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The Christmas Tree Ship
The Rouse Simmons was one of the many schooners that shipped Christmas trees from Upper Michigan to Chicago in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The captains and sailors loaded their fishing schooners with as many spruce trees as the ships could hold and sailed down Lake Michigan during the stormy months of November and December.
Herman Schuenemann was only 18 years old when he first helped bring a load of Christmas
trees to Chicago in 1887. He made his last trip in 1912, as captain of the ship, The Rouse Simmons. Schuenemann and his crew were last seen on November 22, 1912 off the coast of Kewaunee, Wisconsin flying a distress flag during a blizzard. A bottle washed ashore a few days later along with many of the 4,000 evergreens. Captain Schuenemann had written a note, “I guess we are thru. Leaking bad. Endwald and Steve fell overboard. God help us.” The next year, Captain Schuenemann’s wife and three daughters decided that they would continue his work. Hannah Schuenemann hired a ship and crew. The whole family helped load it with spruce trees and sailed with the crew to Chicago.
This tragic, yet inspiring story has become a legend over the years and the subject of the following books, films and musical.
Children’s books
The Christmas Tree Ship by Jeanette Winter
The Christmas Tree Ship: The Story of Captain Santa by Rochelle M. Pennington
Adult books
August and Herman Schuenemann : Tree Captains of Lake Michigan
by Fred Neuschel
The Historic Christmas Tree Ship: a True Story of Faith, Hope and Love
by Rochelle Pennington
Lives and Legends of the Christmas Tree Ships by Frederick H. Neuschel
Audiovisual materials
The Christmas Tree Ship [videorecording] produced by WTMJ
The Christmas Tree Ship: A Holiday Storm Story [television program] produced by the
Weather Channel
Haunted Tales of the Great Lakes [DVD] produced by Southport Video Productions
Rouse Simmons: The Christmas Tree Ship [videorecording] produced by Southport Video Productions
Musical
The Christmas Schooner written by John Reeger with music and lyrics by Julie Shannon
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