The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a tragedy that is remembered with reverence and intrigue across the Great Lakes every year.

Twenty-nine sailors lost their lives on November 10, 1975, and the exact cause of the sinking remains a mystery. Gordon Lightfoot’s epic retelling, “The Wreckage of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” firmly placed the story of the Fitz’s in the national public consciousness.

But, the Edmund Fitzgerald—the largest freighter on the Great Lakes at the time— was always part of Detroit history. It was built, christened, and launched in the Detroit River. It carried record-breaking loads of iron ore and was known as a workhorse in Great Lakes shipping. It’s intended stop before sinking was Zug Island.

This year marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and the ship’s Detroit connection took center stage at several events over the weekend.

Victoria Stewart is Assistant Director of the Humanities Center at Wayne State University.

She created a pop-up exhibition “The Gales of November, Remembered: Detroit and the Edmund Fitzgerald.” It was on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and Mariners’ Church in Downtown Detroit to commemorate 50 years since the ship sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975.

Stewart spoke to The Metro about the ship’s Detroit connections and the timelessness of it’s story.

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At least five people, including the attacker, are dead after a gunman opened fire inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday morning. Eight others were taken to the hospital.

The shooter has been identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a military veteran from Burton, Michigan. Authorities say he rammed his truck into the church just before 10:30 a.m. local time and opened fire on the Mormon congregation.

The church was also set on fire during the ordeal. Investigators believe Sanford intentionally started the blaze and likely used an accelerant to intensify the flames.

Grand Blanc Township police chief William Renye, says local authorities were on the scene within minutes.

“The suspect,” says Renye, “was neutralized at 10:33:44 a.m. in the parking lot of that church.”

The FBI is leading an investigation into the attack and is treating it as a targeted act of violence. State law enforcement say they’ve responded to a number of bomb threats in the community following the Grand Blanc attack.

When asked whether the attack on the Mormon church was retaliation for the shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah, Michigan State Police lieutenant Kimberly Vetter says it’s too soon to pinpoint a motive.

“That’s exactly what it is,” says Vetter, “is speculation. And we won’t come to those types of conclusions for some time.”

Law enforcement say they have not yet determined whether there are additional bodies in the burned-out church.

The FBI is asking members of the public to share any information that may help with the investigation.  That can be done by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by using the Bureau’s online tip portal.