Not far from the shores of Lake Huron sits a small unassuming building in downtown Rogers City.
Some may not know the treasures this building holds.
"It’s part of the history, and to begin with, history is so important," says Richard Adair.
And for many, who do know this is here, that’s why it is so important.
This is Great Lakes history, and the stories of those who made their lives on the water.
"In the 50’s we had nine boats that sailed out of Rogers City, you had to have no education whatsoever, just a strong back and you went sailing," says Richard.
Richard Adair was one of them. For these men, and the women they left behind, it was a hard life.
"You’re gone a week or two weeks at a time, and back in the 50’s there was no vacations, you weren’t getting off the boat. I know I had two children who were born in December, I couldn’t get off for either one because chief just said ‘They don’t need you there. They have a doctor, what are you going to do?" explains Richard.
The pays tribute to anyone who’s worked on the lakes for a period of time.
"We didn’t care if they were a captain, a coal passer, fireman, worked in the galley, as long as you had 6-7 years on the boats," says Richard.
There is a special section honoring those aboard four ships with tragic endings — the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Carl D. Bradley, the Cedarville and the Daniel J. Morell.
Both the Cedarville and the Bradley sailed out of Rogers City.
"There’s something like 33 wives and 50 some children were orphaned in this little town of 2000, kind of overnight. Everybody knew just everybody," explains Richard.
This place is here because of volunteers and donations.
And these collages help pay to run the museum. Anyone with at least 6-7 years of service on the lakes can buy and maintain one, but those numbers are dwindling.
"About 15 years ago, or 10 years, there used to be as many as 10 to 15 coming in, but there’s less around now, so we do usually have 4-8 people come in each fall," says Richard.
But still every November there’s a special memorial for the Fitzgerald, the Morell and the Bradley, because it’s history, and stories, and people. Things we can never forget.
"You start seeing papers from the 50’s when the gravity went down and the families and the funerals, and these kids were 18 years old. This one young fellow was 18 on his first trip on the Great Lakes, the on Carl D. Bradley, another person had to get off because his father died, he had to take his place. He didn’t even get to make a full trip. Like I say, it’s history. "
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