35 inducted into maritime lore musuem
Mike ModrzynskiMaritime history is a strong element of the heritage of port communities like Rogers City as well as along the shores of all the Great Lakes, and Saturday more than 300 people gathered to salute the 2008 inductees in the halls of the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum.
Thirty-three sailors and two lighthouse keepers were formally inducted Saturday. Museum Director Dave Erickson said the family of these men extends out around the Great Lakes and people who may have never known them all understand the role they played in the maritime history of the region.
"I can remember hearing stories about the sailors and the ships they worked on long before I was old enough to understand what all this meant," Erickson said. "A prime example of how that knowledge stayed with us is the sinking of the (Carl D.) Bradley because, even to this day anyone over the age of eight when she sank can still vividly remember where they were and what transpired that night. The impact these men and the history they made still runs deep in the communities they lived in."
The names of the 24 sailors who were home-ported in Rogers City may not be familiar to all, but the family names do according to Bradley survivor Frank Mayes. He said the crews aboard any of the dozens of vessels sailing on the Great Lakes were likely all from the same hometown or at least the same county and when something happened to one, it happened to all of them.
"The crews were so together that, I have to be honest, many of them I don't recognize by a given name but I can remember them by nickname," Mayes said. "I would wager that many of us older guys can remember old 'Red' Larson, but not many knew his real first name was John. The people who worked on the Great Lakes aboard these steel boats are a fraternity."
The 24 men from Calcite are: Edward A. Berg, fireman; Elen Berg, Captain; Gordon T. Burke, Captain; Clyde "Marty" Enos, stokerman; Harold A. Felax, second cook; Elmer Fleming, first mate; Arthur J. Fuhrman, deckwatch; Cleland Gager, oiler; Richard A. Haneckow, second assistant engineer; Paul C. Heller, stokerman; Eugene Kwiatkoski, chief engineer; John "Red" Larson, first mate; Floyd McDougall, oiler; Carl H. Meyers, Captain; Donald Nauts, Captain; Melville W. Orr, watchman; Alfred Pilarski, second cook; Gary Price, deckhand; Clarence Purgiel, deckwatch; Keith H. Schuler, third assistant engineer; Arnold V. Specht, chief engineer; Earl P. Tulgetske, wheelsman; Randy Veihl, wheelsman; Herman Vogler, first mate; Eric Winter, chief engineer.
The Bird brothers, George M. and Peter C., were lighthouse keepers in the late 1800s at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. Peter was a member of the 24th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War and was wounded during the battle at Gettysburg. He was the first lighthouse keeper in the family and was replaced by George in 1874.
James M. Burke sailed out of Alpena as captain of the S.T. Crapo. His career lasted 40 years.
Nominating a sailor for induction in the museum is as simple of contacting Erickson for a nomination package and supplying the necessary information along with photographs and other needed documentation. He can be reached by calling 734-0706.
Mike Modrzynski can be reached via e-mail at mmodrzynski@thealpenanews.com.
