The Mataafa Storm of 1905 features prominently in novel, ‘A Lesser Light’

I was staying up at Lake Superior in early April, in what turned out to be a blizzard. 

There wasn’t much to do in such monstrous weather, so I spent quite a bit of time playing board games with my brothers’ family, as the fierce winds whistled outside. When the storm seemed to be especially raging, I got up to the window to have a closer look. The waves on the lake were enormous, creating giant peaks and crashing down on the water below. My brother, sensing the excitement of the moment, opened the door to the deck of the resort where we were staying. The water smashed up against the rocks below. He had to call out in order to be heard. 

“This is insane!” he cried, the winds swirling around him. 

My brothers’ kids were on spring break from school, but there was nothing that looked like spring during the few days I was up there on the lake. I arrived just before a blizzard hit, and spent much of the ti...