MichiganWolf

1957 February 1 A contract is signed between the Great Lakes Engineering Works (GLEW) and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company stipulating that GLEW is to design and build the largest ship on the Great Lakes. August 7 The keel of hull number 301 (the Edmund Fitzgerald) is laid in River Rouge, Michigan 1958 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company officially announces they will name the ship for the recently elected chairman of the board, Mr. Edmund Fitzgerald. June 8 The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald is christened, making it the largest freighter sailing on the Great Lakes. September 13 Testing of the seaworthiness (sea trials)