The man standing beside Father Baraga’s Cross is John Sayovitz of Ely, Minnesota. The photo was taken on Easter 1955. According to his grandson, Mike Koski of Ely, many Slovenians from Ely would make trips to the cross where their compatriate, Father Frederic Baraga, and a Native guide made a safe landing after a treacherous trip across Lake Superior in 1846. They set up a cross in thanks to God before making their way to Grand Portage to help with an epidemic. The original cross was eventually memorialized with this one.
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