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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2013-11-06, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, November 6, 2013 A play, a book, and remembering a tragedy )Seaforth author releases novel one year in the making For the Expositor What will emerge, as the unique and most treasured his- torical account of the White Hur- ricane of November 1913, is the just released collection of stories and family tales gathered, col- lated and written by Kathleen Pletsch of Seaforth. Pletsch, a first-time author, is herself a descendant of a victim of the 1913 Storm. She is the great - grandniece of Capt. 'Dancing - Laughing Jimmy' James Owen, who went down with all hands on the H.B. Smith, on Nov. 8 1913, embarking from Marquette, Wisconsin. He hurriedly loaded iron ore pellets, apparently under pres- sure from the head office of Haw - good and Company in Cleveland, to get in just one more run before the season closed. The run cost the lives of an estimated 25 crew, the ship and her cargo. The ship was found in May by a team of Minnesota divers, in over 530 feet of water, one hundred years after her loss. The book, 'Dear Ella; has been more than a year in the making as contacts with family members of victims have emerged during the planning process for the cen- tenary remembrance of the Great Storm. Kathy has contacted each family - ranging from Kentucky to Nova Scotia - and has written each story with dignity and respect. Treasured family photos, per- sonal records, treasured memen- tos, family Bible entries and simi- lar items have been shared. Never, in the history of all written documentation of this great mar- itime tragedy, has such an under- taking be attempted. The book is truly unique. The first print run will sell out in a few days. Even as the book is going to press, new stories are emerging: two more in the last three days. The official launch is Fri. Nov. 8 at 12:30 p.m., Vimy Lounge, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 in Goderich, which is Great Lakes Storm 1913 Remembrance Head- quarters during the final events. Contributed photo Capt. lan MacAdam, harbour master and descendant of the two MacDonald boys lost on the Wexford, is pictured with author Kathleen Pletsch, a descendant of Capt. James Owen of the H.B. Smith and Eleanor Robinson, musical director and choreographer for the 'Great Storm Play', about the coincidental ironies of the losses of mythical families in the Warren Robinson play and the realities of the losses of victims in the new book, 'Dear Ella'. The play and the book were recently released. Pre -launch copies are available bookstores and on the Internet at at the centre for Employment and 1913storm.ca under the special Learning in Goderich, local projects tab. The cost is $25. Correction Marissa Scott of Central Huron Secondary School was listed incorrectly in our Graduate Edition. We apologize for the error. get it me 4,0n seaforthhuronexpositor.com *4 SCOtia b rtie 01.W1*41,-- What's in a name? A lot more than you'd expect. DundeeWealth, now part of Scotiabank, has become HollisWealth. Our advisors still have the freedom to provide you with independent advice like they always have, only now they're backed by the strength of Canada's most international bank. It's this perfect combination of flexibility and stability that proves HollisWealth is more than just a new name. Visit holliswealth.com H011isWealthm . . HollisWealth is a trade name of Scotia Capital Inc., HollisWealth Insurance Agency Ltd. and HollisWealth Advisory Services Inc. Scotia Capital Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor CIIIIIIIIIIIIIIId1101lProtection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. HollisWealth Advisory Services Inc. is a member of the Mutual Fund Dealer Association of Canada and the MFDA Investor Protection Corporation. 0 Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under license. Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence.