The Fairport Harbor Historical Society presents 'Reflections of the Sole Survivor' ... An Evening with Dennis Hale

On November 29, 1966, gale-force winds ripped the freighter Daniel J. Morrell in two and sunk the vessel in Lake Huron.  The Morrell was a 603' lake freighter built in 1906.  It had left Buffalo, N.Y. and was on its way to Taconite Harbor, Minnesota when the witch of November struck.  Around 2am, the freighter was in its death throes.  Of the twenty-eight crew members only watchman Dennis Hale and three others made it to a life raft. Facing thirty foot waves and frigid waters, Dennis persevered two nights clad only in a life jacket, peacoat and underwear to become the sole survivor.

Mr. Hale will share his lake experiences and this unbelievable true story of survival.  Author of Sole Survivor (1966), his new autobiographical book Shipwrecked ( 2010) will be available for sale after the program.  This free program will begin at 7pm on Thursday, October 20th.  It will be held in the community room of the Fairport Public Library.  The library is part of Fairport Harding High School located at 329 Vine Street.  The event is sponsored by the Fairport Harbor Historical Society and Friends of the Library.