"The Brockton Tragedy at Moosehead Lake" by James E. Benson and Nicole B. Casper

128 pages; Published by The History Press ©2018

An annual fishing excursion among ten friends at Moosehead Lake turns tragic in the spring of 1928. Older residents of Brockton, MA may recall the story of the Mac II sinking and claiming the lives of her captain and nine of the vacationers. For those that haven't heard of it, "The Brockton Tragedy" looks back at the events that took place on the secluded waters in the Pine Tree State.

The city of Brockton worked together with Maine's State Forestry Service to bring the Mac II to surface and recover the bodies of those lost. In a time when the fastest way to send and get information was a landline telephone and the mail, families of the missing men were anxious for any information they could get.

Moosehead Lake has been a favorite vacation for people who love the outdoors. "Brockton Tragedy" gives the reader a look at the 75,471 acres that provide plenty of space and opportunity for outdoorsy people to camp, hike, hunt, and fish. But Mother Nature can be as unpredictable and punishing as she can be beautiful, especially in May, when temperatures in the great north woods are still cold and hypothermia is still a risk, even when you properly pack for a camping excursion.

The book gives you a look at the upbringing and careers of the victims and the families they left behind. The efforts of the city of Brockton and its booming economy and the rural towns of Maine offer a contrast between the two areas as they work together, first to rescue the missing men, then to recover their bodies. It also tells of the political wrangling between Mayor Harold Bent, city council, and Brockton's Alderman as men inside City Hall begin to oppose Bent's original order to "Spare no expense" as the costs of the mission rise and some expenditures can't be explained. "Brockton Tragedy" does an excellent job of illustrating the outdoors, life of a bygone era, and the efforts of people to help those in need and a city mourning their own, especially in the immigrant communities.


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