> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: /llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# History is recorded within the pages of local newspapers
- URL: /history-is-recorded-within-the-pages-of-local-newspapers/
- Published: 2026-09-15T13:54:39.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T13:56:03.000Z
- Description: Letter to the Editor: History is recorded within the pages of local newspapers
- Author: Expositor Staff
- Tags: Letters to the Editor

### Too many tragedies are contained within—we must learn from the past

To the Expositor:

Island history would be made and forgotten if it wasn’t for our Island newspaper. 

I’m not sure that Islanders fully appreciate how important it is to record our history. Even iPhones are losing out to our newspaper, as news items and photos are taken and most often never seen again; as our memories fail to recount even what’s on our phones. 

The recent story of the two men lost in the fog and waves on our south shore tells that they never took the time to read of hundreds of shipwrecks and loss of life around the Island waters, especially along the south shore of Manitoulin. One reason the “turkey trail” was much easier to transverse was the protection the boats got from the Manitoulin Island. In my time living close to the South Shore, I’ve helped to search for six bodies along the South Shore. 

As I read of all the shipwrecks around the Island “from our old Island newspaper” clippings I can read the Asia steamship had the worst loss of over 120 people perishing. Still a record number for Lake Huron.

The “Agawa” ran aground between Timber Bay and Michael’s Bay, loaded with wheat and was there for the winter, allowing local farmers to save what wheat they could for their animals. 

Without checking history, you can end up like these two gentlemen and thank goodness they are safe. And again, we have to thank our first responders, in this case, Paul Sheppard. 

Lyle Dewar

Providence Bay

[Letters to the Editor - The Manitoulin ExpositorHave something to say? Please do! Send your letters to “editor@manitoulin.com”.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/45/6945cc49-bc3b-4cc3-bace-d0f9afcaa217/content/images/icon/Manitoulin-Expositor-favicon-c689f2e9-bfb5-45f2-9429-428b0624e7cb.jpg)The Manitoulin ExpositorExpositor Staff![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/45/6945cc49-bc3b-4cc3-bace-d0f9afcaa217/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1630032866155-f87ec4d047bd-639a0ab5-6935-46ad-be17-2c602bfe46d2.jpg)](/tag/letters-to-the-editor/)