radio communication.
Anderson: "Fitzgerald, we are about 10 miles behind you, and gaining about 1 1/2 miles per hour. How are you making out with your problem?"
Fitzgerald: "We are holding our own."
Anderson: "Fitzgerald, we are about 10 miles behind you, and gaining about 1 1/2 miles per hour. How are you making out with your problem?"
Fitzgerald: "We are holding our own."
November 10, 1975 4:15-6:00pm: Fitzgerald radios Anderson "I have lost both radars, can you provide me with plots?" "Charlie on that, Fitzgerald."
Fitzgerald also cannot find the beacon at Whitefish Point, and calls for any vessels with information. They are told the lighthouse is not operating.
Fitzgerald also cannot find the beacon at Whitefish Point, and calls for any vessels with information. They are told the lighthouse is not operating.
November 10, 2025 at 10:24 PM
November 10, 1975 4:15-6:00pm: Fitzgerald radios Anderson "I have lost both radars, can you provide me with plots?" "Charlie on that, Fitzgerald."
Fitzgerald also cannot find the beacon at Whitefish Point, and calls for any vessels with information. They are told the lighthouse is not operating.
Fitzgerald also cannot find the beacon at Whitefish Point, and calls for any vessels with information. They are told the lighthouse is not operating.
November 10, 1975 3:35pm: The storm reaches hurricane force, with winds shifting from northeast to northwest. Waves building on the open lake now have a direct path across it. The Soo Locks close and the US Coast Guard broadcasts a warning for all ships to seek safe anchorage.
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
November 10, 1975 3:35pm: The storm reaches hurricane force, with winds shifting from northeast to northwest. Waves building on the open lake now have a direct path across it. The Soo Locks close and the US Coast Guard broadcasts a warning for all ships to seek safe anchorage.
November 10, 1975 3:30pm: The first sign of trouble.
"Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald. I have sustained some topside damage. I have a fence rail laid down, two vents lost, and a list. I'm checking down. Will you stay by me til I get to Whitefish?"
"Charlie on that Fitzgerald."
"Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald. I have sustained some topside damage. I have a fence rail laid down, two vents lost, and a list. I'm checking down. Will you stay by me til I get to Whitefish?"
"Charlie on that Fitzgerald."
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
November 10, 1975 3:30pm: The first sign of trouble.
"Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald. I have sustained some topside damage. I have a fence rail laid down, two vents lost, and a list. I'm checking down. Will you stay by me til I get to Whitefish?"
"Charlie on that Fitzgerald."
"Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald. I have sustained some topside damage. I have a fence rail laid down, two vents lost, and a list. I'm checking down. Will you stay by me til I get to Whitefish?"
"Charlie on that Fitzgerald."
November 10, 1975 3:20pm: Both vessels now pass Michipicoten Island. Captain Jesse B. "Bernie" Cooper of the Anderson watches on radar as Fitzgerald nears Caribou Island and comments that the Fitz is much closer to Six Fathom Shoal than he would want to be. Winds are 50mph.
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 PM
November 10, 1975 3:20pm: Both vessels now pass Michipicoten Island. Captain Jesse B. "Bernie" Cooper of the Anderson watches on radar as Fitzgerald nears Caribou Island and comments that the Fitz is much closer to Six Fathom Shoal than he would want to be. Winds are 50mph.
November 10, 1975 12:00pm: After subsiding as the eye of the storm passes over the Lake into Ontario, winds and waves now pick up rapidly. At 1:50pm Fitzgerald enters a snow squall and Anderson, 16 miles behind, loses sight of her. From this point on, the Fitz can only be seen on radar.
November 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
November 10, 1975 12:00pm: After subsiding as the eye of the storm passes over the Lake into Ontario, winds and waves now pick up rapidly. At 1:50pm Fitzgerald enters a snow squall and Anderson, 16 miles behind, loses sight of her. From this point on, the Fitz can only be seen on radar.
#OnThisDay Nov 10, 2025 just past midnight: About 20 miles south of Isle Royale, Edmund Fitzgerald and Arthur M. Anderson begin to encounter the storm. By 1:00 am waves are 10ft high and winds howl between 50-60mph.
November 10, 2025 at 6:07 AM
#OnThisDay Nov 10, 2025 just past midnight: About 20 miles south of Isle Royale, Edmund Fitzgerald and Arthur M. Anderson begin to encounter the storm. By 1:00 am waves are 10ft high and winds howl between 50-60mph.
Reminds me of this 1910 postcard, depicting St Paul as the "center of the earth"
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Reminds me of this 1910 postcard, depicting St Paul as the "center of the earth"
Great pic, one I don't have! Sheffield was new in 1892 and still all wood by 1910 when the photo below (L) was taken. Then your photo above is when concrete silos were added, by 1920s the whole thing (R) was concrete. This marks the transition between 1st and 2nd generation elevator technology.
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Great pic, one I don't have! Sheffield was new in 1892 and still all wood by 1910 when the photo below (L) was taken. Then your photo above is when concrete silos were added, by 1920s the whole thing (R) was concrete. This marks the transition between 1st and 2nd generation elevator technology.
#OnThisDay Nov 9 1975, 7pm: The National Weather Service issues a gale warning for all of Lake Superior, predicting a storm would pass just to the south by 7am. The report is not unusual for November. Captains of the two vessels decide on a northerly course in an attempt to gain some shelter.
