Community Corner
Landmark Hermosa: Titanic Anniversary
If you guessed the Titanic for this morning's trivia, you were right.
Ninety-nine years ago, the infamous ocean liner Titanic struck an iceberg and sank several days after beginning its maiden voyage from England to New York on April 10, 1912.
Formally named R.M.S. Titanic, the British registered, four-funneled luxury ocean liner was the largest vessel afloat for its time.
Though deemed "unsinkable," the ship could not defeat the iceberg that sealed its fate—reportedly striking it at about 10:25 p.m. April 14, sinking just hours later on April 15.
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Most of us remember this event through film, such as James Cameron's Titanic, which won 11 Academy Awards, including best picture and best director.
But there is no one who remembers the catastrophic sinking like the late Hermosa Beach resident Edwina "Winnie" MacKenzie.
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One of the oldest known survivors of the Titanic, MacKenzie was 27 at the time of the tragedy, according to an archived report from the Associated Press dated April 11, 1982.
She died in 1984, but Patch found that she often recalled her experiences on the Titanic in interviews with the media.
On MacKenzie’s voyage from her native England to America to see her sister, she was not originally booked on the Titanic, according to a People magazine article dated April 21, 1975. MacKenzie was booked on the Oceanic, which was scheduled to leave on April 13, 1912.
“My friends thought it wouldn't be lucky to sail on the 13th,” she told People magazine. So she booked her trip on the Titanic.
Ironically, the number MacKenzie avoided was the one that saved her from the sinking ship, as she was rescued on lifeboat 13.
"When [the ship] finally went under … that scream of death was worse than any siren," MacKenzie remembered.
Before MacKenzie died in December 1984, she resided in Hermosa Beach during her retirement and celebrated her 100th birthday on June 30 that same year.
The Titanic Historical Society holds an anniversary commemoration every year on April 15. The ship's centennial celebration will be held next year.
Congratulations to for correctly guessing today's Landmark Hermosa. We'll have a new trivia challenge next Friday.
