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The legend of the watches

Pocket watch with missing handsThe storm shocked the local population and the resulting trauma was felt throughout the Great Lakes region. The event left a lasting mark and took root in popular culture. This is why, in the years that followed, the Great Storm of 1913 was the subject of many myths and legends. Of course, some of them were inspired by true stories.

 

Porthole frame broken in half with missing glass.One of the most famous stories is about watches that were found on the bodies of sailors that washed ashore. Many of the bodies that were found along both the Canadian and American sides of Lake Huron all had the same time on their watches: 1:25. It would seem that all their watches had stopped at the same time. It is believed that at 1:25 the storm would have been at its worst and this is when many of the ships on Lake Huron would have sunk.

Glass container containing many wooden matches.Damaged glass bottle with a seal on its neck.