November 10, 2025 at 1:10 AM
#OnThisDay Nov 9 1975, 7pm: The National Weather Service issues a gale warning for all of Lake Superior, predicting a storm would pass just to the south by 7am. The report is not unusual for November. Captains of the two vessels decide on a northerly course in an attempt to gain some shelter.
For a start I recommend my friend Penny Peterson's book "Minneapolis Madams" which has maps of the old red light districts around the railroads. Amazing hidden story with some land use thrown in!
November 10, 2025 at 12:27 AM
For a start I recommend my friend Penny Peterson's book "Minneapolis Madams" which has maps of the old red light districts around the railroads. Amazing hidden story with some land use thrown in!
#OnThisDay Nov 9, 1975, 5pm: Edmund Fitzgerald encounters the Arthur M. Anderson as it comes out of Two Harbors, Minnesota enroute to Gary, Indiana. Aware of a building November storm, the two captains agree to travel together on a northerly course. At this point they are 15 miles apart.
November 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 9, 1975, 5pm: Edmund Fitzgerald encounters the Arthur M. Anderson as it comes out of Two Harbors, Minnesota enroute to Gary, Indiana. Aware of a building November storm, the two captains agree to travel together on a northerly course. At this point they are 15 miles apart.
#OnThisDay Nov 9, 1975, 2:15pm: SS Edmund Fitzgerald pulls away from Burlington Northern Railroad Ore Dock No. 1 in Superior, Wisconsin, laden with 26,000 long tons of taconite destined for National Steel at River Rouge in Detroit, Michigan.
November 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 9, 1975, 2:15pm: SS Edmund Fitzgerald pulls away from Burlington Northern Railroad Ore Dock No. 1 in Superior, Wisconsin, laden with 26,000 long tons of taconite destined for National Steel at River Rouge in Detroit, Michigan.
#OnThisDay Nov 9, 1913: The nearly week-long Great Lakes "White Hurricane" of 1913 reaches its most violent day, sinking 17 ships and killing over 250 people. The storm remains the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster to hit the Lakes in recorded history.
November 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 9, 1913: The nearly week-long Great Lakes "White Hurricane" of 1913 reaches its most violent day, sinking 17 ships and killing over 250 people. The storm remains the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster to hit the Lakes in recorded history.
Glen Taylor's phone call today should start: "Give me one reason why I don't fire everyone associated with this abomination, starting with you."
November 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Glen Taylor's phone call today should start: "Give me one reason why I don't fire everyone associated with this abomination, starting with you."
Al's Breakfast in @dinkytown.bsky.social, among the most historic and famous eateries in Minnesota, perhaps all of the Upper Midwest, was done dirty by the @startribune.com this morning.
November 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Al's Breakfast in @dinkytown.bsky.social, among the most historic and famous eateries in Minnesota, perhaps all of the Upper Midwest, was done dirty by the @startribune.com this morning.
#OnThisDay Nov 8, 1898: The Kensington Runestone is "discovered" on Olof Ohman's farm near Alexandria, Minnesota. Its engravings tell of Vikings who traveled here in 1362. Scholarly consensus classifies it as a hoax, but there remain true believers convinced the stone is authentic.
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 8, 1898: The Kensington Runestone is "discovered" on Olof Ohman's farm near Alexandria, Minnesota. Its engravings tell of Vikings who traveled here in 1362. Scholarly consensus classifies it as a hoax, but there remain true believers convinced the stone is authentic.
#OnThisDay Nov 8, 1926: A crowd of 15,000 attends as the governor cuts the ribbon on the new Mendota Bridge. Designed by famed engineer C. A. P. Turner, at the time it was the longest concrete arch span in the world. The old Mendota Ferry, operating since 1839, ended service the next day.
November 8, 2025 at 3:29 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 8, 1926: A crowd of 15,000 attends as the governor cuts the ribbon on the new Mendota Bridge. Designed by famed engineer C. A. P. Turner, at the time it was the longest concrete arch span in the world. The old Mendota Ferry, operating since 1839, ended service the next day.
Large multi-agency response at the staircase leading down to East River Flats. Presence of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and no Fire/Rescue indicates... not good things.
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Large multi-agency response at the staircase leading down to East River Flats. Presence of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and no Fire/Rescue indicates... not good things.
#OnThisDay Nov 7, 1938: Majorettes distribute flowers and release pigeons to celebrate new equipment on the Milwaukee Road's "Twin Cities Hiawatha." The streamlined passenger cars with unique "Beaver Tail" end design were pulled by the new F7 steam locomotives, among the fastest in the world.
November 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 7, 1938: Majorettes distribute flowers and release pigeons to celebrate new equipment on the Milwaukee Road's "Twin Cities Hiawatha." The streamlined passenger cars with unique "Beaver Tail" end design were pulled by the new F7 steam locomotives, among the fastest in the world.
#OnThisDay Nov 7, 1885: The Canadian Pacific Railway steamer "Algoma" runs aground and breaks in two during a blinding snowstorm just north of Isle Royal. 46 passengers and crew die in what remains the largest single loss of life in the history of @lakesuperior.bsky.social shipping.
November 7, 2025 at 1:09 PM
#OnThisDay Nov 7, 1885: The Canadian Pacific Railway steamer "Algoma" runs aground and breaks in two during a blinding snowstorm just north of Isle Royal. 46 passengers and crew die in what remains the largest single loss of life in the history of @lakesuperior.bsky.social shipping.
hovering over the W side of the stone arch
November 7, 2025 at 5:02 AM
hovering over the W side of the stone arch