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The Schooner Rouse Simmons. |
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The Schooner Rouse Simmons. |
But in 1910 a Wisconsin-born lake captain, Herman Schuenemann, bought an interest in the vessel. It was a common practice at the time for two or more businessmen to form a partnership and purchase shares in an expensive schooner. Schuenemann was a veteran schooner master who had hauled Christmas trees to Chicago for nearly three decades, but now would proudly command his own ship.
Lake Michigan was a busy place. During the late 1860s, the age of sail reached its peak with more than 1,800 sailing vessels on the lake (an era that would come to an end by the 1920s). The dominant vessel was the sturdy schooner and the primary cargo was lumber, feeding the demand for building materials needed in burgeoning cities around the lake.
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Christmas Tree Ship painting by Charles Vickery. |
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Christmas Tree Ship painting by Charles Vickery. |
Herman and his brother August got into the Christmas tree trade at that time. It was a potentially lucrative business, but dangerous. In 1898 August perished when the schooner S. Thal, filled with Christmas trees, sank in a storm off of Glencoe, Illinois. Herman continued the family business, despite the substantial risks.
It seems that Captain Schuenemann (whose German surname means handsome or nice man) found joy in his work. While other Christmas tree traders sold to Chicago wholesalers and grocers, Schuenemann sold directly to Chicagoans dockside by the Clark Street bridge. By cutting out the middleman he could sell his trees at lower prices (50 cents to one dollar) while still making a profit. He used the slogan, “Christmas Tree Ship: My Prices are the Lowest.”
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"The Dearborn Magazine" December 1912 cover. |
Captain Schuenemann’s profits never made him wealthy, but he gained a reputation for generosity. It was observed that he probably gave away as many Christmas trees as he sold. Chicagoans and city newspapers took note of his generosity to the needy and began calling him ‘Captain Santa.’ Schuenemann and his ship were famous. He enjoyed his celebrity and even kept newspaper clippings in his wallet about his role as ‘Captain Santa,’ the kind-hearted Christmas Tree Ship captain.
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‘Captain Santa,’ Captain Schuenemann in the center, early 1900s. |
Schuenemann had a choice to make: the weather had been relatively calm, but heavy snow had fallen and a storm was brewing. Some of his competitors opted to not risk the journey. But he knew the resulting shortage of Christmas trees would give him the advantage. 60 mph winds were predicted, but he and perhaps 16 others onboard set out at noon on November 22, 1912.
During the night with the winds and waves hitting the ship hard, two sailors, many bundled trees, and a small boat were swept overboard by a giant wave. The storm continued to worsen and Captain Schuenemann tried to navigate to shore with great difficulty. The next day, the imperiled vessel was spotted from the Wisconsin shoreline at Two Rivers and a powerboat was sent out on a rescue mission, but it was too late. The Rouse Simmons had vanished.
In Chicago Schuenemann’s family waited for word. But it was soon clear that The Christmas Tree Ship would not be arriving. Three other ships on Lake Michigan went down in the storm that night, as well: the South Shore, the Three Sisters, and the Two Brothers. Within days of the tragedy, Christmas trees and wreckage began washing ashore at Pentwater, Michigan…and continued to wash up on the coastline for years after.
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Front Page Headlines from the Chicago American Newspaper. |
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Historical Marker in Thompson, Michigan. |
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Divers explore the bow of the schooner Rouse Simmons, aka: “The Christmas Tree Ship.” |
Following the tragedy, wife Barbara, and daughters Elsie, Hazel, and Pearl took over where the Captain left off, selling and sometimes giving away trees and wreaths at the Clark Street dock. In the early years, they continued to receive shipment by schooner, but soon shifted to rail transportation, while still selling the trees at the river’s edge.
In 1913, the year after Captain Schuenemann’s death, the city of Chicago erected its first Christmas tree on the lakefront in honor of the Captain, his brother, and his crew. 100,000 people attended its dedication on Christmas Eve.
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After Barbara’s death in 1933, the daughters sold trees from the family’s lot for a few years. |
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Captain Schuenemann’s twin daughters, Hazel and Pearl, standing among Christmas trees for sale wearing garlands of greens around their necks in 1917. |
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Elsie Schuenemann Roberts, daughter of Captain Schunemann, holding a Christmas tree on a sidewalk. |
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The Christmas Tree Ship today. |
VIDEO
Chicago's Christmas Tree Ship
Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Wow! What a great story, though not the happiest of endings. I had never heard of this before.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful story. As a Chicagoan, I've kknown about the ship's mission and fate. I did not know the back-story of how his family carried on as well as the Coast Guard's co ringing his mission. A perfect Christmas tale.
ReplyDeleteBeen going to The Christmas Tree Ship for 14 Straight years now.
ReplyDeleteLunch at Riva's on the Pier, then a free tour of the Mackinaw
There is also a wonderful theatrical musical called “The Christmas Schooner” which we have seen 23 times! It is wonderful so please see it if you can. Thanks for this article, Neil!
ReplyDeleteI never knew about the be Christmas tree ship. Too bad this happened.
ReplyDelete